Property types
Sorting bathroom snags in a new-build home
Common mistakes to avoid
Silicone perishing within the first year around trays and baths is common on new builds and is best re-done with a proper key and full bead rather than smeared over the old line.
The short answer
New-build bathrooms are built fast to a developer specification, and the most common issues are not visible until the house has been lived in for a few weeks: silicone shrinking back, poor falls to waste and taps that were fitted before final adjustment. The floor build-up is usually a concrete slab or engineered joists, so access to correct pipework often means lifting the sanitaryware rather than the floorboards.
What the building imposes
- A shower tray with a slow-draining flat spot is almost always a fall issue from the original install
- and it is worth resolving properly rather than living with standing water.
- Silicone perishing within the first year
- around trays and baths is common on new builds and is best re-done with a proper key and full bead rather than smeared over the old line.
- Where the developer used a shared soil stack for several bathrooms
- noise transfer between rooms is often more noticeable than in an older solid-walled house.
Frequently asked
Is snagging covered by the developer warranty?
Many defects fall under the structural warranty period, but cosmetic sealant and adjustment issues are often outside it, it is worth checking the specific policy before paying for repairs.
Why does the shower pressure feel different from the display model?
Display suites are often plumbed on a dedicated supply; actual pressure depends on the pipe sizing and any other outlets running at the same time in the finished house.
Rather speak to someone than fill in a form?
Ring during the working day and you will get an answer from the person who would be on site, not a call centre.