QA/QC Inspection Checklist for Contractors — What to Check at Every Milestone

Mar 17, 2026

Quality control in construction isn’t about catching problems at the end — it’s about preventing them at the right moments. The most expensive mistakes are the ones discovered after the walls are closed or the concrete is poured. A structured QA/QC checklist at each milestone is how you catch them while they’re still cheap to fix.

The three most important inspection milestones

1. Pre-pour inspection

Before concrete is placed, verify:

Formwork is correctly positioned, plumb, and properly braced
Reinforcement is correctly placed, tied, and has the correct cover depth
Conduit, sleeves, and embedded hardware are positioned and secured
Subgrade is properly compacted and at the correct elevation
Any required inspections or approvals have been obtained

2. Pre-close inspection (before drywall)

Once rough-ins are complete but before walls close:

All rough electrical passes inspection — boxes, wiring, panel
Plumbing rough-in is complete, tested, and inspected
HVAC ductwork is complete and correctly connected
Insulation is installed to spec
Blocking is in place for future fixtures (TVs, grab bars, cabinets)
Any penetrations are properly fire-stopped

3. Pre-paint inspection

Before painting begins:

All drywall is taped, mudded, and sanded to spec
Any drywall repairs are complete
Trim is installed and properly caulked
All openings are correctly sized and plumb

How to document milestone inspections

The key is tying each item to photographic evidence. In Manifold, each checklist item can require a photo before the item can be marked complete. Photos are automatically GPS-tagged and timestamped, so the record shows exactly what was inspected, when, and by whom.

The completed checklist exports as a PDF that can be sent to the general contractor, project owner, or engineer as a formal inspection record. For disputed work or insurance claims, this is exactly the documentation you need.