any punch list for framing inspection…? and pre-drywall punch list…? thanks……
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Hi Snoofy, and welcome to breaktime!
I think you started a good topic here. I'm subscribed and will be watching the replies. Thanks for getting it started.
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Here are the forms I developed as a superintendent building spec houses. The forms were always a "work in progress" and modified to address specific issues as they arose. Different sub-contractors, geographical and zoning issues, CC&Rs would often dictate changes in the forms.
Hope they help.
Looking through old forms and FWIW, thought I'd also include a checklist I created for the construction workflow--tasks for building a house (albeit a spec house of a particular type in a particular location) from start to finish.
Nice checklists Levelone. It probably would be a good idea to give those to the framers and mechanicals before they start the job. If they are sharp, they'll do their own walkthrrough and make corrections before you do your walkthrough.
Thanks. They knew what was expected. I'd give them lists, and guess what they'd do? They'd eat the lists.
On one site we had five framing crews. Two were great, don't ask about the others. Our policy was to have at least two of every trade. Two plumbing companies. Two HVAC contractors and so forth. Some of the subs did well and some didn't. A lot of times it depended on which crew they sent out.
We also had our own crew of laborers, pick-up and punch carpenters that did a variety of items. I wanted everything done right and on time. The only way to be sure was to check it myself.
Subs, as you know, don't like to show up and have things not ready for them. And if we missed an inspection, that put the schedule off for a whole day. Our homes were pre-sold. I didn't have many extra days to lose.
I'm not doing that kind of work any more. Sometimes I miss it. Sometimes, not. It was a great experience though.
Edited 4/20/2009 3:51 pm ET by levelone
What is that .docx format?
docx is vista word 2007. You can go to microsoft and get an update to open them with your 2003 version.
The reason I know this is because I finally bit the bullet and did it last week. Ironically, I wasn't able to open his .doc file....
Edited 4/20/2009 7:48 am ET by jimAKAblue
thanks blue....
Methinks you mean checklist.
A punch list is the things that still need to be done. I can't make out a punch list for you without walking thru the structure.
I found it curious that I've never used a checklist written - just mentally - studying what needs to be done.
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I think FHB or JLC did an article on checking framing. It was more of a pre drywall check than an overall look at the framing. There have also been article on checking rough openings for doors and windows prior to installation.
I'm like Piffen on this one.
Just do a walk through and check everything. Take your prints ito each room/area and don't leave untill you have cvered evry aspect of the rooom to the finished end point. You have other trades coming to do their work so you may want to ask the HVAC, plumbing contractor and even your finish carpenter to do a walk through with you.
Plumber and HVAC guys will hack the framing where ever they need to get thier stuff in. Then you finish carp will gripe about knowone considering the magic he will have to perform because the blocking he would have liked was left out.
You have to learn to think through the whole building process, from begining to finish, with each step you take. Get focussed on just on aspect of it and the next guy in line to work will likely need to do something you didn't think to check.
Here is one that is tailored to the type of houses I build. You would have to adjust it for your situation. For example, any dimensions given you will probably have to change for the products you are using. It will get you thinking about some of the right things though.
Some of it is more stuff to tell the framers while they are framing, some is stuff to check before they leave to generate a punch list for them.
Edited 4/20/2009 8:30 am ET by Matt
One tip I got from my wife is to mark all of the plumbing and electrical on the floor with marking paint so, when the rockers bury it, you know where to look. She also used to mark the location of ceiling fans, what finish floor surface goes in that room (tile, carpet, wood etc), door swings and such. It tends to cut down on dumb mistakes later.
Then walk the house like the customer, imagine opening doors, turning on lights and whatever. Make sure switches don't end up behind doors and stuff like that. This is the last cheap time to fix these kinds of things.
Hi snoofy,
any punch list for framing inspection...? and pre-drywall punch list...? thanks......
The fellas here have given you a good start and that should get you headed in the right direction.....and I love the tip about painting the floor to mark outlets prior to drywall....I did that on the last house and it sped up my time double checking to make sure all cutouts happened as they were supposed to.
Oh each of my houses when I was ready for my rough inspection I had a fresh pot of coffee ready and bottled water waiting for the inspector.
I ask him to find anything wrong "and" anything he'd suggest to make my house "better" than code.....code is there as your states "minimum" requirements.
Each time I had a clipboard with each room labeled on it's own sheet and pin up tacks. I made notes on anything I missed....only had 3 minor the last time and also made notes on anything he recommended.....on the way out of the room I pinned it to the doorway framing.
They don't really like to make suggestions so as to defer any implied liability......don't blame them....that's not part of their job to risk.....but if you make it clear it's off the record you can pick their brains.....just tell 'em you want it to be the best home ever.
Maybe I've had easy going inspectors but I've only had one house held up because I made it "better"......explained below. Otherwise they said move ahead and they'd drop back by in a couple of days when they were in the area to double check that everything got done......I personally never saw them return.....maybe they peeked in the windows to see that the worksheets I'd pinned up were gone, indicating I was finished....who knows.
I'm sure if I'd missed critical stuff like structural members missing etc. that they'd have written it up and made me pay a reinspection fee.
Remember, inspectors frequently catch a lot of garbage from a few builders and aren't always in the mood for more of the same so they sometimes show up with their guard up. We all do this ourselves in our own lives from time to time and unfairly take it out on the next person in line.
Encourage the inspector to do his job. If he's not willing to allow something that you "know" is better.....ask him if he will help you present it to his boss...involve him and show him respect as a human being. The one time I got held up I had to get a letter from an engineer when is was obvious to the entire world minus the local inspections department that what I had done was far superior. I had all the supporting data necessary and the engineer said they shouldn't have needed a letter to cover that type of improvement over his original design.
Turns out the inspections department had misplaced a significant portion of the specs I had given them originally that would have clearly covered my improvement because the original engineering folder didn't fit their cubies and had been removed and set aside......geeez several hundred dollars and several weeks delay.......
They were real nice to me after that.......
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The way you stated your Q threw me a bit. My previous response was centered around making framing punch lists.
Framing inspection check lists are a bit different since that occurs after the plumbers, HVAC guys and electricians have been in. Anyway, this list is available on one of our local AHJ's web site.
Other than that, off the top of my head, for framing inspections I'd say:
1) double check the engineering specified on the plans. Stuff like header sizes, number of jack studs, special hangers specified, etc. If trusses are used, check the truss sheets closely for any required special hangers or bracing, etc.
2) Here we have to have the original approved plans on site for the inspector. If it is a trussed roof the engineered truss plans have to be there too.
3) Check that everything is fire stopped correctly. Here we also have to have insulation baffles in place at framing inspection time.
4) check that any boring/cutting/etc that the plumbers and HVAC guys did is code compliant, or repaired correctly. Sometimes they will cut out truss bracing too.
5) Check that all jack studs are tight to the bottom of headers.
6) Check to see that all (multi) stud columns are nailed properly.
7) For trussed roofs here we are required to use hurricane ties. Plywood clips ('H' clips) installed too.
8) For stick built roofs, verify proper rafter nailing and that rafter and collar ties are in place.
9) Verify that all hangers are nailed properly with proper nails.
10) Minimum hallway and stair width is 36" finished (excluding trim).
11) Windows meet egrees requirements in bedrooms.
12) Any locations that require tempered glass windows have them.
13) Proper nailing schedule was adhered to on floor sheathing and any shear panels like at the corner of the house.
14) Here, some AHJs want house wrap in place and inspect the tape job.
15) All required anchor bolts are installed.
16) No untreated wood in contact with concrete or masonry.
17) wall cap plates have proper overlap.
18) all stair risers are equal and meet max requirement. Stair treads are equal and meet min requirement.
19) attic and crawl space entries meet code minimum size and will fit any equipment that needs to go up/in there.