What Is a Punch List?

The punch list is a final, crucial step of a renovation. Here’s how they work.

Kitchen island with white countertops and seating for two

(Above) Renovation for Sweeten homeowners Dia + Alex. Photo by Kate Glicksberg for Sweeten.

A punch list is a list of tasks put together by a homeowner that needs to be completed by their contractor. The punch list needs to be done for the project to be completely done. The majority of the work has been finished, but there are details to be resolved. You have one shot to compile your punch list, and once it is completed, the project is officially done! 

What goes on a punch list?

It depends who you ask! This question is often a misunderstanding between a homeowner and a contractor. In construction, there are acceptable quality standards, which are in the form of building codes. Licensed contractors are responsible for abiding by these codes. When a project passes inspection by the codes enforcement official, some contractors consider their work completed. Building codes exist to ensure an acceptable level of quality and ensure that the home is structurally sound. Reputable general contractors will not only meet, but exceed this benchmark.

The goal of a punch list is to address concerns the homeowner may have after inspecting a project. For example, a crooked hinge on a kitchen cabinet door would normally indicate a defect and should appear on your list. Clashing paint colors, however, are usually not the responsibility of the painter, and would not indicate a defect. Even so, the situation needs correcting. Add these concerns to your punch list. You and your contractor will discuss if the task will be fixed by them or the subcontractor. 

How do I start a punch list?

To start a punch list, the easiest way is to have paper and pencil in each room. Notes stay organized and prevent several lists from being created for the same room. Many new homeowners prefer to live in the space for a while. They can relax and use the space in a daily routine. This makes identifying any issues easier. 

When does a rolling punch list happen?

Traditionally, final payment is paid to the contractor at project completion. A walk-through and a punch list happen after the final payment. As any concerns are addressed, the general contractor will often either discuss the concern or agree to correct the issue. 

An alternative punch list solution is referred to as a “rolling punch list”, or a punch list-as-you-go. Instead of inspecting all of the details at the end, the general contractor makes periodic walk-throughs with the homeowner. As concerns are addressed, everyone involved takes a role in resolving the issue. If the subcontractor is still onsite with labor, machines, and materials, it is easier to correct a concern.

Before a project starts, the homeowner and contractor should confirm when the punch list will take place. Each general contractor has their own process for handling punch list items. 

What is the difference between a tweak and a defect?

This question is really at the heart of a punch list. During installation, an issue such as a crooked cabinet hinge will raise concerns immediately for a homeowner. Contractors tend to focus on completing the project even if small adjustments will be required later on. A homeowner may view the crooked cabinet door as a lack of skill or professional ethics. Have an open dialog between the general contractor and homeowner, so both parties can ask questions and set realistic expectations. Ideally, this discussion will be frequent and ongoing throughout the project so that confusion and assumptions are kept to a minimum.

If you are working with a Sweeten contractor, a homeowner may also reach out to Sweeten customer support with questions or clarifications. Email ClientServices@sweeten.com.

Be communicative and flexible

A punch list should be considered a place to answer questions and get questions answered. For the experienced contractor, the positive completion of a punch list is their business card. For a homeowner, it can confirm they are working with a professional.

Finding a true partner in your general contractor

At Sweeten, we appreciate the value of working with the right general contractor—one who understands your vision, comes up with solutions to challenges, involves you in decision-making, and communicates clearly. If you’re looking for an expert contractor near you, look no further! Sweeten matches homeowners with vetted general contractors, offering guidance and financial protection—at no cost to the homeowner. Start by posting your project on Sweeten today. 

—

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.

The post What Is a Punch List? appeared first on Sweeten.



from Sweeten https://sweeten.com/advice-and-faq/what-is-a-punch-list/
via IFTTT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

An L.A. Bath Remodel Reveals a Wet Room-style Vibe

Image
Teaming up with a woman general contractor in L.A., a remodel partnership delivers a dream bathroom “After” photos by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten. Stylist: Emily Bowser Before: Turn a must-do gut reno into a custom master bath remodel When they bought the Spanish Revival Mediterranean in South L.A.’s Park Mesa Heights, they’d pulled off a victory: a first-time home purchase in SoCal. But Liz and Kevin’s 1923 house had a secret: water damage beneath the master bathroom floor, thanks to a shower pan installed incorrectly a decade before. “To deal with it,” said Liz, the executive director of an education nonprofit, “we needed to take the bathroom down to the studs.” With this, Liz and Kevin started planning for a bath remodel in their L.A. home. Liz and Kevin, a technical production senior manager at Disney Studios, viewed the dank discovery as an opportunity “to add storage and maximize space,” Liz said. But also to showcase their style. The two Mid-Century enthusiasts, who li...
Read more

My Sweeten Story: A 1930s Kitchen Gets a Chic Vibe in LA

Image
A personally-designed kitchen and refreshed laundry room revive a historic Los Angeles home “After” photos by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten Homeowners: Chrissy, a costume designer in the film industry, and Matt, a production company operations manager,  posted their project on Sweeten Where: The Historic Filipinotown neighborhood in Los Angeles, California Primary renovation: The couple embarked on a re-envisioning of the existing Art Deco kitchen in a minimalist light Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovators with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection—for free Written in partnership with homeowner Chrissy A fashionable—but not functional—period kitchen The kitchen was original from the 1930s and very Hollywood Art Deco. It was just one aspect we loved when we purchased our 1,400-square-foot co-op, located in a 1932 Spanish Revival building in Historic Fil...
Read more

My Sweeten Story: A Renovating Couple Gains Their Urban Chops

Image
A DIY tiling job leads to a bigger renovation the Hudson Yards homeowners had planned “After” photos by Miao Jiaxin for Sweeten Homeowners: Jeremy and Chris posted their Hudson Yards renovation  on Sweeten Where: Hudson Yards neighborhood in Manhattan, New York Primary renovation: A remodel of their 778-square-foot co-op’s kitchen, bathroom, and a multi-functioning entryway.   Sweeten general contractor Sweeten’s role: Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering advice, support, and up to $50,000 in renovation financial protection— for free. Written in partnership with Sweeten homeowner Jeremy Learning to navigate a New York renovation A first—and obvious—lesson in renovating: it really is harder in New York. When my husband Chris and I embarked on this adventure, we had thought we knew what we were doing. After all, we’d undertaken a remodel of our 1914 Seattle condo before. But that was all before we decamp...
Read more