Kitchen Snagging Checklist: 30 Defects to Check in Your New Build

The kitchen is the most expensive room in your new-build home to fix after completion — and the one with the most things to go wrong. Between worktops, cabinetry, plumbing, electrics, tiling, and appliances, there are dozens of components that need to be right.

This kitchen snagging checklist covers 30 specific defects to inspect before you complete. Every item is something you can check yourself with nothing more than your eyes, your hands, and a torch. Work through it methodically and you will catch the problems that most new-build buyers miss.

If you have not already done your full property inspection, start with The Complete New Build Snagging Checklist — the pillar guide that covers every room.

Why Kitchens Are a Snagging Hotspot

Kitchens involve more trades than any other room: joiners, plumbers, electricians, tilers, and flooring specialists all work in the same space under time pressure. Small errors compound — a worktop that is slightly off-level affects cabinet alignment, which affects appliance fit, which affects plumbing connections behind it.

The typical cost of post-completion kitchen remediation runs from £200 for cosmetic fixes to £2,000+ for worktop replacement or re-plumbing. Catching new build kitchen defects now saves real money.

Why Kitchens Are a Snagging Hotspot

Kitchens involve more trades than any other room: joiners, plumbers, electricians, tilers, and flooring specialists all work in the same space under time pressure. Small errors compound — a worktop that is slightly off-level affects cabinet alignment, which affects appliance fit, which affects plumbing connections behind it.

The typical cost of post-completion kitchen remediation runs from £200 for cosmetic fixes to £2,000+ for worktop replacement or re-plumbing. Catching new build kitchen defects now saves real money.

The Kitchen Snagging Checklist

Worktops

1. Chips and sratches on the worktop surface. Run your hand along the entire surface and check all edges. Chips on laminate or stone worktops are common during installation and should be flagged before completion.

2. Worktop joins are flush and sealed. Where two sections meet, the join should be tight, level, and sealed. Run your finger across it — you should not feel a lip or a gap.

3. Worktop is level along its full length. Place a glass of water on the worktop in several positions. If the water line tilts, the worktop is not level.

4. Correct overhang at the front edge. The worktop should overhang the base units by a consistent amount (typically 20–30mm). An uneven overhang suggests the base units are misaligned.

5. Sealant between worktop and wall. There should be a clean, continuous bead of mastic sealant where the worktop meets the wall. Gaps will let moisture behind, causing swelling and mould. Check behind the taps and in corners — these are the spots installers miss.

Cabinets and Drawers

6. All cabinet doors are aligned and level. Stand back and look along the row. Doors should form a straight line with even gaps. Misaligned doors are one of the most common kitchen snags new build buyers report.

7. Soft-close mechanisms work on every door and drawer. Open and release each one. They should close gently and fully without slamming or stopping short.

8. Handles are fitted straight and secure. Give each handle a firm tug and check it sits square. Wonky handles often mean fixings are in the wrong position.

9. Shelf supports are present and level. Open every cabinet and check that internal shelves sit on their supports and do not rock.

10. Drawer runners operate smoothly. Pull each drawer fully out and push it back in. It should glide without catching or veering to one side.

11. No damage inside cabinets. Look inside every unit for scratches, chips, drill debris, or water stains. Plumbers and electricians access services behind base units and can leave damage.

Appliances

12. All appliances are the correct models as per your specification. Cross-reference make and model numbers against your purchase specification. Developers occasionally substitute models.

13. Oven is fitted squarely and flush with surrounding cabinetry. Check the gap around the oven is even on all sides.

14. Hob is level and sealed to the worktop. The seal should be continuous with no gaps. Check that all burners or zones ignite and heat correctly.

15. Fridge and freezer doors open fully without hitting adjacent units. Open the door to its full extent. If it clips a neighbouring cabinet, the appliance or units have been positioned incorrectly.

16. Dishwasher door opens and closes freely. Check it does not foul the adjacent plinth or cabinet. Run a short cycle to confirm it drains correctly.

17. Extractor hood or integrated fan is operational. Test all speeds. Hold a tissue near the intake — it should pull towards the fan.

Plumbing

18. Kitchen taps run hot and cold correctly. Hot should be on the left, cold on the right. Check that pressure is adequate and consistent.

19. No leaks under the sink. Run both taps for at least 30 seconds, then inspect all visible pipework and joints under the sink. Lay kitchen paper along the base of the cabinet — if it gets damp, there is a leak.

20. Waste drains quickly and does not smell. Fill the sink and release the plug. Water should drain within a few seconds without gurgling.

21. Dishwasher water connection is secure. Check the fill and drain hoses behind or beneath the dishwasher for kinks, loose clips, or damp patches.

Electrics

22. All sockets are live and secure. Bring a phone charger and test every socket. Check the faceplate does not move or feel loose against the wall.

23. Light switches work correctly. Test every switch, including under-cabinet lighting. If there is a dimmer, check it dims smoothly without flickering.

24. Extractor fan isolator switch is accessible and functional. Confirm there is a local isolator switch and that it turns the fan on and off.

25. Oven connection is correct. The oven should be on a dedicated circuit with its own isolator switch (usually a red double-pole switch). Confirm it works.

Tiling and Splashback

26. Grout lines are consistent and fully filled. Lines should be straight, even in width, and filled without gaps. Hollow or crumbling grout will let moisture behind the tiles.

27. No cracked, chipped, or hollow tiles. Inspect every tile for surface damage. Tap each lightly with your knuckle — a hollow sound indicates the tile is not fully bonded and may eventually fall.

28. Tiles are aligned and level. Sight along the rows. Lippage (where one tile edge sits higher than the next) should be minimal.

Flooring

29. Floor is level and free from damage. Walk the entire kitchen floor. Feel for unevenness, soft spots, or flex underfoot. Check for scratches and stains from tradespeople during final fit-out.

30. Threshold strips and edge trims are fitted and secure. Where the kitchen floor meets another room, there should be a properly fitted threshold strip — flat, secure, and not a trip hazard. Expansion gaps should be covered by skirting or trims.

Bonus: Underfloor heating zones (if fitted). Turn the kitchen zone on and confirm the thermostat responds. Walk the floor in socks after 20–30 minutes — you should feel even warmth with no cold spots.

How to Record Your Kitchen Snags

For every defect you find:

1. Photograph it — wide shot showing location, close-up showing the defect.

2. Note the exact location — which wall, which unit, which appliance.

3. Describe the issue in plain terms — What is wrong and why it needs fixing.

Use Snaggit to photograph and tag each kitchen snag as you go. The app walks you through each area, lets you annotate photos on the spot, and generates a professional report you can send straight to your developer's aftercare team.

What to Do Next

Once your kitchen inspection is complete, move on to the bathroom snagging checklist (coming soon) — bathrooms share many of the same plumbing and tiling issues, plus waterproofing checks unique to wet rooms.

For the full property inspection, return to The Complete New Build Snagging Checklist and work through every room before your completion date.

Do not leave your kitchen snags unrecorded. Developers are obligated to fix defects reported before completion — but only if you can demonstrate what was wrong and when you reported it. A structured snagging report is your strongest evidence.