1.7.10 The Punchlist and Quality Assurance

The punchlist may actually be the final test of a productive Quality Assurance program. Certainly a zero punchlist says something about the contractor’s full compliance with the architect’s Quality Control standards. While a zero punch-list is the goal, it is very difficult or nearly impossible to achieve, but to get closer to that goal, try the following:

• Have the Project Superintendent periodically inspect each trade and issue “pre-punchlists,” but notifying the subcontractor that this is in addition to and not a substitute for the design consultant’s formal punchlist.
• Reinspect again to ensure that these punchlist items have been corrected.
• If the work was not completed satisfactorily, send a letter to the subcontractor’s office advising the subcontractor of the need to inspect and correct any substandard or missing work on a regular basis.
• Prior to a subcontractor demobilizing from the project, or substantially reducing its crews toward the end of the project, the project superintendent should “walk” the site or building with the subcontractor’s foreman to inspect, prepare punchlists, and insist that the work be completed within a specified time frame. If these requests are not met or are met with indifference, threats of withholding payment may be the next step.