New builds and warranties
If a snag was noted and then painted over before you move in, has it been repaired?
Not proved. Paint covers the look of a snag, but it is not a second inspection and it is not evidence that the cause was put right. NHBC does not keep a list of the snags your surveyor wrote down. Buildmark covers defects on the terms NHBC describes, not every item someone has painted.
Last reviewed 24 October 2026. Written for buyers in England and Wales unless this answer says otherwise. No named surveyor has signed this page. It is general guidance, not a report on your house, and not legal advice.
What is the fuller explanation?
New homes get decorated up to handover. A scratch, a crack or a damp mark can disappear under emulsion between the survey and the day you collect the keys. The PDF still records what was seen. Unless someone opens the finish or inspects again, you do not know whether the item was repaired, filled, or only coloured in. Ask the builder what they did, in writing, and compare that with the original note. A customer-care line that says completed is their word, not a re-survey.
In the first two years the builder is responsible and NHBC guarantees that responsibility. The following eight years insure damage from defects in specific parts, not every snag. Paint is often a finish. It can also hide a defect that is more than a finish. Do not decide which, from the colour. Do not assume the original survey fee includes a return visit. If the hidden item matters, agree how it will be seen again before you treat it as closed.
What should you ask your surveyor?
- Which snag was painted, and what did you see underneath?
- Has anyone inspected since the paint went on?
- Are you treating emulsion as a repair? You should not be.
What are the typical next steps?
- Keep the original snag note even if the wall now looks clean.
- Ask the builder what work was done, not only whether it was painted.
- Arrange a further look if you need to know the item is actually repaired.
Costs vary with the building and with who you instruct. Where this page does not cite a published figure, ask the surveyor, a relevant specialist, or your solicitor for a written quote. Do not treat a forum average as the price.
Also asked about this
Does a repaint during the builder’s two years end their responsibility?
No. Paint does not close the period NHBC describes. The policy, not the colour, sets the cover.
Should you refuse to complete because of wet paint?
Wet paint is unfinished decorating. Decide with your solicitor how serious the underlying snag was. The survey does not make that legal choice.