Buying a new-build home is an exciting time and a major milestone for many homeowners. However, while new homes come with many benefits, they are still not free from issues. According to an expert, many new-build homes contain hidden defects that homeowners often overlook or wrongly believe are normal. If not caught in time, these problems can become costly to fix in the future.
One of these repairs includes adequate insulation of pipes and tanks. This repair is often overlooked but could lead to pipe bursting and cost thousands of pounds to fix.
Andrew Pemberton, a chartered building engineer at the Professional Snagging Company, said: “It can be exciting owning your first home and in that excitement, you may not spot sloppy finishes or small damages that seem insignificant, but if left, some of these problems can grow and cause major issues down the line.”
Poor insulation is particularly concerning during colder months when uninsulated pipes are vulnerable to freezing, which can lead to them expanding and eventually bursting.
He added: “If something isn’t visible to the homeowner then there is a chance that it can get missed, this is the case here where pipe insulation is either missing or too thin and if the pipe were to explode during the colder months the water damage can be devastating.”
“Fixing a burst pipe isn’t just about replacing the pipe, you could be looking at £2000+ worth of damages when you consider replacing damaged furniture, materials and redecorating, and that’s before you have to deal with the stress of dealing with your insurance too. All of this can be avoided if homeowners know where to check and what to look out for. “
The expert said to check attics, garages and external walls for pipes that aren’t insulated.
Your water tank also needs to be fully jacketed with insulation wrap and if you see any bare pipework in cold areas of your house it should be immediately addressed.
Other common defects which can lead to costly repairs include untidy plasterwork, poor tile grout, cracks in walls, damaged window and door frames, uneven stair treads, and damaged skirting boards.
While homeowners have up to two years to report issues under their new-build warranty, many developers only accept one formal snagging report, meaning after that, homeowners may have to fix the problems themselves.
Pemberton warned that most developers allow just one report, so you shouldn’t assume you can gradually report issues.
