PunchleePunch list vs snag list vs defects list
Same list, different country. Here is who says what, and the few real differences in how the process works.
| Term | Where you hear it | Usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Punch list, punch-out list | United States, Canada | Fixes found near completion, owned by the general contractor, closed before final payment |
| Snag list, snagging list | UK, Ireland | The same list. "Snagging" is also a whole service: homebuyers hire an inspector to snag a new build |
| Defects list | Australia, New Zealand | Fixes at handover, plus items found during the defects liability period after handover |
| Deficiency list | Canada, some commercial work | Formal list of work that does not meet the contract, often issued by the architect or consultant |
Are they the same thing?
For day to day work, yes. All of them are a list of items that are unfinished or not right, each assigned to someone, each checked and closed before the job is signed off. If you work across countries or with crews from different places, you will hear all of these words on the same job.
The real differences
Timing after handover
In Australia and the UK, contracts often include a defects liability period, commonly 6 to 12 months, where the builder must come back and fix defects that show up after the owner moves in. US contracts usually handle that through a warranty period instead. Either way, the list does not truly end at handover.
Who writes it
In the UK new home market, buyers often pay an independent snagging inspector to write the list for them. In the US, the contractor usually writes the first list and the owner or architect adds to it.
How formal it is
On commercial work, a deficiency or punch list is often a formal document tied to payment and signed by the architect. On residential remodels it is usually a shared list between contractor and homeowner.
What stays the same everywhere
- One problem per item, with a location.
- One person responsible for each item.
- A photo of the problem, and ideally a photo of the fix.
- An item is closed when it is checked, not when someone says it is done.
Whatever you call it, you can start with our free printable template.
Do it on your phone instead
Punchlee turns every item into a photo your crew can act on. Photo it, circle it, pick who fixes it. They mark it done with their own photo and you approve it from anywhere. Your crew gets the app free, and everyone reads the list in their own language. It speaks 37 languages, so your whole crew reads the same list in their own words.
Questions people ask
Is a snag list the same as a punch list?
Yes. Snag list is the British and Irish term, punch list is the American term. Both are the list of fixes needed before a construction job is complete.
What is snagging in construction?
Snagging is the process of inspecting a finished or nearly finished building and listing defects, called snags, for the builder to fix before or shortly after handover.
What is a defects liability period?
A period after practical completion, often 6 to 12 months in Australia and the UK, during which the builder must return to fix defects that appear.