Painting Inspection

Per PDCA P1, all surfaces must be clean, dry, and free of contaminants before painting. Drywall must be primed before finish coat. Glossy surfaces must be deglossed or sanded. All holes, cracks, and imperfections must be filled and sanded smooth.

1. Run a hand over surfaces — should be smooth with no bumps or rough patches

2. Check that all nail holes and imperfections are filled and sanded

3. Verify primer has been applied to new drywall (look for consistent sheen)

4. Check that trim and millwork are properly caulked at wall transitions

5. Verify masking and protection of adjacent surfaces

- Painting over unfilled nail holes or cracks

- Skipping primer on new drywall (causes uneven absorption)

- Paint over dust or debris creating bumpy finish

- Inadequate caulking at trim-to-wall joints

Per PDCA P1 Level 4 (premium), paint must provide complete, uniform coverage with no visible substrate, holidays (missed spots), or thin areas. Color must be consistent across all surfaces. Minimum two coats over primer.

1. Use a raking light at low angle to check for holidays and thin spots

2. Compare color across all walls in each room — should be uniform

3. Check for proper coverage at edges, corners, and around fixtures

4. Verify no substrate (drywall, primer) is visible through finish coat

5. Check for consistent sheen level across surfaces

- Holidays (missed spots) visible in raking light

- Uneven color from insufficient coats

- Lap marks from inconsistent technique

- Flashing (sheen variation) from over-working or temperature issues

Per PDCA P1, cut lines (where two colors or surfaces meet) must be straight and clean. No bleeding, overlapping, or wavering at transitions between walls, ceilings, trim, and different colors.

1. Inspect ceiling-to-wall transitions for straight cut lines

2. Check wall-to-trim transitions for clean edges

3. Verify no paint on fixtures, hardware, windows, or floors

4. Check around outlets and switches for neat edges

5. Inspect color transitions between rooms at door frames

- Wavy or uneven cut lines at ceiling

- Paint on trim, hardware, or glass

- Inconsistent cut line quality between areas

- Bleed-through at color transitions