When people talk about snagging, they often think about walking around a finished property looking for scratches, poor paintwork, or something that doesn’t quite look right.
But for me, that’s not where snagging starts.
Snagging starts with what was agreed.
The contract, specification, drawings, schedules, agreed materials and finishes, manufacturers’ requirements, relevant British Standards and Building Regulations all help establish the benchmark for the work.
But that doesn’t mean memorising every requirement before you walk onto site.
It’s about having the discipline to keep going back and checking.
As the work progresses, you’re continually referencing what was agreed against what is actually being delivered.
If you’re looking at flooring, check what was specified for the flooring.
If you’re inspecting decoration, go back to what was required for the preparation and finish.
If a product or detail is different from what you expected, don’t rely on memory or assumption. Check the specification, check the drawings, establish whether something changed and whether that change was agreed.
That’s an important part of snagging.
You’re not just looking for something that doesn’t look right.
You’re checking the work against the benchmark that was agreed.
And that process shouldn’t wait until the contractor tells you the project is finished.
It should be happening throughout the works.
Because some of the most important things you’re going to inspect won’t be visible at the end.
Pipework gets boxed in.
Cables disappear into walls and ceilings.
Floor preparation gets covered by the finished flooring.
Backgrounds disappear behind tiles, panels and other finishes.
So there are points during the work where you need to look at things before they’re covered up.
And again, go back to what was agreed.
If you’re not sure, check.
Because once something has been covered, establishing what is underneath it becomes much more difficult.
As the project gets closer to completion, the inspection changes.
Now you’re starting to look much more closely at the finished work.
And I like to be systematic.
I’ll normally work my way through the property rather than jumping from one thing to another.
Look at the walls and ceilings.
Don’t just stand directly in front of a wall. Look along it. Look from different positions and under different lighting.
You’re looking at the overall finish, but also making good, cracking, joints, damage and decoration.
Then look at the doors, frames, architraves and skirting.
But don’t just look at them.
Use them.
Open the doors.
Close them.
Check the fit.
Check the ironmongery.
Look at the joints and the finish around them.
Then the floors.
Look at the finished surface, the edges, joints and thresholds.
Walk across it.
Does anything move?
Does anything feel different underfoot?
And remember, the finish you’re looking at may only be part of the story. That’s why those earlier inspections before things were covered were important.
Move onto the windows.
Open them.
Close them.
Look at the cills, seals, reveals and the finish around the openings.
In the kitchen, it’s the same principle.
Don’t just stand at the doorway and decide that it looks good.
Open the cupboards.
Open the drawers.
Look at the worktop joints, sealant, units, sink, taps and finishes.
Look for damage.
And operate what you reasonably can.
Because something can look excellent in a photograph and still have issues when you start using it.
The bathroom is another area where I spend time.
Look at the sanitaryware, taps, shower, wall finishes, panels or tiling, sealant, flooring and ventilation.
And again, operate things.
Run the taps.
Run the shower.
Flush the WC.
Watch how the water drains.
Look underneath.
Check for leaks.
Check the fan operates.
A completed installation shouldn’t simply look complete.
It should work as intended.
And then there’s something people sometimes overlook.
Not every snag is something you can see on a wall.
There may be testing, certification, manufacturers’ information, operating instructions, maintenance information or other documentation required as part of the handover.
Your inspection shouldn’t finish simply because the rooms look complete.
So go back again.
What was actually required at handover?
Has it been provided?
When you find a snag, record it properly.
Where is it?
What’s the issue?
What should it have been?
Take a photograph where it helps.
The description should be clear enough that somebody who wasn’t standing next to you when you found it can understand what needs to be addressed.
And when the contractor tells you it’s been completed, don’t just remove it from the list.
Go back and check it.
Because completed and completed properly aren’t necessarily the same thing.
So when I think about snagging, I don’t just think about the inspection at the end.
For me, it starts much earlier.
What was agreed?
Keep going back to it.
Inspect the work as it progresses.
Look at things before they’re covered up.
Then inspect the finished work systematically.
Operate things rather than just looking at them.
Check the required information has been handed over.
And when defects are rectified, go back and make sure they’ve actually been put right.
Because good snagging isn’t about producing the longest list.
It’s about making sure what was agreed is what ultimately gets delivered.
Marlon Amele
Marlon Amele | Life. Construction. Legacy. 