Core terms

Punch List

Core terms · definition

The final list of incomplete or deficient items the contractor must correct before the job is considered done and final payment is released. Walk the project and build this list together.

Source: InterNACHI — Inspection Glossary: Punch List

Where this comes up

  • Contract

    The legally binding agreement between owner and contractor that defines scope, price, schedule, and responsibilities. A remodel should ne…

  • Retainage

    A percentage of each payment (often 5–10%) the owner withholds until the project is satisfactorily completed, providing leverage to ensur…

  • Project Manager (PM)

    The person who plans, coordinates, and oversees the project day to day — schedule, budget, subs, and communication with the owner. On sma…

  • RFI (Request for Information)

    A formal written question from the builder to the designer or owner to clarify drawings or specs before proceeding. RFIs create a paper t…

  • Primer

    A preparatory coating that seals the surface and helps the finish coat adhere and cover evenly. Skipping primer over new drywall or stain…

  • Rough Opening

    The framed gap left in a wall to receive a window, door, or unit, sized slightly larger than the product to allow shimming and squaring d…

  • Plywood

    An engineered panel of thin wood veneers glued in cross-grain layers for strength and stability. Preferred over OSB for cabinet boxes and…

  • Rough-In

    The stage where plumbing, electrical, and HVAC lines are run inside open walls and floors before insulation and drywall. Rough-in must pa…

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

Remodeling guides → Contact the publisher →