Construction defect · Defects & construction flaws
Paintwork and finishes defects: touch-ups, joints, skirtings in new-builds
Severity Low
Reporting deadline Reception
Warranty Perfect completion
Responsibility Contractor
How to detect a paintwork or finishing defect?
A careful finish is checked in raking light (morning/evening), 1 m away, perpendicular to the surface. Common defects: paint drips, marked roller traces, demarcations between coats, visible joins at corners, skirting boards out of line or with gaps, silicone joints detached or poorly smoothed, exposed screws, post-site stains on the floor, poorly sanded plaster visible under paint. Inspect each room methodically: walls, ceilings, skirtings, frames, joints. Any defect visible at 1 m in raking light is reportable.
Before — compliant
smooth paint · flush skirting · clean joint
No drips · invisible joins · careful finishes
⚠ After — defective
paint drip · detached silicone joint
Visible drip · 3mm skirting gap · to be redone
Reporting procedure in 4 steps
Finishes must be inspected at provisional reception. Once signed without reservation, the two-year warranty still covers equipment items but the perfect-completion warranty (1 year) is the main window.
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1
List in the reception minutes
Methodical room-by-room inspection in raking light. List every defect in the provisional-reception minutes with precise location. This is the decisive moment.
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2
Photograph each defect
HD photo with scale reference (rigid ruler, coin). Location note (room, wall, height). Keep the minutes signed by both parties.
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3
Formal notice (if repair not done)
If the contractor fails to act within the agreed timeframe (typically 60 days), registered letter recalling the minutes and demanding execution within 30 days.
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4
Expert assessment (significant disputes)
For a large volume of defects (e.g. 50+ items), independent inspection to quantify the damage and negotiate compensation. From €380 VAT incl.
Who pays for the repair? Responsibility table
Under perfect completion (1 year), all aesthetic defects are at the contractor's expense.
Drip / roller mark
✓ perfect completion
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Skirting detached / out of line
✓ perfect completion
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Defective silicone joint
✓ perfect completion
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Floor stain after site
✓ obligation to deliver clean
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Wear or scratch after move-in
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✓
home insurance
Get an inspection
Finishes audit for reception minutes
Full defect list · pre-signature checklist · from €380 VAT incl.
FAQ
Common questions about finishes
I signed the reception minutes without reservation. Can I still report?+
Difficult but not impossible. Defects not listed in the minutes are presumed accepted. Unless you can prove they were hidden (not visible to normal inspection). Registered letter within 90 days and expert assessment to support.
How long does the contractor have to repair the defects listed in the minutes?+
Contractual period, typically 60 days. If exceeded, formal notice then forced execution. The 5% retention on the price can be withheld until full completion.
My silicone joints came loose after 6 months. Covered?+
Yes, perfect completion (1 year). Silicone must hold for 5+ years. Early detachment indicates an installation defect (damp substrate, wrong temperature, low-grade silicone). Report by registered letter.
How much does a pre-reception finishes audit cost?+
Between €380 and €550 VAT incl. depending on the surface. Includes: raking-light inspection, exhaustive listing, dated photographs, recommendations for the minutes. Investment repaid by avoiding paid repairs later.
Is a room delivered unpainted a defect?+
Depends on the contract. If paint was planned, yes (major defect). If 'ready to paint' delivery was contracted, no. Keep the contract with full specification of planned finishes.