Punch Lists Overview

Newforma Info Exchange is a vital tool for managing project information from a web browser. You can access your punch lists using Info Exchange.

Project Center users viewing the Punch List log in Info Exchange will see the full log and all associated actions.

Users logging into Info Exchange who are not Project Center users will only see the punch lists on which they are listed.

A punch list is the lists of repairs, finish work and problems which are incomplete or unacceptable and need to be completed or corrected. Usually the items on the punch list are addressed by a contractor under a construction contract, prior to turnover of a building or other construction type project.

General background information about punch lists

A punch list is generally a list of tasks or "to-do" items. In the construction industry, a "punchlist" is the name of a contract document used by architects and engineers to organize the completion of a construction project.

In the construction industry, contract agreements are usually written to allow the owner to withhold (retain) the final payment to the general contractor as "retainage". The contractor is bound by the contract to complete a punch list of uncompleted contract items in order to receive final payment from the owner. The architect or engineer then verify that completed contract work has complied with the design.

In most contracts, the General Conditions to the contract for construction requires the contractor, when he believes it to be so, to declare the construction project to have reached "substantial completion" and request a "pre-final" inspection. According to the General Conditions (AIA A201 Section 9.8.2), the contractor prepares and submits to the architect a comprehensive list of items to be completed or corrected. This list, generated by the contractor is known as the punch list. Upon receipt of the contractor's list, the architect then inspects the work to determine if the work is "substantially complete." Final contractor payment is made when the punch list items are completed to meet the project design required by the contract, or some other mutually agreed resolution for each item is reached. Examples of punch list items include damaged building components ( the repair broken window, the replacement of stained wallboard, or the repair of cracked paving); or problems with the final installation of building materials or equipment ( the installment of peeling carpet, the replacement of  missing roof shingles, the installation or activation of security systems).