Can you attend site and work through a snagging list?
Yes. Send the schedule or photographs by plot or unit and we will confirm which items are repairable in place, then plan attendance around your site programme.
Construction, developers & fit-out
New-Build Snagging Repairs
On a live site, finished surfaces get damaged after installation and before handover. We repair that localised cosmetic damage in place, plot by plot or unit by unit, so sound surfaces are not swapped out at the last minute.
Construction is one of our biggest areas of work. We support main contractors, developers, housebuilders and fit-out teams on individual plots, apartment blocks, multi-unit developments and handover programmes — see our construction and property development page for how we work on site.
Scope
What we repair
- Worktops, upstands and splashbacks damaged after installation
- Baths, shower trays, sinks and sanitaryware
- Doors, frames, architraves and skirtings
- uPVC window frames, cills and trims
- Kitchen cabinetry, fitted furniture, laminate and MFC
- Wall cladding, bathroom panels and decorative panelling
- Tiling, suitable flooring and other installed hard surfaces
- Stainless steel and metal finishes needing polishing
Damage
Typical damage we see
- Trade damage from following trades after installation
- Transit and handling damage to delivered units
- Impact chips, scratches and scuffing during fit-out
- Damage listed on snagging schedules and pre-handover inspections
- Marks found at final clean or client walk-round
- Cosmetic issues raised by buyers or tenants shortly after handover
How it works
Our repair process
- 01
Assessment
You send the snagging schedule or photographs by plot or unit. We confirm surface types, identify which items are repairable in place and highlight anything better replaced.
- 02
Preparation
Attendance is planned around the site programme and access. On site, areas are masked and protected and damage is cut back to a sound edge.
- 03
Repair
Items are worked through plot by plot, with each surface repaired using systems suited to that material and finish.
- 04
Finish
Colour, sheen and texture are matched to the surrounding surface as closely as the materials allow, so repaired items sit consistently across units.
- 05
Inspection
Completed items are reviewed with your site manager against the schedule, areas are left clean, and any remaining items are reported back clearly.
Where we work
Settings we support
Housebuilding & development
- Plot snagging before and after handover
- Apartment blocks and multi-unit developments
- Show homes, marketing suites and sales areas
Main contractors & fit-out
- Commercial fit-out and shopfitting programmes
- Hotel, student and build-to-rent schemes
- Final finishes ahead of client walk-rounds
Post-handover support
- Customer-care and aftercare items
- Cosmetic issues raised by buyers or tenants
- Repairs during defects periods
What snagging repair covers
On a live site the same damage recurs: baths and trays chipped during second fix, worktops scored by tools, frames and cills gouged by ladders and scaffold, door edges knocked during handling, and panels marked before practical completion.
Because these are new components, the standard expected is high and the timescale is short. The work is about returning plots to handover condition without re-ordering units that have already been fitted, decorated and sealed around.
- Baths, trays, basins and sanitaryware damaged during fit-out
- Worktops, splashbacks and cabinetry marked before completion
- uPVC frames, cills and doors damaged in construction traffic
- Plot-by-plot snagging lists ahead of inspection and handover
Assessment and working on a live site
We work from plot lists and photographs, and we are realistic about sequencing: repairs carried out before other trades finish are frequently damaged again, so timing the visit properly is part of doing the job well.
On site we follow the principal contractor's arrangements for induction, access, permits and site rules. Work is carried out plot by plot with areas protected, and completed items are recorded so the site team can sign the list off.
Repair or replace before handover
Repair protects the programme. Replacing a fitted bath, worktop or frame late in a build means removing finished work, waiting on delivery and repeating trades, all against a completion date.
Where a component is damaged beyond cosmetic repair, or where the damage affects function rather than appearance, replacement is the correct answer and we will say so promptly rather than at the eleventh hour.
Before you enquire
Information that helps us quote a site
Site work is quoted from volume, sequencing and access, so a structured list is worth more than a phone description.
- A plot-by-plot list with photographs of each item
- The number of plots and the site address
- The stage the build has reached and target handover dates
- Site access, induction and permit requirements
- Who signs the work off on completion
Honest advice
Suitability and limitations
Every surface is assessed before work is agreed. Where a repair is not the right long-term answer, we will say so.
- We carry out cosmetic surface repairs only, and take no structural, building-control, warranty or regulatory responsibility for the works.
- We do not sign off snagging schedules, inspect on behalf of buyers or certify compliance.
- Badly damaged, water-affected or incorrectly installed items are replacement work, and we will say so.
- We do not repair or market granite, quartz or natural stone worktops.
- Attendance is planned around your programme; we do not offer fixed response times, SLAs or volume commitments.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do you work on apartments and multi-unit developments?
Yes — apartment blocks, multi-unit schemes and handover programmes are a regular part of our construction work, alongside individual plots and fit-out projects.
Do you take responsibility for signing off snagging?
No. We repair suitable cosmetic damage on the items you instruct. Inspection, sign-off, building control and warranty responsibilities remain with your team.
What happens if an item cannot be repaired?
We report it back plainly with the reason, so replacement can be arranged. We would rather flag it early than attempt a repair that will not last.
When is the best time to book snagging repairs?
Once the trades that could cause fresh damage are finished. Going in too early usually means repairing the same items twice, so we will discuss sequencing with the site team rather than simply taking the first available date.
Can you attend multiple plots in one visit?
Yes, and it is the efficient way to run it. Group the items into a single list with photographs and locations and we can quote the visit as a whole.
Related
Related services
Coverage
Where we cover
We are based in Bolton and work across Greater Manchester and the North West, with wider coverage available for commercial work.
Areas we cover for this service
Office enquiries are answered Monday to Friday, 9:00am–3:00pm.
Helpful next steps
Useful reading before you enquire
- See genuine completed repairsBefore and after photographs of real Surface Magic work, not stock imagery.
- Stopping surface damage from getting worseWhy cosmetic damage spreads and what to do before it becomes structural.
- How we work with housebuilders and contractorsSite logistics, handover deadlines and repairs across plots and fit-outs.
Surface Magic Repairs
Why Replace When You Can Repair?
Send photographs of the damage and we will advise on the most sensible route — repair where it is suitable, honest guidance where it is not.