Top 25 Common Defects Found During a Snagging Inspection in Dublin

After hundreds of inspections across Dublin estates, we see the same defects appear again and again. This list ranks the 25 most common issues found during a snagging inspection in Dublin, grouped by category — so you know what to look for if you're inspecting your own new build before booking a professional snag. Nothing here replaces a professional snag list, but it tells you where to start.

Cosmetic Defects (1–7)

• Paint roller marks, drips and missed cut-ins around skirting
• Scratches and chips on internal door faces
• Scratches on window glass from construction debris
• Damaged or marked kitchen unit doors
• Worktop edges chipped during installation
• Paint overspray on hinges, sockets and skirting
• Visible filler patches that haven't been painted over

Doors, Windows & Joinery (8–13)

• Internal doors that don't latch or close cleanly
• Wardrobe doors misaligned or scraping the frame
• Window restrictors missing or not engaging
• Trickle vents stiff or painted shut
• Front door seals not making full contact
• Skirting and architrave gaps not caulked

Plumbing & Bathrooms (14–19)

• Silicone sealant gaps around baths, showers and basins
• Slow draining showers due to debris in trap
• Toilet cistern fill and flush not adjusted
• Tile lippage on bathroom walls
• Hot/cold tap reversed
• Visible plumbing leaks at isolation valves

Electrical & Heating (20–23)

• Faulty or loose sockets and switches
• Smoke or CO alarms not commissioned
• Radiator valves not fully bled — cold spots at top
• Consumer unit circuits unlabelled or mis-labelled

The room-by-room detail behind items 1–23 is set out in our guide to the interior items checked during snagging.

External (24–25)

The two below are the ones we flag most often, and the full list of exterior checks during snagging covers the rest of the outside of the property.

• Render hairline cracks at junctions
• Gutter alignment causing drip points or pooling

None of these are deal-breakers individually — but together they add up. A documented snag list, like the one you'll receive from SnagSafe's Dublin snagging service, gets them fixed under your developer's defects period rather than at your expense later.

For a wider view of what an inspection covers, see our complete Dublin snagging guide, what to expect on the day during a new build snagging inspection Dublin, and for pricing see what a snagging inspection cost Dublin buyers typically pay.