Jake
27 Oct 2025
(And How to Spot Them Before Handover)
Don’t let hidden defects become expensive headaches. Snagging is the process of identifying and documenting defects and incomplete work in a new build before you complete or release final payment. From cosmetic imperfections to functional faults, snags can affect comfort, safety, and resale value if they’re not caught early.
CertiBuild provides independent Professional Snagging Services, along with Structural Warranties and Professional Consultants Certificates, delivered by qualified Approved Building Inspectors. We operate a simple three-step process - Quote → Inspection → Certification - to give you assurance and a clear path to resolution. This guide highlights the top 10 snagging issues homeowners often miss, how our inspectors identify them, and quick tips from our checklist to help you prevent or correct them.
1) Windows and Glazing
- Common symptoms
- Draughts around frames; stiff operation; visible gaps or missing sealant; scratched or cracked panes; condensation between panes.
- Likely causes
- Poor installation, misaligned frames, inadequate sealing, or damage during fit-out.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Operate every window; assess alignment, seals, and finishes; check glazing for blemishes; document with photos in a structured report.
- Checklist tip
- Open/close each window fully; check locks and restrictors; inspect perimeter sealant inside and out; note any scratches visible in natural light.
2) Plaster and Drylining
- Common symptoms
- Cracks at corners and around openings; trowel marks; uneven surfaces; popped fixings; gaps at ceiling/wall junctions.
- Likely causes
- Movement, rushed finishing, insufficient jointing, or inadequate drying time.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Visual sweep under natural and artificial light; check joints, reveals, and high-traffic areas; record pattern and location of defects.
- Checklist tip
- View walls at an angle with lights on; run a straight edge along suspect areas; mark hairline cracks and poor feathering for remedial filling and redecoration.
3) Brickwork and Pointing
- Common symptoms
- Inconsistent mortar joints; cracking; staining; spalled bricks; uneven coursing; wide or recessed joints.
- Likely causes
- Inconsistent mix or curing, workmanship issues, or weather exposure during laying.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Elevation-by-elevation review; check bonding, joint uniformity, weep holes, and damp-course alignment; photograph defects for contractor action.
- Checklist tip
- Walk the perimeter; look for missing or clogged weep vents; note mortar smears on brick faces; ensure air bricks and DPCs are unobstructed.
4) Joinery and Carpentry (Skirting, Stairs, Handrails)
- Common symptoms
- Gaps at skirting and architraves; creaking stairs; loose handrails; uneven mitres; swollen edges on timber products.
- Likely causes
- Poor fixing, rushed trims, or moisture exposure before final finishes.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Physical checks of fixings and rigidity; visual review of joints and mitres; confirm continuity of finish and safe operation of handrails.
- Checklist tip
- Lightly press along skirting/handrails for movement; inspect mitred corners; confirm nosing and baluster spacing are consistent and secure.
5) Plumbing and Heating
- Common symptoms
- Drips at traps and valves; low water pressure; radiators not heating evenly; noisy pipework; incorrect appliance seals.
- Likely causes
- Loose connections, unbalanced system, or incomplete commissioning.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Run taps and showers; check visible pipework; inspect sanitary seals; review radiator performance; record any damp staining.
- Checklist tip
- Turn on all outlets; check under sinks after flow; feel each radiator top-to-bottom; verify silicone seals around baths, showers, and basins are continuous.
6) Tiling and Grout
- Common symptoms
- Lippage (uneven tile edges), hollow sounds, cracked grout, inconsistent spacers, poor silicone lines.
- Likely causes
- Uneven substrate, incorrect adhesive bed, or rushed finishing.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Visual inspection across natural light; check grout lines and movement joints; tap test selective areas; document areas of lippage.
- Checklist tip
- Look across tiled floors/walls at eye level; check corners and edges; ensure grout is consistent and movement joints/silicone are neat and intact.
7) Paint and Finishes
- Common symptoms
- Missed patches, runs, roller marks, brush hairs, poor cutting-in, paint on fixtures/floors.
- Likely causes
- Insufficient prep, inadequate number of coats, or rushed decoration.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Room-by-room review in good light; inspect edges, high walls/ceilings, and behind doors; note contamination and coverage issues.
- Checklist tip
- Check edges at ceilings, around sockets, and behind radiators; run a clean cloth along surfaces to reveal dust nibs; list rooms needing touch-ups.
8) Doors and Ironmongery
- Common symptoms
- Doors catching, not latching, rubbing flooring; loose handles; misaligned hinges; inconsistent gaps; poor fire door seals (where applicable).
- Likely causes
- Seasonal movement, poor hanging/planing, or incorrect hardware fitting.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Operate every door; check clearances, latches, stops, and closers where fitted; verify seals are continuous and undamaged.
- Checklist tip
- Open/close each door; confirm smooth latch; look for even gaps around the leaf; tighten any visibly loose screws and note adjustments required.
9) Electrical Fixtures and Fittings
- Common symptoms
- Loose socket/switch plates; non-functioning lights; missing caps/blanking plates; poor alignment of fittings.
- Likely causes
- Incomplete fix-off, misaligned back boxes, or unfinished final fix.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Functional checks of switches and lighting; visual review of faceplates, alignment, and finish quality; flag items for a qualified electrician if necessary.
- Checklist tip
- Test every switch and socket with a simple device; check that fixtures are level and secure; ensure no exposed cabling is visible at terminations.
10) Roofing and Rainwater Goods
- Common symptoms
- Slipped or chipped tiles; poorly fixed ridge/hip caps; misaligned gutters; leaks at joints; missing or short downpipe spurs.
- Likely causes
- Weather exposure during install, inadequate fixings, or incorrect falls.
- How CertiBuild detects it
- Ground-level visual scan of rooflines, flashings, and valleys; check gutter alignment, joints, outlets, and downpipes; document with telephoto images where appropriate.
- Checklist tip
- Inspect after rain for drips or overflow; ensure gutters fall toward outlets; look for staining on brickwork beneath joints indicating leaks.
Why work with CertiBuild
- Independent, professional assurance: Delivered by experienced Approved Building Inspectors with clear, detailed reporting that helps you secure timely remediation.
- One provider, simple process: Quote → Inspection → Certification streamlines your path from snag list to sign-off and lender confidence.
- End-to-end protection: From Professional Snagging Services to Structural Warranties and Professional Consultants Certificates, we help protect your investment throughout the build journey.
Don’t let hidden defects become expensive headaches. Download our free Snagging Checklist to guide your final walkthrough and ensure nothing gets missed.
When you’re ready, book a Professional Snagging Service and let CertiBuild provide an independent, comprehensive report you can act on with your builder.
Download the Snagging Checklist: https://www.certibuild.co.uk/_files/ugd/60bedd_c19be667ef344cd48c0cf137049adc75.pdf?index=true
Secondary CTA: Request a Quote for a Professional Snagging Service