A room-wise snag list template for interior projects
A snag list template records every defect found before handover: the room, item, description, photo, who fixes it, the target date and its status. It is also called a punch list. Walk the site room by room with the client, log each snag, and close every line before you ask for the handover payment. The quality checklists below help you find snags before the client does.
On this page
The snag list template
| # | Room | Item | Snag description | Photo | Trade / owner | Target date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master bedroom | Wardrobe | Right shutter gap uneven at top | P-14 | Carpentry | 22 Oct | Open |
| 2 | Living | False ceiling | Hairline crack at board joint near cove | P-15 | Ceiling | 23 Oct | Open |
| 3 | Kitchen | Countertop | Silicone missing behind sink | P-16 | Kitchen installer | 21 Oct | Closed |
| 4 | Bedroom 2 | Paint | Patchy finish near switchboard | P-17 | Painting | 24 Oct | Open |
| 5 | Bathroom | Tiles | One hollow-sounding tile near drain | P-18 | Tiling | 24 Oct | Open |
Sample snags for illustration.
When to run a snag walk
Run an internal snag walk first, with your project manager and supervisor, about a week before planned handover. Fix what you find. Then run the client snag walk, with the client present, and log what they point out.
Close the list, re-walk with the client, and only then sign the handover. A punch list template works the same way on commercial fit-outs, where the client's facility team usually leads the walk.
Field-by-field explanation
- Room and item: so the fixer goes straight to it.
- Description: what is wrong, not what to do. Gap uneven at top, not adjust shutter.
- Photo: one per snag, numbered. It ends arguments about whether something was fixed.
- Owner: one trade or person per snag.
- Target date and status: open, in progress, closed, re-opened. Report open count daily in the last week.
Quality checklists by trade
| Trade | What to check |
|---|---|
| Tile laying | Level and slope to drains, even joints, no hollow sound on tapping, clean grout, cut tiles at less visible edges |
| Paint finish | Even colour under daylight and lamps, no patches, brush marks or drips, clean edges at ceiling and switchboards |
| False ceiling | Level across the room, no cracks at joints, cove lines straight, cut-outs aligned, access panels where needed |
| Woodwork | Shutters aligned with even gaps, soft-close working, edge banding sealed, no chips or swelling |
| Electrical | Every point works, switches labelled, lights aligned, no loose plates |
| Plumbing | No leaks under sinks, taps tight, drains clear, sealant complete |
Common mistakes
- Snags collected on a WhatsApp group, then lost in the scroll.
- No photos, so the client says it was never fixed.
- Snag walk on handover day, leaving no time to fix.
- Closing a snag without the client re-checking it.
Making it in Google Sheets
- Create the columns above, with a drop-down for status and one for trade.
- Insert photos with Insert, Image in cell, or paste a photo link.
- Filter by trade and share each trade's list with its team.
- Add a count of open snags at the top using COUNTIF on the status column.
Snag lists in the D&B Operating System
The D&B Operating System includes a snag list for project managers before handover. The handover stage in its workflow covers snags closed, final invoice raised and payment received, so the last payment follows the closed list. It is software by BRANDSWOT Consultancy, now in early access.
Questions people ask
What is a snag list template for interiors?
It is a table of defects found before handover, with room, item, description, photo, the trade responsible, target date and status. You walk the site room by room, log each snag, fix it and re-check with the client. Closing it is usually the condition for the handover payment.
What should a snag list format for interior work include?
Include a snag number, room, item, a short description of the defect, a numbered photo, the owner, target date and status. Add a column for client re-check. Keep one list per project and report the open count daily in the last week. Share it with each trade daily.
What is a punch list template?
A punch list is the same as a snag list: a list of incomplete or defective items to fix before final acceptance. The term is common on commercial fit-outs. Use the same columns: location, item, issue, photo, owner, due date and status. Get final sign-off when all items close.
What goes on a quality checklist for interior works?
Check each trade against clear points: tiles level and not hollow, paint even under daylight, ceiling level with straight coves, woodwork aligned with even gaps, every electrical point working, and no plumbing leaks. Run it before the client walk so most snags are found internally.
What is on a tile laying checklist?
Check the surface is level, wet areas slope towards drains, joints are even and straight, there is no hollow sound on tapping, grout is complete and clean, and cut tiles sit at less visible edges. Check before the grout cures fully so fixes are easier.
What should a paint finish checklist and false ceiling checklist cover?
For paint, check even colour in daylight and lamp light, no patches, drips or brush marks, and clean edges. For false ceiling, check it is level, joints have no cracks, cove lines are straight, cut-outs are aligned and access panels are placed where services need them.