If you are involved in a construction project, you may have heard of the term punch agreement. This refers to a list of incomplete items that a contractor must fix before a construction project can be considered complete. When it comes to wood framing construction, a framing punch agreement is applicable as the owner has to inspect a project before the keys can be handed to the owner (or the building used as it was intended to).
Preparing for an Inspection
For a proper punch list to be created, it is important that the owner (or project managers), the contractor, and the architect inspect the building. At this point, the construction project is legally referred to as ‘substantially complete’ meaning that apart from a few tweaks, most of the construction work should have been completed by this time. When preparing for an inspection, the owner should carry blue (removable) tape, a notebook, and if possible, a camera (a smartphone with a good camera will do as well). It is also important to have with you the contract that specified what the final deliverables of the project are.
What to Look Out for
This of course varies depending on the type of construction at hand. For example, owners might need to keep an eye out for incomplete grout work, wrong paint in certain rooms, unfinished electrical work, and so on. Anything that was specified in the contract and has not been completed (or done as specified) needs to go into the punch list. Apart from the list, you could also place a piece of blue tape on the areas that need work. This makes it easier for the contractor and any subcontractors to know exactly what needs to be done in which area.
Double-Check the Punch List
Given the amount of money that may be riding on the construction project, it is always a good idea to double-check the punch list again. When doing this, carefully check if the list that you have in hand corresponds with the blue-taped areas in the structure. You should alert the contractor if you find new mistakes that may have been left out during the initial walk-through.
Following Up
If you are working with experienced and professional wood framing construction experts such as US Framing, this second process may not be needed. Once the punch list is agreed upon, the next thing is for the contractor to do the necessary corrections as per the punch list to ensure everything is completed. With some contractors, it might be necessary to follow up to ensure that everything is done. During this process, make sure that you keep a copy of the punch list and dutifully check off any item that is completed as per agreement. You should also agree on the time that those items should be completed and be prepared to hold the contractor responsible for the timely completion of the punch list.
