External Works Snag List
External works need a location system that still makes sense after temporary site features disappear. Record accessible observations using permanent landmarks and route descriptions, then distinguish visible condition from technical performance questions.
By Blu Mint Digital. 3 minute read. Last reviewed .
Define the accessible route
Begin with the areas included in the walk: entrance, courtyard, paths or other agreed external zones. Record areas excluded by active work, locked gates, weather or unsafe access. Keep observations to places you can inspect safely under the site arrangements; this is not a roof or work-at-height inspection guide.
Use permanent references such as the main entry, building elevation or fixed boundary feature. “Beside the skip” stops being helpful when the skip leaves. Include a wide photo showing how to approach the item.
Record distinct external items
- Paving and surfaces: identify visible marks, incomplete areas or transitions for assessment.
- Gates and fences: identify the particular bay, panel or opening.
- Landscaping: distinguish unfinished planting or edging from a later maintenance concern.
- Exposed finishes: record the elevation and exact position.
- Stored materials and protection: note what prevents a complete view.
- Missing information: list questions about scope or completion separately.
Do not infer drainage adequacy, structural stability or boundary ownership from appearance alone. Record the concern and route it to the competent person. Weather and recent site activity may affect observations, so preserve relevant conditions in the note.
Worked example for an unfinished edge
For example: “Courtyard path, segment beside main entry planter. Approximately one short section of edging absent; remaining section visible in context photo. Area presented for handover walk; completion timing not supplied.” If you provide a dimension, state whether it was measured or estimated.
Ask whether the item is included in the agreed scope and who will confirm completion. If adjacent planting depends on the edging, record that dependency. Avoid duplicating the same observation under both landscaping and paving without a clear reason for separate records.
Make the return visit repeatable
In Site Audit, use consistent zone names and contractor assignments. Pro can create a focused PDF for the relevant company, but a coordinator may still need the full report to understand interfaces between trades. Explain the selected scope when sending each file.
At the return, photograph from the same route and record the actual outcome. If foliage, stored materials or renewed work obscures the item, state that it was not verified. Keep the original location description available even if the appearance has changed. The location naming system helps keep external observations as traceable as indoor room records.