What is a dental office punch list?
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A dental office punch list is the written list of unfinished or defective items found at the end of construction, to fix before final payment. On AIA's G704 form, the contractor prepares the list and the architect verifies and amends it (AIA Contract Documents). Counsel recommend holding back 10% until it's done, still standard advice in 2026 (Husch Blackwell).
Key facts
| Item | Guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Who prepares it | Contractor prepares; architect verifies and amends (AIA G704) | AIA Contract Documents |
| What G704 sets | Time to finish items, occupancy date, responsibility for maintenance, utilities and insurance | AIA Contract Documents |
| Warranties | Start at substantial completion unless stated otherwise | AIA Contract Documents |
| Holdback | 10% until punch list and final lien waivers | Husch Blackwell (Dec 2025) |
| Final payment | Document every item in writing and fix all before releasing it | Dental & Medical Counsel |
| X-ray survey (NC, where required) | Within 30 days of initial operation | NC DHHS |
When does the punch list happen?
At substantial completion, when the space is usable but small items remain. AIA's G704 records that date, attaches the list, and sets the time to finish the items and the date the owner will occupy (AIA Contract Documents). Dental & Medical Counsel advises a thorough punch-list inspection with your contractor before accepting final delivery, noting that once final payment is released your leverage to require fixes disappears (Dental & Medical Counsel).
Is the punch list really pinned to a 3D plan?
Not yet. Pinning punch items to a 3D plan of your office is a planned FloorStack feature, alongside the free permit & inspection tracker (coming soon). Today, FloorStack Studio (live, free plan) builds a 3D IT plan of your office with every device placed, which you can use as a reference map during the walk-through. Until pinning launches, use the template below and number each item to a room on your floor plan.
Dental office punch list template
Number each item, tie it to a room, photo it and assign it.
| # | Room | Item | Trade | Photo | Due | Done | Verified by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Op 1 | ||||||
| 2 | Sterilization | ||||||
| 3 | Mechanical |
Room-by-room checks
Operatories
- Floor box utilities match the chair template; shutoffs work; utilities reachable without tools (A-dec)
- Air and water lines flushed before equipment connection (A-dec)
- Cabinets level, doors and drawers aligned, countertops sealed
- Data jacks labeled and tested; monitors mounted on blocking
- X-ray arm reach and exposure-switch location as shown on the shielding plan (NC DHHS)
Sterilization and lab
- Dirty-to-clean flow intact; sinks, counters and ventilation as drawn (CDC)
- Dedicated circuits for sterilizers per the manufacturer (Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual)
- Eyewash present where corrosives are used (OSHA)
Mechanical room
- Clearances, ventilation and exhaust per equipment guides (A-dec)
- Amalgam separator installed; compliance report scheduled (40 CFR 441.50)
- Medical gas verified, if piped; see NFPA 99
Public areas and accessibility
- Accessible route, restroom and door hardware as drawn; see ADA requirements
- Finishes, paint touch-ups, ceiling tiles, signage
Waterlines
- Waterline treatment started; dental unit water should meet ≤500 CFU/mL (CDC)
What closeout documents belong with the punch list?
- O&M manuals, service records and warranties (Husch Blackwell)
- Final lien waivers from the contractor and subs (Husch Blackwell)
- As-built drawings and in-wall photos
- Inspection sign-offs and the certificate of occupancy; see certificate of occupancy
- X-ray post-installation survey where required, completed within 30 days of first use in North Carolina (NC DHHS)
- Every admin login for the network, cameras, phones and equipment software
That last item is where practices lose control. The free credential ownership checklist (coming soon) is planned to list every login you should hold, with a template letter for requesting them.
To log each sign-off with the punch list, the free permit & inspection tracker (coming soon) is planned for this step.
Who should walk the punch list?
Walk the space with the contractor, your architect if they are under contract for construction administration, and your equipment dealer or installer. Add your office manager or lead assistant, who will notice workflow problems that others miss: a cabinet that blocks a drawer, an outlet behind equipment or a door that swings the wrong way. Walk room by room, operate every fixture and door, and photograph each item as you add it. Agree on a date for completion before you leave the walk, and schedule a back-check to confirm each item is closed. Hold the final payment until the list is complete and the closeout documents are delivered. Keep the signed-off list with your building records, because it documents what was fixed if a warranty question comes up later.
How FloorStack helps
FloorStack is a dental build-out platform that keeps your floor plan, equipment, inspections and closeout documents together, so the punch list ties to real rooms and devices. Start at the Dental Office Construction hub, and see the inspection checklist and operatory equipment checklist.
Related guides: the equipment pre-installation checklist.
Free tools on the FloorStack dental build-out platform for this step: FloorStack Studio (live, free plan), Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon) and Credential ownership checklist (free tool, coming soon).
Free tools for this step
- FloorStack Studio (live, free plan): a 3D IT plan of your office with every device placed.
- Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon): track every permit, inspection and sign-off through the certificate of occupancy.
- Credential ownership checklist (free tool, coming soon): list every admin account the practice should own, with a "password hostage" letter template.
Frequently asked questions
Who creates the punch list?
On AIA's G704, the contractor prepares it and the architect verifies and amends it. Walk it yourself too.
When should the punch list be done?
At substantial completion, before final payment and final acceptance of the space.
How much should I hold back until the punch list is finished?
One law firm recommends 10% until punch-list items are done and final lien waivers are received.
When do warranties start?
On AIA forms, at substantial completion unless the parties state a different date.
What dental-specific items belong on a punch list?
Floor-box utilities, flushed lines, x-ray switch locations, sterilization flow, mechanical clearances, amalgam separator, medical gas and waterline treatment.
Can I pin punch items to a 3D plan?
That feature is coming soon on FloorStack. For now, number items to rooms on your floor plan and use Studio's 3D IT plan as a reference.
Sources
- AIA Contract Documents: Instructions, G704–2017 Certificate of Substantial Completion
- Husch Blackwell: Before You Sign, A Tenant's Guide to Key Work Letter Issues (Dec 2025)
- Dental & Medical Counsel: A Dental Lawyer's Guide to Your Dental Office Build-Out
- NC DHHS Radiation Protection: Shielding Plan Review and Post-Installation Survey Requirements (PDF)
- A-dec 200 Dental Equipment Pre-Installation Guide (PDF)
- A-dec 511flt/511B Dental Chair Pre-Installation Guide (PDF)
- A-dec QuietCore+ Dental Dry Vacuum Pre-Installation Guide (PDF)
- CDC: Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003 (MMWR)
- CDC: Dental Unit Water Quality
- Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual: Design Principles
- OSHA: Requirements for Eyewash and Shower Facilities (Interpretation, Jun 2009)
- 40 CFR 441.50: Dental Office Reporting Requirements
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