By Lisa Kopochinski
At some point in every construction project—no matter how large or small—a punch list must be created. That is, a document that shows all the parties involved what tasks need to be completed. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially when there are numerous players involved.
What is a Punch List?
The term “punch list” is an old one that comes from the antiquated process of punching holes in a list to mark which items needed fixing.
Created by the general contractor usually at the beginning of a project, the punch list basically ensures that all “must haves” and “must dos” are completed. While punch lists differ for every project, there are always three components: location, name of task, and a deadline.
Essentially, the construction industry uses punch lists to prevent projects from spiraling out of control. Collaboration between team members—general contractor, project owner, architect, and subcontractors—is vital so that all tasks can be tracked and recorded when completed.
Many items can be added to a punch list such as interior or exterior issues; incorrect installations, like flooring and carpentry; mechanical issues related to thermostats, ductwork and appliances; anything that was damaged during the course of the project; and any unaddressed items outlined in the original contract.
Since no project will ever be perfect, contractors may make a distinction between reasonable flaws (minor, insignificant flaws that still meet contract specifications) and unreasonable flaws (errors that must be fixed). A punch list identifies unreasonable flaws for corrections, while larger issues are usually addressed through a change order.
Punch lists also help to justify retainage (also called retention), which refers to the amount of money that is deliberately withheld at the end of a project to ensure the contractor follows up on the list and completes all work. Additionally, retainage also helps to ensure that all work is on par with everything that was outlined and agreed upon in the contract.
The Construction Punch List Process
Once the punch list has been completed and distributed to all involved parties, time is then allotted for fixing any issue, followed by another walkthrough of the project with the general contractor and owner. If no further issues need to be addressed, the owner will then sign off on the punch list for the work to be considered fully completed.
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Lisa Kopochinski Writer, Editor and Content Marketer 