External snags
The category that gets walked past — outside snags are easy to miss and easier to forget once you're settled in.
What to check
- BrickworkWalk the perimeter looking for mortar gaps, smeared joints, cracked or chipped bricks. Check above and below window heads.
- Drainage and gulliesEvery gutter downpipe should discharge into a gully or drain. Run a tap upstairs and watch the rainwater outlet outside.
- Fencing and boundariesPosts plumb, panels secure, gate hinges and latch working. Especially check after any wind since handover.
- Driveway and pathsRocking slabs, uneven blocks, gaps at thresholds. The patio and front path get cosmetic snags too.
- Roof tiles and ridgeA walk around the outside looking up. A slipped or broken tile is invisible from inside but lets water in.
What’s normal vs. what’s a snag
See the full explanation of NHBC viewing distances, allowed tolerances and where to push back in our pillar guide: What “within tolerance” really means →
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