What is a Punch List in Construction and General Contracting Businesses?

What is a punch list?

A punch list, or deficiency list, is a checklist general contractors can use at the end of a construction project to document any unfinished work. 

Punch lists are typically created during a client walkthrough near the end of a job. They note any remaining work that needs ot be done before the project can officially be closed out, like paint touch-ups, minor repairs, and cleaning tasks.

You can also use a rolling punch list throughout a project to continuously track to-dos and address them on an ongoing basis instead of waiting until the end. That way, you can achieve a zero punch list—a punch list with no remaining items—when you hand the job over to the client for approval.

Whichever method you use, you’ll still need to document, track, and resolve any remaining work before the job can officially be marked as done.

What do contractors and construction workers use punch lists for?

In the contracting and construction industry, an effective punch list is used to document:

• Safety or compliance issues that need to be addressed
• Unfinished work that needs to be completed before the project can close
• Defects or quality issues like scratched paint or crooked fixtures
• Minor repairs like nail pops or loose door handles
• Final touches like painting, cleaning, or debris removal

For example, if you were overseeing a kitchen renovation, a punch list might include: 

• Retouching grout between tiles on the backsplash
• Installing appliances and removing any packaging or boxes
• Adding silicone bumpers to cabinet doors

For rolling punch lists, it’s common to create them after certain milestones are met, like when the countertops are installed. Once the initial task is done, you can add any remaining to-dos to the punch list, like caulking the seams, and give it to whoever’s responsible for doing the work. 

That way, punch list items are handled on an ongoing basis and are less likely to cause delays.

How to use a punch list

To use a punch list effectively, follow these steps: 

1. Create a punch list template

Ideally, punch lists should be used for just about every job to ensure they’re complete. That makes having a reusable construction punch list template essential, saving you time, keeping documentation consistent, and boosting professionalism. 

A standard punch list should include: 

• Client and project details
• A blank list for punch work and their descriptions
• Assignees
• Due dates

Jobber lets you create custom job checklists that you can access from any mobile device, to make sure no tasks slip through the cracks. Create a single template to use across jobs, or customize punch lists for different services and projects—then share them with your customers to show off what was done.

The benefits of punch lists

Punch lists are essential tools for managing building projects and come with a ton of benefits, including: 

1. Maintaining high quality standards

Reviewing work completion and quality before you or a client signs off on a project keeps quality standards high. It also prevents corner-cutting and rush jobs because it encourages your crew to get the job done right from the start. 

In turn, this adds to your reputation as a reliable, trustworthy, and top-tier contractor worth hiring. Especially when clients highlight quality in reviews and referrals.

2. Improving customer satisfaction

When you put in the time to make sure a job is done well and that any loose ends are tied up, it makes for happier clients. They’ll be less likely to find unfinished work after they sign off, meaning they won’t have to call you to schedule a repair appointment down the road. 

The more complete the job is when you do your final walkthrough, the more impressed the customer will be. 

3. Keeping crews accountable

Depending on the project, you may be managing a mix of employees and subcontractors for a single job. Overseeing multiple professionals for different tasks can be a juggling act, but punch lists can help keep everyone accountable for their work. 

For example, if you bring on a glass technician to install a shower door during a bathroom upgrade, a punch list would hold them accountable for any deficiencies. That could include things like scratched glass, loose hinges, or a door that sticks when it closes. 

It clarifies who did the work, so you know who’s responsible for fixing any issues before the deadline.

4. Meeting deadlines

Sometimes, payments are dependent on project milestones instead of hard deadlines. Like in long-term construction projects that take place over several phases. 

The more issues you or the client find, the more it can push deadlines, resulting in delayed payments. 

Conducting walkthroughs and creating punch lists helps ensure all issues are documented at once, so they can be prioritized, assigned, and fixed at the same time. Once they’re addressed, you can do a final review and have the client sign off on the project closeout so you can send an invoice. 

5. Saving money

Finding and fixing issues early on can reduce project costs and save you money. 

For example, a new faucet that’s been leaking for a day is a lot cheaper to fix than one that’s gone undiscovered for a month or more. Think water damage, mold, and extra labor costs. 

The sooner you spot problems, the easier (and cheaper) they are to address.

6. Creating a paper trail

Big jobs like demolitions, renovations, and new builds come with a ton of paperwork. From project proposals and bids to building plans and contracts, there’s a lot to keep track of. But each document can be important for things like accounting, taxes, compliance, and safety. 

Punch lists document what’s been done, who was responsible for it, and what still needs attention. That keeps you on the ball, helping to make sure you don’t miss important tasks. It can also act as a paper trail if you ever need one during a client dispute or for insurance purposes.

Punch list examples

While each punch list depends on the job, there are some items that typically show up in common projects. For renovation, remodeling, and construction work, your punch lists might look like this: 

Kitchen renovation punch list example:

• Seal grout
• Remove protective coverings from appliances
• Straighten cupboard doors
• Connect the dishwasher

Bathroom remodel punch list example: 

• Caulk edges around tub and shower
• Test faucets and showerheads
• Secure towel bars
• Install mirrors

Residential painting punch list example:

• Touch up uneven coverage
• Remove tape
• Reinstall outlet covers
• Clean any paint drips, spills, or spray

Punch list template

No matter the project, most punch lists are made up of the same elements. Your punch list should include: 

• Client, business, and project information
• A numbered list for deficiencies
• A place to add a description for each item
• Assigned team members
• Priority level 
• Item status
• Due dates
• A way to add photos and notes
• A sign-off section

Here’s what a construction punch list looks like in practice: 

• Client name: Bernie Forrester
• Project address: 123 Reno Street
• Business name: Karl’s Kitchens Inc.
• Date: August 24th, 2025
• Walkthrough by: Karl Erickson

Item Number	Description	Team member	Priority	Due date	Notes	Status
1.	Missing cupboard hardware	Jeff Hughes	High	ASAP	Client’s preferred hardware is backordered for two weeks	In progress
2.	Caulk around the kitchen sink	Kala Smart	High	August 25	N/A	Complete
3.	Install appliances	Karl Erickson	Low	TBD	Waiting for delivery	On hold