Surface damage is one of the most common categories of snagging defect on new build properties. Chips, scratches, cracks and marks on kitchen worktops, bathroom surfaces, flooring and joinery are found on almost every new development — from individual houses to large apartment schemes.

Here is what developers, buyers and site managers need to know about new build snagging repair.

Why Surface Damage Occurs on New Builds

New build properties go through months of construction activity, with multiple trades working in confined spaces. Even with careful site management, surface damage is almost inevitable:

Kitchen worktops are installed early and then used as work surfaces by subsequent trades
Bathroom fittings are installed before decorating, exposing them to paint splashes and impact
Floor finishes are laid before the building is watertight, risking moisture damage
Appliance installation and joinery fitting causes chips and scratches on adjacent surfaces
Materials are moved through finished spaces during completion works

The result is a list of surface defects that need to be addressed before handover — or that buyers identify during their snagging inspection.

Common New Build Surface Defects

Kitchen worktops
Chips on granite, quartz and Corian worktops — often from tools or materials placed on them during fitting. Burns and scratches from subsequent trades working in the kitchen.
Bathroom surfaces
Chips in baths and shower trays from objects dropped during installation. Scratches on tiles. Paint on sanitaryware.
Flooring
Scratches and indentations on hardwood and engineered floors. Chips in tiles. Damage to LVT and vinyl from heavy equipment.
Doors and joinery
Chips and scratches on door faces and frames, architraves and skirting boards. Paint on glazing. Handle installation damage.
Windows
Scratches on glass from building work. Paint or plaster on uPVC and aluminium frames.

How We Work with Developers

We work with developers and contractors at all stages of the construction and completion process:

Pre-handover snagging resolution
We attend site, assess the snagging list and carry out all surface repairs ahead of buyer handover. This is the most cost-effective time to address damage — before buyers are in occupation and before any defect becomes a formal complaint.
Post-handover defect resolution
For defects identified by buyers after handover and notified within the defects liability period, we carry out repairs on occupied properties with minimum disruption.
Programme management
For large developments, we work to the site programme — attending in batches as plots complete, or carrying out a final pre-handover sweep across a phase before legal completion.

Working with Buyers

Buyers who identify surface defects during their snagging inspection — whether before or after legal completion — can instruct us directly. We provide a full photographic report of findings and repairs, which is useful for correspondence with the developer.

Pricing for New Build Snagging

For individual properties, repairs are priced per item in the same way as any other surface repair. For developers and contractors working across multiple plots, we offer programme pricing that reflects the volume and logistics of site-based work.