Contractor Punch List
Construction close-out punch list — track each defect / incomplete item by location + trade + status + completion date + sign-off. Used at substantial-completion walk-through to clear items before final payment + retainage release.
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CONTRACTOR PUNCH LIST (Substantial-Completion Close-Out)
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Project: Maple Ridge Townhomes — Unit 7
Address: 1842 Maple Ridge Lane #7, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Owner: Jordan Alex Taylor
General contractor: Cascade Build LLC
Architect / designer: Studio North Architecture — Casey Lim AIA
Substantial-completion walk-through: May 26, 2026
Punch-list completion due by: June 9, 2026
Items: 12 total — 12 OPEN, 0 DONE.
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PUNCH ITEMS
# | Location | Trade | Issue | Pri | Status | Due | Sign-off
----|--------------------|--------------|------------------------------------------|------|--------|-------------|----------
1 | Master bath | Tile | Grout missing along tub-to-wall seam (~4 | High | OPEN | 2026-05-30 | _____
2 | Kitchen | Cabinet | Soft-close hinge failed on lower-left dr | Med | OPEN | 2026-05-30 | _____
3 | Kitchen | Paint | Touch-up needed on north wall behind app | Low | OPEN | 2026-06-02 | _____
4 | Living room | Flooring | LVP plank #18 (west side) shows tongue c | Med | OPEN | 2026-06-02 | _____
5 | Front entry | Door | Weather-strip torn at threshold; replace | Med | OPEN | 2026-06-02 | _____
6 | Garage | Electrical | GFCI receptacle reverse-polarity wired; | High | OPEN | 2026-05-30 | _____
7 | Master bedroom | Window | Lower sash sticks; lubricate or adjust | Low | OPEN | 2026-06-05 | _____
8 | Exterior | Siding | Hairline gap at NE corner trim; caulk + | Low | OPEN | 2026-06-05 | _____
9 | Hall closet | Carpentry | Door rubs at top; plane 1/8" off top edg | Low | OPEN | 2026-06-05 | _____
10 | HVAC | Mechanical | Furnace filter not installed (rough-in o | High | OPEN | 2026-05-30 | _____
11 | Attic | Insulation | R-49 blown-in shows 2 sf settled at SW c | Med | OPEN | 2026-06-02 | _____
12 | Laundry | Plumbing | Drain pan missing under washer per code; | High | OPEN | 2026-05-30 | _____
Priority: HIGH = life-safety / code-compliance / occupant-impact; MED = function/finish; LOW = cosmetic.
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RETAINAGE
Held: $3,500.00
Release: Upon (a) all High items closed + signed by Owner, (b) Medium + Low items closed by final-payment date, (c) lien waivers received from Contractor + all listed subcontractors.
NOTES + ACCEPTANCE TERMS
Per AIA A201 §9.8.4, substantial completion has been certified subject to the items on this punch list. Owner has accepted possession; Contractor retains responsibility for completing the listed items by the due date(s). Retainage will be released upon (a) all High-priority items closed + signed by Owner, (b) Medium + Low items closed by final-payment date, (c) final lien waivers from Contractor + all listed subcontractors per state lien statute. Disputed items are flagged separately + resolved by Architect determination per §4.6 before final payment.
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SIGNATURES (at final close-out)
Owner: _________________________ Date: _____________
Jordan Alex Taylor
Contractor: _________________________ Date: _____________
Cascade Build LLC
Architect: _________________________ Date: _____________
Studio North Architecture — Casey Lim AIA (if applicable — certifying substantial completion per AIA G704)
About this template
A contractor punch list is the artifact that closes out a construction project — the agreed list of defects, incomplete items, and corrective work to be completed AFTER substantial completion but BEFORE final payment and retainage release. **Substantial completion** is the legal hinge (AIA A201 §9.8): the work is sufficiently complete for the Owner to occupy / use for its intended purpose, even though items remain. The Architect (or designated certifier) issues the Certificate of Substantial Completion (AIA G704), at which point: (a) warranty periods often begin, (b) the Contractor's duty to insure the Work usually shifts to the Owner, (c) liquidated damages stop accruing, (d) retainage release becomes contingent on punch-list completion + lien-waiver delivery. **Three columns drive value**: location (unit, room, area), trade (so the right sub closes it), and priority (HIGH = life-safety / code / occupant impact; MED = function / finish; LOW = cosmetic). Most states allow 5-10% **retainage** withheld pending punch-list close — explicit statutes in CA, TX, FL, NY, PA. **Lien waivers** (conditional + final) from the GC and every subcontractor of record protect the Owner from post-payment mechanic's liens (state lien statutes vary, but typical filing windows are 60-120 days post-last-work). **Disputed items** should be flagged separately rather than left as OPEN — the contract's dispute-resolution clause (AIA A201 §15) controls. **Walk-through best practice**: schedule with Architect + Owner + Superintendent; bring a tablet + camera + this template; photo + caption each item at creation; assign due dates that allow trade-scheduling. **Re-walks** generate a delta list of items still open; close-out is only "final" when zero High items remain and all parties sign. Failure to close timely is the most common cause of final-payment + retainage litigation.
When to use it
- Substantial-completion walk-through on construction or major renovation.
- Multi-unit project per-unit close-out.
- Re-walk after first round of corrections (delta punch).
- Owner-direct projects (no Architect of record).
- Subcontractor turnover from GC.
What to include
- Project + address + owner + contractor + (architect).
- Walk-through date + punch-completion due date.
- Items table — location, trade, issue, priority, status, due, sign-off.
- Retainage held + release conditions.
- Notes + acceptance terms tying to AIA / contract.
- Signatures of Owner, Contractor, Architect (if applicable).