While punch lists are not strictly speaking mandatory, points out Construction Claims Monthly, they are a widespread and traditional process that occurs toward the end of any construction project.
As the phrase “substantial completion” would suggest, a punch list is made only when the project is considered nearly finished. As such, the punch list is usually confined to minor tweaks and typically major fixes have already been addressed. Once this point has been reached, says Compton Construction, it is the general contractor’s job to set up the punch list walkthrough.
During the walkthrough, the owner or client attends to point out any issues they see. The general contractor is usually present on these visits to explain any changes from the original specifications and to note issues that need fixing. Usually, designers and/or architects will attend the walkthrough as well to ensure that the building matches the original design specifications. If anything doesn’t conform to the original specs because the client requested a change, the architect is also there to address that.