Small Defects Can Become Bigger Problems

One of the most common reactions buyers have to a snagging report is: "are these really worth chasing the builder over?" The honest answer is: yes — often the smallest items are the ones that turn into the most expensive repairs once the warranty expires.

Here are the small defects we routinely flag in Irish new builds, and what they typically lead to if left alone.

Missing or Failed Silicone Seals

A 5cm gap in the silicone around a shower tray or bath looks trivial. In practice, every shower someone takes pushes water behind that gap. Within 6–12 months you can have:

• Swollen and lifting flooring around the bathroom
• Stained or blown plaster on the ceiling below
• Damp and mould inside walls that aren't visible until you redecorate
• Bathroom fan or extractor damage from chronic humidity

Resealing a bath while a builder is still on-site: zero cost to you. Replacing a damp-affected ceiling 18 months later: €800–€2,000 plus the redecoration.

Hairline Cracks in Plaster

Some hairline cracks in new builds are normal settlement and resolve themselves. Others are early signs of movement, poor plaster preparation, or shrinkage that will widen over winter. An experienced inspector knows the difference — and your snag list ensures the builder either monitors or remediates them before warranty starts running out.

Poor Insulation Coverage

Missing or compressed insulation in the attic, around recessed ceiling lights, or behind dry-lined walls won't show up as a "defect" you can see. But it shows up every month for the next 30 years on your gas bill. With energy prices in Ireland where they are, a small insulation gap can quietly cost you €100+ a year — that's €3,000 over the life of the issue.

Loose Sockets and Switches

A faceplate that's slightly loose against the wall seems cosmetic. Often, though, it indicates the back-box was set too deep, the wiring is unstrained but the cable clamps aren't properly tightened, or the screws were over-driven. Any of those become electrical safety risks over time as cables flex.

Trickle Vents Blocked or Painted Over

Modern Irish homes are built to high airtightness standards, which is great for energy efficiency but creates a real problem if ventilation pathways are blocked. We routinely find trickle vents (the little vents in window frames) painted shut, taped over, or installed in the wrong orientation. The consequence: humidity has nowhere to go, condensation forms on windows, mould appears in corners and behind furniture.

Drainage Issues at Ground Level

If your garden slopes towards the house, or downpipe discharges aren't directed away from foundations, surface water builds up against external walls. You won't notice anything for the first year or two. Then you'll notice damp patches on internal walls, blocked airbricks, or in worst cases, water in the wall cavity.

Why Early Detection Saves Real Money

Builders are obligated to fix defects you flag during the snagging period at no cost to you. After handover, you're typically only covered for structural issues under the 10-year HomeBond / Premier Guarantee — and even those claims involve excess fees, paperwork and time.

Catching a €40 silicone job at handover prevents a €1,500 ceiling repair in year 3. That's the simple maths behind why even "cosmetic" defects deserve to be on your snag list.

What Counts as "Small" Anyway?

A good snagging inspector documents everything visible — and lets you decide what's worth pushing on. We never grade things as "not worth mentioning". Your report is comprehensive; you're in control of which items you choose to escalate with the developer.