A construction inspection checklist (also known as an inspection form) is like a road map. Both are condensed, thumbnail sketches of the real world … incomplete but highly useful.  A road map can’t show every trail, tree, hill and house … If it did, it wouldn’t be useful. They are memory aids and save brainpower. Inspection checklists forms are much the same.

Quality is subjective. That's why it's important that everyone in your organization use the same guidelines for measuring it.

When doing an inspection, I suggest you measure the level of avoidable problems you encounter and rate them using a rating scale of 1 to 5:

5 = Perfect, no problems, 100%
4 = Very good, 1-2 minor problems
3 = Good, 3-5 minor problems
2 = Poor, 6+ minor problems, hotspot or a major problem
1 = Very poor, excessive problems

Use your First Time Quality Inspection Forms to record your ratings and make sure to include notes for any measurements under a 5.

Adding notes and comments is a good way to give feedback to the subcontractor or crew whose work you are measuring.

Constructive feedback will encourage subcontractors and crews to make improvements to their work, while positive feedback for a job well done will encourage more of the same top quality work.

Comments might include:

- "Overspray on floors,"
- "Outlets covered by drywall,"
- "Concrete not level."
- "Great Job!,"
- "No Problems,"