đź“ť Out of Tolerance in New Builds: Will the Developer Actually Fix It?
- barbarosdenlisoz
- Apr 29
- 6 min read
A lot of people are told something is “within tolerance” when they raise a snag.
But just as often, the opposite happens — something is clearly out of tolerance… and still doesn’t get fixed easily.
That’s where most of the confusion comes from.
Because naturally, you think:
“If it’s out of tolerance, surely they have to put it right?”
In reality, it’s not always that straightforward.
Why new build homes aren’t perfectly straight
Before getting into tolerances, it helps to understand something important:
👉 Houses are not precision-manufactured products.
They’re:
built on site
by different trades
over a long period
in varying weather conditions
Even with good workmanship, there will always be:
small movement in materials
slight variation between trades
minor alignment differences
So the industry doesn’t aim for perfection — it works to what is considered acceptable.
That’s where tolerances come in.
What “tolerance” actually means
In simple terms:
👉 Tolerance is an accepted level of variation in construction.
It defines:
how far something can be out
before it’s considered unacceptable
It’s not about whether something is perfect — it’s about whether it falls within recognised limits.
Who sets those limits?
There isn’t one single rulebook.
Tolerances are generally based on a combination of:
British Standards (BS)
NHBC or other warranty provider guidance
manufacturer recommendations (for certain elements)
general industry practice
So when something is described as “within tolerance”, it’s usually being measured against one or more of those.
👉 It’s also worth knowing that many manufacturers and warranty providers publish technical guidance, either online or on request. These can give useful insight into what is considered acceptable for specific elements.
Can you ask what tolerances they’re using?
If something is being described as “within tolerance”, it’s reasonable to ask:
What standard or guidance is that being measured against?
For example:
NHBC guidance
British Standards
manufacturer recommendations
You don’t need to argue the technical detail — but asking the question often:
clarifies the position
shows you’re taking a considered approach
How to raise it clearly
If you’re pushing something with the developer, it helps to keep it simple and structured:
“We’ve been advised this item may be outside typical tolerance levels.Can you confirm what standard you’ve assessed this against, and whether you consider it acceptable? As it affects [appearance/use], we’d like this reviewed.”
Keeping it clear and factual usually gets a better response than a long or emotional email.
Keeping things clear (and avoiding back and forth)
Situations like this often turn into a bit of back and forth — especially where there’s disagreement over whether something is acceptable.
Having everything clearly set out:
photos
notes
what’s been said
can make a big difference.
That’s exactly why tools like SnagClear exist — to keep everything in one place and turn it into a clear report you can send over, rather than relying on emails and scattered notes.
What happens if something is out of tolerance?
This is where expectations and reality often don’t align.
👉 Being out of tolerance does not automatically mean something will be rebuilt or corrected.
In practice, decisions tend to come down to:
how noticeable the issue is
whether it affects use
how significant it is
and how disruptive it would be to fix
Will the developer actually fix it?
Sometimes — but not always.
A helpful way to think about it is:
👉 Does it affect the enjoyment or practical use of the property?
This is a common benchmark used in practice.
Issues more likely to be resolved:
anything affecting functionality (doors, windows, fittings)
defects that are clearly visible and stand out
items that can be fixed without major disruption
Issues less likely to lead to major work:
minor deviations that don’t affect use
things you wouldn’t notice without measuring
items where the fix would be disproportionate
Real example: walls out of plumb
This is one of the most common concerns.
A wall might be:
slightly leaning
even technically outside tolerance
But if it:
isn’t structurally unsafe
isn’t visually obvious
doesn’t affect anything
👉 it’s very unlikely to be knocked down and rebuilt
And this is where it becomes a judgement call:
Even if it’s out of tolerance, do you actually want the disruption of rebuilding it?
Because that could involve:
scaffolding
internal disruption
redecoration
weeks of work
For something you may never have noticed otherwise.
Snagger vs builder: who’s right?
This is probably the most common situation.
Snagger: “It’s out of tolerance and wrong”
Builder: “It’s fine, just visual”
In reality:
👉 both can be right — in different ways
The snagger is often correct technically
The builder may be correct practically
The challenge is understanding where your situation sits between the two.
Does “out of tolerance” mean it’s unsafe?
No — not necessarily.
Something can be:
out of tolerance
not perfectly aligned
👉 and still be structurally sound
Tolerances relate to build quality and acceptable variation — not always structural integrity.
So how do you know if it’s a bigger issue?
A figure like “20mm out” tells you:
👉 it’s outside a guideline
But it doesn’t tell you:
whether it’s dangerous
whether it will worsen
whether it affects performance
Signs something may need further attention:
movement or change over time
cracking that continues or worsens
elements no longer functioning properly
something that appears significantly out or unusual
If something doesn’t sit right, it’s reasonable to question it.
Who needs to prove it’s acceptable?
In practice:
a snagger identifies issues
a developer may say it’s acceptable
But neither is necessarily giving you a formal structural opinion.
If something is genuinely in doubt from a safety or structural perspective:
👉 it’s reasonable to expect the developer to demonstrate that it is sound
And if needed, getting independent advice (e.g. a surveyor or engineer) can provide clarity.
What if the developer says it’s acceptable, but you’re not convinced?
This situation is very common.
If that happens, there are a few practical steps you can take.
1. Ask for clarification
Ask the developer to confirm:
what standard or guidance they’ve assessed the item against
how they’ve determined it is acceptable
2. Keep a clear record
Make sure you have:
photos
a clear description
written responses
3. Consider independent advice
If the issue is significant or unclear, you may want to seek:
a building surveyor
or, in some cases, a structural engineer
4. Speak to your warranty provider
If your home is covered by a warranty provider (such as NHBC or similar), they can:
provide guidance
review certain types of issues
and in some cases assist where disputes arise
5. Take a step back and assess the impact
Ask yourself:
Does this affect how the home functions?
Is it clearly visible?
Is it likely to worsen?
This helps decide whether to pursue it further.
Can you ask for compensation instead?
This comes up a lot where something is:
out of tolerance
but unlikely to be rebuilt
In some cases:
👉 compensation may be offered
But:
it’s not guaranteed
and often limited
If you didn’t notice it, does it matter?
Sometimes a snagger will point out something that:
you hadn’t seen
doesn’t affect anything
That doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be raised — but it does raise the question:
👉 Would this bother me if I didn’t know about it?
What should you focus on?
When putting together a snag list, it’s usually most effective to focus on:
visible defects
usability and function
consistency of finish
These are the issues most likely to be:
understood clearly
acted on quickly
and resolved without dispute
Don’t ignore technical issues — but put them in context
Technical standards and tolerances are still important, particularly where they relate to:
structural elements
safety
long-term performance
However, not every technical deviation will:
be noticeable in normal use
justify major remedial work
or lead to a practical issue
👉 The key is understanding whether the issue is purely a measurement, or something that has a real impact on the property.
If you’re putting a snag list together
If you’re still working through your home, it’s worth following a structured checklist so nothing gets missed.
Final thought
Tolerance isn’t about perfection — it’s about what’s considered acceptable.
But “acceptable” doesn’t always mean you have to be happy with it.
The key is understanding:
what actually matters in day-to-day use
what’s worth pushing
and when to seek further clarity
A practical note
Situations like this are much easier to manage when everything is clearly recorded — especially if there’s any back and forth over whether something is acceptable.
Keeping a clear list with photos and notes can make the process far more straightforward.
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