What is a Punch List?

• A. A list of completed items
• B. A list of safety incidents
• C. A list of approved changes
• D. A list of incomplete or defective items that must be corrected or completed before final acceptance

Answer: (D)

In construction closeout, a punch list is a record of items left unfinished or defective that must be corrected before the project can be officially accepted. It’s created during the final inspection walkthrough with the owner, architect/engineer, and contractor, and it lists specific tasks, locations, and expected actions to bring all work up to contract standards. The purpose is to ensure every requirement—both cosmetic and functional—has been completed or fixed before final acceptance and release of final payment.

This fits the concept because a punch list is about items needing correction or completion, not items that are already done. It’s also distinct from safety incident logs or approved changes: safety logs track incidents, while approved changes modify the contract scope; neither serves as a finishing-to-do list.