Drywall Finish Level Acceptance Audit

Inspection template for verifying drywall finish level acceptance per GA-214, including lighting conditions, taping quality, primer coverage, and final finish appearance.

Inspection Setup and Reference Conditions

• Project area and drywall scope identified
  Record the room, elevation, wall/ceiling area, gridline, or other scope being inspected.
• Reference standard available on site
  GA-214 acceptance criteria or project specification is available for comparison.
• Viewing conditions match specified inspection method
  Confirm the surface was evaluated under the intended lighting and viewing distance.
• Inspection lighting intensity measured
  Record measured light level at the inspection plane.
• Surface is clean, dry, and free of dust or debris that could obscure defects
  Dust, overspray, or debris should not prevent a valid visual assessment.
• Inspection photos captured for representative areas and any deficiencies
  Include overall views and close-ups of any non-conformances.

Drywall Taping and Joint Treatment

• Joint tape is fully embedded with no visible blisters, wrinkles, or loose edges
  Inspect taped joints for adhesion, continuity, and surface integrity.
• Butt joints are feathered and blended without abrupt ridges
  Assess the smoothness and transition of butt joints under the specified lighting.
• Inside and outside corners are straight, uniform, and free of cracking
  Corner bead and corner finish should show consistent alignment and no visible separation.
• Fastener heads are properly covered and not telegraphing through the finish
  Screw or nail heads should not be visible as dimples, pops, or ridges.
• Surface shows no evidence of shrinkage cracks, edge cracking, or joint separation
  Check all accessible joints and transitions for cracking or movement-related defects.
• Observed taping or joint treatment deficiencies documented
  List locations and describe any observed non-conformances requiring rework.

Primer and Base Coat Evaluation

• Primer applied to all required drywall surfaces
  Confirm primer coverage matches the project specification and finish system.
• Primer coverage is uniform with no missed spots, holidays, or thin areas
  Look for visible substrate show-through, lap marks, or inconsistent absorption.
• Primer seals repaired areas and joint compound consistently
  Assess whether repaired areas blend with adjacent surfaces after priming.
• Primer defects observed
  Select all primer-related defects observed during inspection.
• Primer-related non-conformances documented with corrective action
  Describe the deficiency, location, and required rework or touch-up.

Final Finish Appearance

• Surface is free of visible tool marks, ridges, or sanding scratches at normal viewing distance
  Inspect the finish at the specified viewing distance and lighting angle.
• Texture and sheen are uniform across adjacent surfaces
  Evaluate consistency of texture, sheen, and visual blend between patches and field areas.
• No visible flashing, shadowing, or telegraphing under specified lighting
  Check for defects that become apparent under raking light or daylight.
• Surface is free of dents, gouges, pinholes, and other visible imperfections
  Document any visible surface damage or finish defects.
• Final finish appearance rating
  Overall visual assessment of the finished drywall surface.

Final Acceptance and Sign-Off

• Overall inspection result
  Select the final acceptance status for the inspected area.
• Open deficiencies requiring corrective action
  List all remaining deficiencies, responsible party, and target completion date.
• Inspector signature
  Inspector signs to confirm the accuracy of the assessment and findings.