When you move into a new build home, the quality of the painting and decorating should be of a high standard throughout. The NHBC Standards 2026, Chapter 9.5, set out clear requirements for how painting and decorating work should be carried out in new build properties. Understanding these standards can help you identify potential defects and hold your developer to account if the finish falls short.
Below, we break down each section of Chapter 9.5 so you know exactly what to expect from your new home.
9.5.1 Compliance
All painting and decorating in your new build home must comply with the NHBC’s Technical Requirements. The standards reference BS 6150 (Painting of buildings, Code of practice), which governs how paint finishes should be selected and applied. In practice, this means your developer cannot simply cut corners with cheap materials or rushed application, as the work is expected to meet recognised industry standards. If the painting in your home looks uneven, patchy, or poorly finished, it may well fall below these requirements.
9.5.2 Provision of Information
Before any painting or decorating work begins on site, the developer should have produced clear designs and specifications. These documents should include details of the preparatory work required, a schedule of finishes for each area, and information about any specialist finishes. This matters to you as a homeowner because it means the decorating in your property should follow a defined plan rather than being left to guesswork. If finishes appear inconsistent from room to room, it could indicate that proper specifications were not followed.
9.5.3 Storage
Paint and decorating materials must be properly stored on site, protected from the weather, and kept in dry conditions. Materials that have been damaged by frost should not be used. While you are unlikely to witness the storage conditions yourself, the effects of poorly stored materials can show up in your finished home as flaking, peeling, or paint that does not adhere properly to surfaces. These are all items a snagging inspection can identify.
9.5.4 Conditions for Painting and Decorating
The conditions under which painting and decorating are carried out have a significant impact on the quality of the finished result. According to the NHBC Standards, external painting should not be done in adverse weather, when frost is expected, on moist surfaces, or when rain is likely before the paint dries. For internal walls, cold surfaces can cause problems with water-borne paints even when the air temperature is above freezing, and surfaces must be free from condensation and dust before coatings are applied.
If you notice paint that is bubbling, cracking, or flaking shortly after moving in, it could be a sign that work was carried out in unsuitable conditions. This is particularly common in homes completed during the colder months.
9.5.5 Timber
Timber is one of the more detailed areas covered by the standards, and with good reason. All paintwork on timber and timber-based materials must be compatible with the species of wood, provide adequate protection, and be suitable for the intended use and location. The timber’s moisture content should be no more than 18% when painted, and all surfaces should be properly prepared beforehand. This preparation includes removing door and window furniture, cutting out unsound wood and loose knots, filling nail holes and imperfections, and ensuring surfaces are free from dirt, dust, and moisture.
For external woodwork, a full coat of primer should be applied to all surfaces to be painted, including hidden surfaces, cut ends, and glazing rebates. A minimum of one priming coat, one undercoat, and one finishing coat is required unless the manufacturer recommends otherwise, and each coat should be applied within one month of the previous one. Paint should not be thinned unless the manufacturer specifically advises it.
Stain and varnish work also has clear requirements. Interior varnish should have a minimum of three coats, and the NHBC advises that clear varnishes on exterior surfaces should be avoided altogether due to their short service life. Prefabricated joinery should arrive on site primed and be protected from damage during construction.
During a snagging inspection, our inspectors will assess visible paintwork on timber elements such as doors, windows, skirting boards, and staircases for signs of poor preparation, missed coats, or inadequate finishing.
9.5.6 Steel
Where steelwork has decorative finishes, these must provide adequate protection and be suitable for the location. Any decorative coatings applied over protective treatments (including intumescent paint used for fire resistance) must be compatible with those treatments, and the manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed. If protective coatings have been damaged, they should be repaired before any decorative finishes are applied. Galvanised steel requires suitable preparation with a mordant wash before decorative finishes can be applied.
9.5.7 Walls
Walls must be finished to provide an even and consistent appearance. The standards address both external masonry and rendering, and internal plaster and plasterboard surfaces.
For external masonry and rendering, paint and decorative finishes should be appropriate for the surface, applied in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, and only used on clean surfaces free from dust and loose deposits. Importantly, finishes should not be applied to external brickwork or render where they could trap moisture and cause problems such as frost damage or sulfate attack.
For internal plaster and plasterboard surfaces, a sealing coat should be applied to dry lining before decoration. Surfaces must be properly prepared: they should be visibly sound without signs of powdering or crumbling, joints and cracks should be filled, and the surface should be rubbed down and dusted where necessary. Surfaces should be stabilised with either thinned paint or a sealant as recommended by the manufacturer, and a minimum of two coats of paint should be applied. Crucially, plaster must have adequate time to dry before decorating begins.
If you notice paint that appears patchy, is flaking, or shows signs of poor adhesion on your internal walls, it may indicate that the plaster was not given sufficient drying time or that the surface was not properly prepared before painting.
9.5.8 Wallpapering
Where wallpaper or wall coverings are used in your new home, they must be finished to provide an even and consistent appearance. Surfaces should be dry, even, and smooth before wallpaper is applied, and should be sized or sealed as necessary. The adhesive used must be in accordance with the wallpaper manufacturer’s recommendations. The paper itself should be properly aligned and neatly fixed, and electrical switch plates should be temporarily removed so that the paper can be accurately trimmed to tuck behind the fitting.
Misaligned patterns, bubbling, lifting edges, or wallpaper that has been cut around switch plates rather than tucked behind them are all common defects that may be identified during a snagging inspection.
9.5.9 Other Surfaces
The standards also cover a few specific situations worth knowing about. For glazing rebates in windows and doors that have been treated with stains, linseed-oil putty should not be used, and appropriate sealants should be specified instead. The insides of metal gutters (other than aluminium) should be painted with a suitable protective paint, and non-ferrous pipework such as copper pipes should be painted with normal decorative finishes.
9.5.10 Completed Painting and Decorating
This final section sets out the standard of finish you should expect across your entire new build home. Completed paintwork must meet established levels of workmanship and be suitably protected until handover. Specifically, the standards require that surfaces not intended to be painted should be free of paint marks, that paint should be evenly applied and free from conspicuous runs or prominent brush marks, and that the background or undercoat should not be visible through the top coat. Where ironmongery was removed for painting, it should be correctly replaced afterwards. Any paint that has been spilt, splashed, or badly applied should be removed and reapplied, and all finished paintwork should be protected against dirt and damage until the property is handed over to you.
This section is particularly relevant during a snagging inspection, as paint runs, brush marks, splashes on floors and fittings, and visible undercoat are among the most commonly found defects in new build homes. While these may seem like minor cosmetic issues, they reflect the overall standard of care taken during construction and you are well within your rights to have them rectified.
How New Build Inspections Can Help
Our professional snagging inspections assess the quality of painting and decorating throughout your new build home as part of a comprehensive review of the property’s finish. While a snagging inspection is not a full structural survey, it is specifically designed to identify the kinds of cosmetic and workmanship defects covered by these NHBC Standards, from poorly prepared timber and patchy wall finishes to paint splashes and uneven wallpapering.
If you are approaching completion on your new build home, or have recently moved in and want to ensure everything is up to standard, get in touch with us to arrange your snagging inspection. Our detailed reports give you the evidence you need to ensure your developer addresses any issues promptly and to the standard you deserve.
