A snag list is a contract document, not a memory aid. Record seven fields per item: location, defect, trade, priority, target date, owner and photo. Walk every unit with the installer, agree the list, and close it before handover. A disputed item is tracked, not deleted.
Seven fields per snag, including a photo.
A, B, C priorities with fixed close-out windows.
The owner is the project manager, not the installer.
Walk with the installer, then walk again after fixes.
Disputed items are tracked, not deleted.
1. What snagging is
Snagging is the structured walk-through at the end of installation. It finds the defects that the installer has stopped seeing and the client has not yet noticed. Without a list, the defects become a series of phone calls after handover.
2. The seven fields
| # | Field | Content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Location | Unit, room, elevation |
| 2 | Defect | Type and description |
| 3 | Trade | Who fixes it |
| 4 | Priority | A, B or C |
| 5 | Target | Date to close |
| 6 | Owner | Who tracks it |
| 7 | Photo | Before and after |
The seven fields make the list usable by someone who was not on the walk. A list of descriptions without location is a memory aid, not a document.
3. Defect types
Common cabinet snags: door alignment, chip or scratch, missing or wrong hardware, sealant gap, benchtop joint, drawer adjustment and damage to adjacent finishes. Group them by type so the installer can fix a batch in one visit.
4. Priority
A is safety or function: a door that will not close, a drawer that falls, a benchtop that moves. B is a visible defect: a chip, a gap, a misaligned door. C is minor finish: a small mark in a hidden area. Fix A before handover, B within a week, C within a month.
5. Ownership and close-out
The project manager owns the list, not the installer. The installer fixes; the owner confirms. A close-out needs a photo and a date, otherwise the item is assumed open. The installation scope should say who fixes what.
6. The second walk
Walk again after the fixes. A single walk finds the defects; a second walk confirms the close-out. Without the second walk, the list stays open and the handover slips.
7. Reporting
Report by unit and by trade. A report that shows 40 items across 20 units tells the project manager where to send the crew. A total count tells nothing.
8. Using the template
Print one sheet per unit, walk with the installer, and photograph as you go. The installation sequence shows where the snag walk sits in the programme.
9. A checklist before you commit
Before you sign, confirm six things: the board grade, the hardware model, the finish system, the packing standard, the inspection scope and the payment schedule. Each should be in writing, not in a call. The quote checklist turns the six into a one-page comparison.
10. Common mistakes
The most common mistake is comparing a factory price with a landed cost. The second is leaving the inspection out of the budget. The third is paying the balance before the inspection is signed off. Each is avoidable with a written scope and a pre-shipment inspection.
11. How to measure the room
Measure each wall at three points, top, middle and bottom, and use the smallest. Walls are rarely square, and a 10 mm bow over three metres changes the filler. Measure the ceiling at each corner and note sockets, radiators and soil pipes before drawing. A measured survey saves more time than a faster drawing, and the measuring guide has a printable sheet.
13. A specification checklist
Write four lines for every material: the product, the grade, the thickness and the surface or edge treatment. A material specified by name alone leaves the grade to the factory, and the grade is where the cost and the performance sit.
14. Questions the factory will ask
Expect four questions: which grade, which thickness, which edge and which batch. The answers should already be in the specification. If they are not, the factory will choose, and the choice will be the cheapest that meets the drawing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snag list?
A written list of defects found at the walk-through, with location, defect, trade, priority and a target date. It is closed before handover.
Who owns the snag list?
The project manager or the client representative, not the installer. The owner keeps the list, assigns items and confirms close-out.
How should priorities work?
A for safety or function, B for visible defects, C for minor finish. Fix A before handover, B within a week, C within a month.
Do I need photos?
Yes, before and after. A photo is the evidence that the defect existed and that it was fixed.
When should the walk happen?
After installation and before handover, with the installer present. A second walk after the fixes confirms the close-out.
What if the installer disputes an item?
Record it as disputed, with a photo and the scope clause. A disputed item is still tracked; it is not deleted.
