When you purchase a new build home, you naturally expect everything to be finished to a high standard. The kitchen cupboards should close properly, the skirting boards should fit neatly against the walls, and the worktops should be securely installed and sealed. But what exactly defines a “high standard” in the new build industry, and how can you know if your home meets it?
This is where the NHBC Standards come in. Chapter 9.4 specifically addresses finishings and fitments, providing detailed guidance on everything from kitchen installations to internal trim and joinery. Understanding these standards can help you recognise what you should expect in your new home and, importantly, identify issues that should be addressed during the snagging period.
The NHBC Standards represent the benchmark against which your new home should be measured. When builders follow these guidelines, homeowners can be confident that their property has been finished to an acceptable industry standard. More importantly, these standards provide a clear framework for identifying defects during a snagging inspection.
Many homebuyers are unaware of the specific requirements that should have been met in their new property. You might notice that a cupboard door doesn’t close quite right or that there’s a gap in the skirting board, but without understanding the standards, it’s difficult to know whether these are issues the builder should rectify or simply minor imperfections you need to accept.
What Chapter 9.4 Covers
NHBC Standards Chapter 9.4 provides comprehensive guidance on finishings and fitments throughout your new home. The standards begin with fundamental compliance requirements, establishing that all finishings and fitments must meet the Technical Requirements and that clear specifications should be provided to all personnel involved in the construction.
The chapter then moves into detailed requirements for cupboards and fitments, particularly in kitchens. There are specific provisions for the space and facilities that should be included, from food preparation areas to storage for cleaning equipment. The standards even specify that there should be one metre of circulation space in front of work surfaces and appliances, ensuring your kitchen is practical to use.
Internal trim and finishings receive considerable attention in the standards. Architraves should be parallel to door frames and accurately mitred, skirting boards should run level and be properly scribed to floors, and all trim should be securely fixed to prevent issues like curling. These might seem like small details, but they contribute significantly to the overall quality and appearance of your home.
The Details That Make a Difference
One section of the standards that often surprises homeowners relates to joinery quality. The guidance specifies that wood and wood-based materials must be of appropriate quality and dimensions, and crucially, there should be no visible defects after finishes have been applied. This means that issues with joints, surface finishes, or construction should be identified and addressed, not simply covered over with paint.
The standards also provide detailed requirements for how cupboards, worktops, and other fitments should be installed. Cupboards must be securely fixed using appropriate fixings, worktop edges must be properly sealed where they’ve been cut, and all waterproof joints around sinks and hobs must be correctly installed. These aren’t merely aesthetic concerns, poorly sealed worktops can lead to water damage and deterioration over time.
Perhaps one of the most important sections addresses protection and handover. The standards require that all finishings and fitments must be protected during construction and delivered to you undamaged. Your new home should be handed over in pristine condition, properly cleaned and ready for occupation. If damage has occurred during construction, it should be identified and rectified before you move in.
How This Affects Your Snagging Inspection
Understanding what the NHBC Standards require helps you approach your snagging inspection with realistic expectations. A professional snagging inspector will be familiar with these standards and can identify areas where the builder has not met the required level of workmanship or specification. This might include cupboard doors that don’t operate properly, trim that hasn’t been correctly mitred or fixed, joinery with visible defects, inadequate sealing around worktops and sinks, or damage that hasn’t been protected against or made good before handover.
It’s worth noting that a snagging inspection focuses on identifying visible defects and compliance with specifications rather than providing a full structural survey. However, the inspector’s knowledge of the NHBC Standards means they can spot issues that you as a homeowner might not recognise or might assume are acceptable when they actually fall below the required standard.
Many of the requirements in NHBC Standards Chapter 9.4 relate to details that builders might overlook or consider unimportant. A gap in the skirting board here, a poorly mitred architrave there, these might seem trivial in the context of building an entire house. However, these details matter because they indicate the overall quality of workmanship and, more practically, because addressing them after you’ve moved in is far more disruptive than having them rectified during the snagging period.
An independent snagging inspection provides an objective assessment of whether your home meets the standards it should. The inspector isn’t working for the developer and has no incentive to overlook issues. Their role is to ensure that you receive the quality of finish you’re entitled to expect in a new build property.
Understanding Your Rights and Expectations
One of the benefits of having clearly defined standards like NHBC Chapter 9.4 is that they establish what you should reasonably expect. When issues are identified during snagging, builders are generally more receptive to addressing them when they represent clear deviations from established standards rather than subjective complaints about quality.
The standards cover everything from the fundamental requirement for compliance through to specific details like the spacing of shelves in airing cupboards. This comprehensive approach means that virtually every aspect of the finishings and fitments in your home has been considered and guidance provided on acceptable standards.
Learn More About NHBC Standards 9.4
We’ve created a comprehensive guide to NHBC Standards Chapter 9.4 that explains each section in detail and discusses what you should look for during your snagging inspection. The guide covers compliance requirements, cupboards and fitments, finishings and internal trim, joinery standards, installation requirements, ironmongery and materials, and protection and handover requirements.
Understanding these standards empowers you to recognise what quality looks like in a new build home and to identify issues that should be addressed. Whether you’re approaching your snagging inspection or have already moved in and are concerned about certain finishes, knowing what the standards require can help you navigate discussions with your builder.
Read our complete guide to NHBC Standards 9.4 for Finishings and Fitments to learn more about what these standards mean for your new home and how they should be applied during construction and at handover.
Professional Snagging Inspections
At New Build Inspections, our team of experienced inspectors conducts thorough snagging inspections throughout the UK, with detailed knowledge of the NHBC Standards and what they require. We examine every aspect of your new home’s finishings and fitments, from kitchen installations to internal trim, identifying issues that should be addressed before or shortly after you move in.
Our inspections go beyond simply listing defects. We provide clear, comprehensive reports that explain what we’ve found and why it matters, supported by photographic evidence and references to relevant standards where appropriate. This gives you the information you need to ensure your builder addresses all identified issues and delivers your home to the standard you deserve.
If you’re purchasing a new build home, don’t leave the quality of finishings and fitments to chance. A professional snagging inspection can identify issues whilst they’re still straightforward for the builder to rectify, protecting your investment and ensuring you can move into your new home with confidence.