When you move into a new build home, you expect the decorating to look immaculate. Fresh paintwork, clean lines, and a finish that reflects the investment you’ve made. But the reality is that painting and decorating defects are among the most common issues found during snagging inspections, and many homeowners don’t realise that there are detailed standards in place that their developer is expected to meet.
Chapter 9.5 of the NHBC Standards 2026 sets out precisely what is required when it comes to painting and decorating in new build properties. From the conditions under which paint must be applied, to the number of coats required on timber, to the standard of finish you should expect at handover, the standards are comprehensive and leave developers with very little room to argue that a poor finish is acceptable.
Why the Standards Matter to You
Understanding what the NHBC Standards require is genuinely useful for any new build buyer. It means that when you spot paint runs on a skirting board, an undercoat showing through a wall, or wallpaper with lifting edges, you are not simply being fussy. You have a recognised standard on your side, and your developer has an obligation to put things right.
The standards cover a broad range of areas. Timber elements such as doors, window frames, and staircases must be properly prepared before painting, with surfaces free from dirt, moisture, and unsound material, and a defined sequence of primer, undercoat, and finishing coats applied. Internal walls must be sealed and properly prepared before decoration begins, and plaster must be given adequate time to dry. Where wallpaper is used, it must be neatly applied with patterns aligned and switch plates temporarily removed so the paper can be properly trimmed. Even the conditions on the day of painting matter, as applying paint in cold or damp conditions, something that can happen when developers are rushing to hit completion dates in autumn or winter, can lead to bubbling, flaking, or poor adhesion further down the line.
The final section of the chapter is particularly worth knowing about. At handover, completed paintwork must be evenly applied, free from runs or prominent brush marks, and with no visible undercoat. Surfaces that were not supposed to be painted, such as floors and fittings, should be clean and free from splashes. Any ironmongery removed for painting should have been correctly refitted. These finishing details are easy to overlook on a site where dozens of homes are being completed at the same time, which is exactly why they so frequently appear on snagging lists.
What Our Inspectors Look For
When our inspectors assess the painting and decorating in your new home, they are checking against this standard. That means examining not just whether the walls look reasonable at first glance, but whether the finish holds up to proper scrutiny, whether timber has been correctly prepared and given adequate coats, and whether the overall level of workmanship reflects what you are entitled to expect.
Cosmetic defects are sometimes dismissed as trivial, but they matter. They reflect the care and attention that went into finishing your home, and they are your legal entitlement to have corrected under your NHBC warranty. The sooner they are identified and reported, the easier it is to hold your developer to account.
Read the Full Knowledgebase Article
We’ve put together a detailed breakdown of every section of NHBC Standards Chapter 9.5, explaining what each requirement means in plain English and how it relates to the finish of your new home. Whether you’re approaching completion, have recently moved in, or simply want to understand what your developer should be delivering, it’s well worth a read.
Read the full article in our knowledgebase here.
And if you’d like one of our experienced inspectors to assess the painting and decorating in your new build home as part of a full snagging inspection, get in touch with us today.