Construction drawings and specifications establish what is supposed to be built. They don’t guarantee that everything installed in the field will be right.

These photographs came from actual tenant fit-outs I encountered. None of the problems required sophisticated forensic analysis. You could see them.

That’s part of the reason field observation matters.

Problems are sometimes discovered late, when everyone is focused on finishing the project and getting the tenant into the space. At that point, there can be pressure to accept something because correcting it may affect the schedule.

The owner’s project manager has a different responsibility:

Is this what we agreed to accept?

Sometimes the answer is obvious.

A little rough around the edges

This wall was sheetrocked, taped, spackled, sanded and painted…..poorly.  When this was pointed out, the sub shook his head in disbelief that we found this unacceptable. 

Would you accept this?

Got Bubbles?

These 3-Form translucent resin panels are a beautiful product used as a room divider. Manufacturer’s defects are bound to occur — like a bubble/hole that was evident in one of the six panels, as shown on the right.

So why did the installer, who clearly noticed the defect, hang the product anyway? And not tell anyone?

This was noticed during a site visit and the panel was promptly replaced by 3-Form.

Some sauce with that spaghetti?

Plans called for two wall sconces here. The electricians clearly did not think through how the conduit run would affect design intent.

This was ultimately ripped out and sheetrocked to hide most of the remaining conduit.

Not close enough for comfort

 
Seriously? The flooring contractor actually thought this was acceptable.

Optical illusion? Or… hanging a little to the right?

If you look carefully at the bottom white insert of this wall sconce, you’ll notice the cover is shorter on the left and taller on the right.

The electrician said it was an optical illusion.

We disagreed, and this product was exchanged.

Completion Isn’t the Same as Acceptance

Looking back at these photographs years later, the lesson hasn’t changed.

Punch lists aren’t simply administrative exercises at the end of construction. They’re one of the owner’s last opportunities to determine whether the work delivered is actually the work that was expected.

Some deficiencies are technical. Some affect performance. Some are cosmetic.

And occasionally you don’t need a specification, test report or lengthy meeting to know something isn’t right.

You just need to look at it.