Free checklist
Drywall punch checklist
Drywall punch is where small misses become callbacks after the crew has demobilized. This checklist walks the finished work the way the owner and the next trade will see it, with the photo that closes each item instead of a note that reopens it. Work is commonly verified against GA-216 / ASTM C840 guidance — confirm the edition your authority having jurisdiction has adopted.
- Items
- 3
- Photos required
- 4
- Built for
- Subcontractors
Who runs it
The drywall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing finish punch items room by room.
When in the schedule
During closeout, after paint reveals every joint and corner that read fine under work lights.
The checklist
Every item, and the photo that proves it
The photo count on each row is what RTI would require before the item can be submitted. Copy the list as-is, or load it into RTI and let the gate enforce it.
Repair and proof
- 2 photos
Each defect repaired and photographed under raking light
A light held at a low angle across the repair so any ridge, dip or flash is visible in the photo.
- 1 photo
Repair located with a wide shot
A second photo wide enough to place the repair in the room, so closure is verifiable remotely.
Sign-off
- 1 photo
No remaining drywall items before room sign-off
All punch items in the room closed with photos before the room is marked complete.
What usually sends this back
The failures are almost always the evidence, not the work
- Repairs sanded without re-checking under raking light, so the flash returns with the next coat.
- Damage from move-in and other trades logged as drywall punch with no photo to assign responsibility.
Run it with the Photo Gate
A checklist nobody can submit half-finished
Load this list into RTI, stick a QR tag on the area it covers, and the submit button stays locked until every mandatory item is answered and the 4 required photos exist. Approved walks roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident record behind every line.
Submission state
The gate is enforced on the server, so it holds even if the phone is offline when the walk happens.
Verified against
Common questions
- What does this drywall punch checklist cover?
- 3 items across 2 sections — repair and proof, sign-off. Each item spells out what the person walking the job is actually looking for, not just a box to tick.
- Who should run this inspection?
- The drywall foreman on a callback, or the GC's superintendent closing finish punch items room by room.
- When in the schedule should this walk happen?
- During closeout, after paint reveals every joint and corner that read fine under work lights.
- Why does every item ask for a photo?
- 4 of the 3 items call for photo evidence. A checklist answer without the photo is a claim; the photo is what makes the record worth something in a dispute and lets a reviewer approve work without re-walking the job.
- What most often fails a drywall punch inspection?
- Repairs sanded without re-checking under raking light, so the flash returns with the next coat. Damage from move-in and other trades logged as drywall punch with no photo to assign responsibility.
- Can I use this checklist in RTI?
- Yes. Start a free RTI workspace, build this list as a checklist, and the Photo Gate holds the submit button until every mandatory item is answered and its photos are attached. Approved inspections roll into a branded turnover package with a tamper-evident audit trail.
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