Garage conversion snagging checklist: what to inspect

A garage-conversion snagging inspection should check visible workmanship, the operation of doors and windows, floors, walls, decoration, sockets, lighting, heating, plumbing, ventilation, seals, exterior infill, drainage and completion documents. Record each item with a location, photograph, responsible person and agreed completion date.

Room and finish checks

• Walls and ceilings are straight, dry, sealed and free from cracks, dents or unfinished joints.
• Decorating is even, with edges, skirtings, trims and floor junctions properly finished.
• Flooring is level, secure and correctly finished at thresholds and around fittings.
• Doors and windows open, close, lock and seal without rubbing or draughts.
• External infill, sills, pointing and weather seals are complete.

Services and comfort checks

• Test sockets, switches, lights, extract fans, heating controls and alarms.
• Run taps, flush toilets and check traps, joints, waste flow and access for maintenance.
• Confirm ventilation routes are open, quiet enough for the room and not blocked by finishes.
• Look for leaks, damp marks, cold bridges, condensation and unusual smells after the systems have been used.

Paperwork is part of the handover

Ask for building-control completion documentation, electrical and specialist certificates, warranties, guarantees, manuals, drawings, approved variations and any drainage or build-over agreement. Snagging does not replace statutory inspection or prove that hidden work complies.

Make it printable

Print or save this page, then add project-specific items from the quotation. Agree which defects are urgent, which can wait for a drying period and which require a specialist. Keep the signed list with the final invoice and handover file.

Record what cannot be seen later

Before insulation, plasterboard and floor finishes cover the work, photograph pipes, cables, membranes, supports, ventilation ducts and drainage. At handover, compare the finished room with the drawings and approved variations. A visual snagging list cannot prove hidden compliance, so keep the inspection records and certificates that explain what was checked before it was covered.

Close the list deliberately

At the final walk-through, agree which items are complete, which remain outstanding and who will return. Keep the final signed list, invoice and certificates together. A short, dated record prevents a long period of uncertainty after the contractor has left site.