Punch List

Daniel B. Martin

unread,

Sep 2, 2002, 9:33:41 AM9/2/02

to

The term Punch List refers to a list of defects a house builder must correct
to satisfy the buyer. The term has been adopted by other enterprises as
well. What is the origin of Punch List?

Daniel B. Martin

Padraig Breathnach

unread,

Sep 2, 2002, 9:50:17 AM9/2/02

to

Sorry I can't help. I never heard the term. The phrase with which I am
familiar is "snag list".

PB

Mike Lyle

unread,

Sep 3, 2002, 1:50:10 PM9/3/02

to

Padraig Breathnach <padr...@iol.ie> wrote in message news:<92r6nugfo2cpq79gr...@4ax.com>...

I don't know if it's any help, but an English builder made an
expensive mistake here, and said "I'll take the slap for that". Like
"take it on the chin".

Mike.

John Estill

unread,

Sep 3, 2002, 2:11:47 PM9/3/02

to

On Mon, 02 Sep 2002 13:50:17 GMT, Padraig Breathnach <padr...@iol.ie>
wrote:

I've only encountered the term recently, in connection with municipal
construction projects; the items to be "punched" or ticked/checked off
are not necessarily defects, but outstanding items to be completed
before project completion is certified.

I don't know the origin -- Google may be of help.

Regards,
John
--
John Estill
Native English speaker (midwestern variety), español al estilo mexicano
Millersburg, Ohio, U.S.A.

Evan Kirshenbaum

unread,

Sep 3, 2002, 3:11:29 PM9/3/02

to

John Estill <jmes...@newsguy.com> writes:

> On Mon, 02 Sep 2002 13:50:17 GMT, Padraig Breathnach <padr...@iol.ie>
> wrote:
>
> >"Daniel B. Martin" <daniel88...@juno88.com> wrote:
> >
> >>The term Punch List refers to a list of defects a house builder
> >>must correct to satisfy the buyer. The term has been adopted by
> >>other enterprises as well. What is the origin of Punch List?
>

> I've only encountered the term recently, in connection with
> municipal construction projects; the items to be "punched" or
> ticked/checked off are not necessarily defects, but outstanding
> items to be completed before project completion is certified.
>
> I don't know the origin -- Google may be of help.

I also can't help with the origin, but I first became acquainted with
the term back in, I believe, 1992, when my department moved from one
building to another. The punch list was an actual list hung on a wall
detailing things like bookcases hung on the wrong partition, phones
not hooked up, and missing light bulbs.

--
Evan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------
HP Laboratories |Marge: You liked Rashomon.
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |Homer: That's not how *I* remember
Palo Alto, CA 94304 | it.

kirsh...@hpl.hp.com
(650)857-7572

http://www.kirshenbaum.net/

Charles M. Strauss

unread,

Sep 6, 2002, 11:09:55 AM9/6/02

to

"Daniel B. Martin" <daniel88...@juno88.com> wrote in message news:<VMJc9.168$Dg1.90...@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com>...

My father (in the roofing/sheet-metal business since the 1930s) told
me about 20 years ago that a punch list (a list of defects and changes
that a contractor was supposed to correct before the job would be
approved) was so called because when an item on the list was corrected
AND ACCEPTED AS CORRECTED by the client or building inspector
(whichever one originated the item) a punch (like a train conductor's
punch) would be used to punch out a hole next to the accepted item,
indicating indelibly that at least that one was done with. Exactly
who kept the master list and who did the punching was never explained,
or at least I can't remember those details.
/cms

M.J.Powell

unread,

Sep 6, 2002, 2:45:15 PM9/6/02

to

In article <969bf9bb.02090...@posting.google.com>, Charles M.
Strauss <cstr...@draper.com> writes

No trouble with chads...?

Mike
--
M.J.Powell