Perform a Final Paint and Finish Quality Inspection

A. Finished-Project Specification

Scope: one completed painting and finishing project — every wall, ceiling, trim run, door, cabinet, built-in, stained or clear-coated surface, exterior assembly, masonry or floor coating, and sprayed finish within the project's scope inspected and recorded, resulting in one documented finish status covering the entire project.

B. Inspection Coverage Schedule

Surface Category	Governing Chapter	Inspection Focus
Walls / Ceilings	Chapters 8–9	Coverage, holidays, flashing, thin areas, lap marks, roller texture, cut lines
Trim / Doors / Cabinets	Chapters 10–11	Runs, sags, brush marks, dust nibs, blocking, adhesion, hardware operation
Stain / Clear Coat / Refinished Wood	Chapters 12–13	Color, grain, overlap, sheen consistency against approved sample
Exterior Door, Trim, Siding	Chapters 14–15	Edge coverage, drainage, weather seals, coating continuity
Masonry / Concrete / Floor	Chapter 16	Adhesion, bubbles, pinholes, contamination, profile, slip condition
Sprayed Finishes	Chapter 17	Orange peel, dry spray, runs, overspray, pattern consistency
Repaired / Touched-Up Areas	Chapter 18	Cause correction, blend integration, sheen match

C. Documentation Takeoff

• Worksheets: one Final Quality Inspection Worksheet per project, completed in full before the finish status is issued.
• Photographs: one photograph minimum for every recorded deficiency, labeled with its worksheet location entry, plus a representative photograph of each closed correction.
• Attachments: approved color and finish schedule, sample approvals, product data sheets, environmental records, and prior chapter inspection reports referenced for every judged item.

D. Acceptance Standards

Check	Standard
Coverage	No holidays, flashing, thin areas, or lap marks visible under raking light on any wall or ceiling scheduled for final inspection
Cut lines	Straight, consistent-width cut lines at every ceiling, trim, corner, window, door, fixture, and color transition
Sheen and color	Every finished surface matches its approved sample within the tolerance stated on the finish schedule
Film defects	No runs, sags, brush marks, dust nibs, or unresolved adhesion defects on trim, doors, cabinets, or wood finishes
Function	Every hardware component, door, drawer, window, vent, and access panel operates correctly with no blocking or paint-bound movement
Protection and cleanup	All tape, protection, labels, and temporary coverings removed; no spatter or damage present on floors, cabinets, glass, fixtures, or adjacent property
Punch list	Every recorded deficiency has an assigned correction, a completed correction, and a documented reinspection result before the finish status is issued
Finish status	One documented decision issued: approved, conditional (with listed open items and required timeline), or rejected (with listed reasons)

E. Document Assembly and Cure Verification

1. Assemble approved color and finish schedules, product records, sample approvals, environmental records, coat records, and prior inspection reports. Record which documents were located and which are missing before proceeding.
2. Confirm specified dry or cure time has passed for inspection. Check the coat record and product data sheet for every coating system present and record the confirmed cure status for each.

F. Coverage and Cut-Line Inspection

1. Inspect surfaces under normal room lighting. Walk the full project scope once under ordinary lighting conditions and record obvious defects.
2. Inspect critical surfaces under raking light. Repeat the pass on every wall and ceiling using a handheld light held low and to the side.
3. Check wall and ceiling coverage for holidays, flashing, thin areas, lap marks, and roller texture. Record each finding by location.
4. Inspect cut lines at ceilings, trim, corners, windows, doors, fixtures, and color transitions. Record any crooked, uneven-width, or bled cut line by location.

G. Trim, Cabinet, Stain, and Exterior Inspection

1. Inspect trim, doors, cabinets, built-ins, and wood finishes for runs, sags, brush marks, dust nibs, blocking, and adhesion. Record each finding with its location and defect type.
2. Inspect stain color, grain, overlap, and sheen consistency. Compare against the approved sample directly, side by side, under consistent lighting.
3. Inspect exterior work for edge coverage, drainage, weather seals, and coating continuity. Confirm no drainage gap, weep, or weather seal was coated over.

H. Masonry, Floor, and Sprayed-Finish Inspection

1. Inspect masonry and floor coatings for adhesion, bubbles, pinholes, contamination, profile, and slip condition. Record findings against the standard established in Chapter 16.
2. Inspect sprayed finishes for orange peel, dry spray, runs, overspray, and pattern inconsistency. Record findings against the standard established in Chapter 17.

I. Function, Protection, and Comparison Checks

1. Verify hardware, doors, drawers, windows, vents, and access panels operate correctly. Operate each component through its full range and record any sticking, blocking, or misalignment.
2. Verify that tape, protection, labels, and temporary coverings have been removed as required. Walk every room and confirm no protective material remains in place.
3. Check floors, cabinets, glass, fixtures, and adjacent property for spatter or damage. Record any damage requiring correction outside the coating scope.
4. Compare colors and sheens with approved samples. Confirm every finished surface matches its assigned sample within the schedule's stated tolerance.

J. Punch List, Correction, and Finish Status

1. Record deficiencies by location and type. Enter every finding from Sections F through I onto the punch list with a unique location reference.
2. Assign correction method, product, responsible person, and reinspection condition. Route each item to its governing chapter method — most commonly Chapter 18 for coating failures and touch-ups — and record who will perform the correction and how it will be reinspected.
3. Protect accepted work during corrections. Mask or otherwise protect surrounding surfaces that already passed inspection before correction work begins nearby.
4. Correct and reinspect every item. Complete each assigned correction and record the reinspection result directly beside the original finding.
5. Verify cleanup, waste removal, and safe storage. Confirm spatter, dust, tools, and protection materials have been removed and that paint, solvent, and rag waste has been disposed of using approved methods.
6. Issue approved, conditional, or rejected finish status. Approve only when every punch-list item is closed; issue a conditional status listing exact open items and required timeline if minor items remain; reject the project if deficiencies are broad or a governing standard was not met.
7. Prepare maintenance, cure, cleaning, and touch-up information. Compile the information the occupant or next trade will need to protect and maintain the finished work.