How to write a snag list your developer can't ignore
Most disagreements with developers aren't about whether a mark exists. They're about how it was judged. Use the same viewing rules NHBC uses, and your list will be hard to argue with.
The viewing rules
| What | How to look | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walls, ceilings, paint, skirting joints | From 2m, in natural daylight, with wall lights and uplighters off. No torch shining across the surface. | NHBC 9.1.3, 9.1.10 |
| Kitchen units, wardrobes, baths, basins, WCs, shower trays | From 0.5m in daylight. In rooms with no window, use the room's fixed lights, not a torch. | NHBC 9.1.8, 9.1.11 |
| Glass | From inside the room, 2m away (3m for toughened, laminated or coated glass), in daylight. Ignore the 6mm strip at the edge. | NHBC 9.1.6 |
| Outside walls | From at least 10m, in daylight, judging the wall as a whole rather than single bricks. | NHBC 9.1.2 |
| Sealant joints | From 2m where the room allows. | NHBC 9.1.9 |
Measuring flatness
Professionals use a straightedge on two identical spacer blocks and measure the gap to the wall along its length. For a homeowner, this simpler method works: hold your 2m level flat against the surface, find the biggest gap underneath it, and measure that gap with your gauge. If it's clearly bigger than the tolerance, note it with the measurement. If it's borderline, note it as borderline: a professional can confirm it.
Measuring level and plumb
For floors and ceilings, the standard is 3mm per metre. Place one end of your level on the floor, lift the low end until the bubble is centred, and measure the gap. Over a 2m level, a gap of more than 6mm is outside the standard. For walls and door frames, hold the level upright and measure the gap at the bottom or top.
Writing a snag the developer can't misread
Every good snag answers three questions: where exactly, what you see, and why it falls short. SnagCoach adds the "why" (the standard) for you. You add the where and the what.
Vague: "Bedroom wall not flat."
Clear: "Bedroom 2, wall behind the door, 1.2m from the window corner. 6mm gap under a 2m level, measured horizontally at 1.5m high."
Taking photos that work
- Take two photos of every snag: a wide shot showing where it is in the room, then a close-up.
- Put your tape measure or gauge in the close-up so the size is obvious.
- For things that only show at an angle, photograph from the viewing distance too, so the developer sees what you saw.
How snags are grouped
Every check in SnagCoach carries a label, so your list shows what matters most:
- Safety Safety risk: report it straight away, don't wait for your full list.
- Regulations Looks like it doesn't follow Building Regulations guidance.
- Function Doesn't work, leaks, or isn't fitted properly.
- Finish Finish or tolerance outside NHBC's standards.
- Paperwork Missing handover information.
Rugby Snagging Co. isn't connected with or endorsed by NHBC, the New Homes Quality Board or the New Homes Ombudsman Service.