Fitout & Finishes · 8 checks

Carpentry & Joinery
QA inspection checklist

Carpentry and joinery installation quality audit.

Every check below carries what good looks like, when it passes, the standard it comes from and the defects that usually fail it. That guidance is what turns a tick-box into an inspection.

Materials

  1. 1.
    Timber/material type matches specification
    What to look forSpecies marked on packaging. MDF / chipboard density and grade visible on board edge. Veneered items show consistent grain, balanced veneer (back and front). FSC/PEFC chain-of-custody certificate available.
    Acceptable whenTimber to BS 1186-3 (workmanship) / BS EN 942 (general spec). Hardwood to BS EN 13556 (species). MDF to BS EN 622-5 (boards). Plywood to BS EN 636. FSC/PEFC certified for sustainability where specified.
    StandardBS EN 942:2007 — General timber spec. BS 1186-3:1990 — Workmanship in joinery. BS EN 622-5 (MDF), BS EN 636 (plywood). BS 5268 (structural timber).
    Common defectsMDF used where solid hardwood specified — visible weight/density differenceWrong species — beech for oak, visible after stainVeneer one face only — back of door un-veneered, warpsNo FSC chain-of-custody where BREEAM credit claimedWet/green timber delivered — shrinks after install
  2. 2.
    Moisture content acceptable
    Record: MC (%)
    What to look forMoisture meter reading on multiple items. Storage on site dry, off ground, covered. Conditioning period in installed environment before fixing — typically 48 hours minimum.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1186-3 / BS EN 942: MC for internal joinery 8-12%, depending on heating. Solid timber doors 10-12%. External joinery 12-19%. Conditioned in installation environment minimum 48 hours before fixing.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990. BS EN 942:2007. BS EN 13183-2 (moisture content measurement).
    Common defectsDoor delivered at 16% MC, installed in heated environment — shrinks, gaps appearNo conditioning period — installed straight from cold deliveryStorage outside or in damp conditions — swelling, fungal stainingMoisture meter not calibrated for species
  3. 3.
    Items match approved samples/shop drawings
    What to look forProfiles, dimensions, finish match shop drawings. Edge banding type and colour match. Hardware (where included) matches schedule. Hand of opening (left/right hung) correct.
    Acceptable whenAll items per shop drawings (latest revision). Workshop sample inspected and approved before production. BS 1186-3 cl.7 — workmanship dimensional tolerances ±2 mm.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990 cl.7. Project sample approval / shop drawings.
    Common defectsHand of door wrong — left hung where right hung specifiedWrong edge banding colour — supplier substitutedProfile detail simplified from shop drawing — visible in close inspectionItems shipped without sample approval first

Installation

  1. 4.
    Fixings correct and secure
    What to look forScrews/fixings at correct centres, hidden where required (pocket screws, biscuits, dominos), or covered with caps/plugs. Length adequate for substrate engagement. No splits in timber from over-driven screws.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1186-3 / BS 8000-5: fixings concealed where shown. Visible fixing centres typically 200-300 mm. Screw engagement min 25 mm into substrate. No splits or visible damage from fixing.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5:1990 — Workmanship — Carpentry, joinery and general fixings.
    Common defectsOver-driven screws split timber — torque too highVisible screws where caps/plugs specifiedFixing into plasterboard with no engagement to studInsufficient fixings — items move under hand pressureWrong screw type — chipboard screws into hardwood, threads strip
  2. 5.
    Joints tight and clean
    What to look forMitred joints close — no light showing through. Scribed joints follow profile of mating surface (e.g. coved skirting at uneven floor). Mortise and tenon joints flush, no proud shoulders. Glue not visible at joint line.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1186-3: joints to be tight, max 1 mm gap. Glue lines invisible. Mitres to be sharp and aligned to ±0.5 mm.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5.
    Common defectsOpen mitres at corners — gaps visible after paintGlue squeeze-out not cleaned before set — visible white lineSkirting not scribed at uneven floors — gap at baseMortise & tenon shoulder gaps — joint not pulled tightFiller used to disguise open joints — visible after first season
  3. 6.
    Items level and plumb
    Record: Deviation (mm)
    What to look forLevel checked with spirit level or laser. Plumb on vertical components — frames, posts, balustrade. Doors hang plumb — close evenly without binding. Skirting follows the floor (level) but doesn't track slope of an out-of-level slab.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1186-3: level ±2 mm in 1 m, plumb ±2 mm in storey height. Door frames plumb — door swings freely without latching to itself.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5.
    Common defectsDoor frame out of plumb — door swings open or shut on its ownSkirting follows out-of-level floor — looks wonky against horizontal worktopBuilt-in furniture not level — drawers slide openPicture rail not level around room — visible against ceiling line
  4. 7.
    Ironmongery fitted and functional
    What to look forHinges aligned, screws fully driven into pilot holes (not splitting timber). Locks engage smoothly with strike plate. Door closers adjusted (final speed ≤ 5 sec, latching action positive). Handles secure.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 8214 (timber doors) / BS EN 1935 (hinges). Door swing 90°+ without obstruction. Closer adjusted per manufacturer. Fire door ironmongery CE/UKCA marked, certified to BS EN 1634-1 fire test of full assembly.
    StandardBS 8214:2016 — Timber-based fire door assemblies. BS EN 1935 — Hinges. BS EN 1154 — Door closers.
    Common defectsHinges out of alignment — door binds at top or bottomCloser too fast — door slams; too slow — does not latchStrike plate misaligned — door does not lockNon-fire ironmongery on fire door — full assembly fails BS EN 1634-1Screws pulled through — wrong type or pilot hole missed
  5. 8.
    Finish quality acceptable
    What to look forSurface inspected under raking light. No tear-out, machine marks, or sanding scratches across grain. Lacquer/paint finish smooth — no orange peel, runs, or bloom. Edges crisp, not rounded over from over-sanding.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 1186-3 cl.5 finish quality classes: Class 1 (highest finish — visible faces), Class 2 (moderate visibility), Class 3 (concealed). Lacquer DFT per spec. Sanding final 240 grit minimum on Class 1.
    StandardBS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5. PSA Painting Specification (paint to joinery).
    Common defectsCross-grain sanding scratches visible after stainTear-out at end grain — not finished with end-grain sealerMachine marks visible — final sanding skippedLacquer runs at vertical surfaces — applied too heavyOrange peel from spray — pressure or thinning wrong

Questions people ask

What is a carpentry & joinery QA inspection for?

To record that the work was checked against the specification before it was covered up or handed over: a pass or fail against each item, a measurement where one matters, and a photo where it failed. It is the evidence a client's quantity surveyor or clerk of works asks for, and the thing that settles the argument at final account.

What standards does this checklist check against?

Each item names its reference. On this checklist that includes BS EN 942:2007, BS 1186-3:1990. BS EN 942:2007. BS EN 13183-2 (moisture content measurement)., BS 1186-3:1990 cl.7. Project sample approval / shop drawings., BS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5:1990, BS 1186-3:1990. BS 8000-5., BS 8214:2016. The contract specification and the approved drawings always take precedence over a general standard; where they say something stricter, inspect to that.

Who signs a QA inspection off?

The person who carried out the check, named and dated, and where the contract calls for it the client's representative as a witness. The signature records that the check was done and what was found. It is not a warranty of the work.

How many items are on it, and do I have to use them all?

8 checks across 2 sections. Delete what does not apply to the job and add anything the specification asks for that is not here. A checklist that has plainly been thought about carries more weight than a long one nobody read.

Is this useful for a subcontractor as well as a main contractor?

More so. The subcontractor is the one who gets asked to come back and open something up. A signed inspection sheet with photos at the time is the cheapest insurance on a construction site.

Run this inspection on a phone

The same 8 checks, with the guidance a tap away, photos against each fail, measurements recorded, an NCR raised automatically and a branded PDF at the end. Signed on site. 14 days free.

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