Top 25 Common Snagging Defects in Dublin

Back to Blog

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.

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

Unfilled gap behind a guest-toilet WC exposing pipework, photographed during a snagging inspection in Dublin — **Caught on a real inspection:** guest toilet — gap behind the WC exposing the plumbing. Builder action: fill and repaint.

Leak detected at the base of a 2nd-floor en-suite shower head — **Caught on a real inspection:** 2nd-floor en-suite — leak at the shower head fixing.

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

Water pooling on the floor under a leaking radiator in a guest toilet — **Caught on a real inspection:** guest toilet — radiator leaking onto the floor.

Thermal-imaging scan of a master-bedroom radiator showing uneven heat distribution and a cold central panel — **Thermal imaging finds what the eye can't:** master bedroom — radiator not heating evenly (visible cold central panel).

External (24–25)

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

External electrical socket box on the rear elevation of a new build, flagged for incorrect position — **Back elevation:** external socket position to be checked and confirmed by the electrician — small detail, easy to miss on handover day.

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.

Need a professional snagging inspection?

Book a SnagSafe inspection before handover and protect your investment. Free quote, no obligation.

Get Your Free Quote