TLDR: The most common defects identified during a builders clean are paint touch-ups on walls and trims, silicone smear on glazing, missing or damaged grout, scratches on glazing and fixtures, gaps in joinery, incomplete electrical fittings, and tile damage. A professional builders cleaner flags these to the site supervisor during the final walk-through so trades can return and rectify before client handover. Build Clean’s documented defect walk-through is included in every job.
Why builders cleaners catch defects others miss
A builders cleaner is the last set of professional eyes on a site before the client walks through. They are physically touching every surface, looking at every wall, every cornice, every shower screen, every cabinet. They see what the trades miss, what the project manager misses, and what the client will absolutely notice.
A good builders cleaner doesn’t just clean. They document defects and flag them to the site supervisor before the crew leaves. This is the difference between a handover that lands clean and a handover that comes back with a snag list.
This article covers the most common defects identified during a builders clean and how to fix them before handover.
Paint defects
The most common category. Builders cleaners find paint defects on every site.
Paint splatter on hard floors, glass, and fixtures. Removable with the right chemical and a careful scrape. Build Clean operators are trained on this. Major paint runs need the painter to return.
Roller marks on walls. Visible especially in raking light. Painter touch-up.
Missed cut-in around skirtings, architraves, and cornices. Common on rush jobs. Painter touch-up.
Paint flecks on stainless steel, tapware, and door hardware. Removable with the right product. Build Clean handles these as part of the clean.
Bare patches in corners and behind fixtures. Painter return.
Touch-up paint that doesn’t match. Often happens when small touch-ups dry to a different sheen than the surrounding wall. Painter to re-coat in full sections.
Silicone defects
Silicone is everywhere in a finished build. Defects are common.
Silicone smear on glazing. Removable by the cleaner with the right chemistry.
Silicone gaps around bath, shower, and basin perimeters. Plumber or silicone contractor to re-do.
Mouldy or yellowed silicone (uncommon at handover but possible on extended builds). Cleaner can remove and the silicone contractor re-applies.
Silicone over-spread onto adjacent surfaces. Cleaner can usually clean up. Excessive over-spread needs the silicone contractor to redo.
Glazing defects
Glazing is the highest-risk defect category at handover because clients notice it immediately.
Silicone smear and paint splatter. Cleaner handles in scope.
Scratches on glass. Cleaner identifies but cannot rectify. Glazier to replace or re-buff.
Frame damage (anodised aluminium scratches, paint marks on timber frames).Glazier or painter to rectify.
Damaged seals or gaskets. Glazier to replace.
Missing or damaged hardware (latches, locks, hinges). Builder or glazier to rectify.
Tile and grout defects
Common in bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, and entry tiling.
Missing grout in joints. Tiler to re-grout.
Damaged grout (cracks, chips). Tiler to repair.
Tile chips or cracks. Tiler to replace.
Lippage (uneven tile heights). Hard to rectify at handover. Tiler to repair where critical.
Hollow-sounding tiles. Tiler to lift and re-lay.
Joinery defects
Custom homes generate the most joinery defects because of the volume of bespoke work.
Gaps between cabinetry and walls, ceilings, or adjacent joinery. Joiner or carpenter to adjust.
Doors that don’t align or close properly. Joiner to re-hang or adjust hinges.
Drawers that don’t slide smoothly. Joiner to adjust runners.
Missing or loose handles. Joiner to install or tighten.
Scratches or marks on finished joinery surfaces. Joiner to touch up.
Visible adhesive or filler that wasn’t sanded back. Joiner to rework.
Electrical and fixture defects
Common across all projects.
Missing or damaged switch plates. Electrician to replace.
Power points installed crooked or with visible gaps. Electrician to re-set.
Light fittings not centred or aligned. Electrician to adjust.
Air vents, exhaust fans, or smoke detectors not flush. Electrician or carpenter to adjust.
Missing globes or LED drivers. Electrician to supply and install.
Loose or damaged door hardware. Carpenter or builder to rectify.
Wet area defects
Wet areas (bathrooms, laundries, ensuites) carry the highest concentration of finishes per square metre and the highest defect rate.
Damaged or chipped tapware. Plumber to replace.
Tapware not aligned or level. Plumber to adjust.
Shower screen gaps or alignment issues. Glazier to adjust.
Damaged shower waste covers or floor wastes. Plumber to replace.
Visible silicone defects (covered above).
Vanity gaps to walls or floor. Joiner to adjust.
Floor defects
Final floor defects are common after multiple trades have walked through.
Scratches in polished concrete. Concrete polisher to buff out.
Marks or dents in polished timber. Floor sander to rework.
Stains on carpet. Cleaner can attempt removal. Carpet installer to replace if permanent.
Lifted or buckled flooring. Floor installer to rectify.
Damaged skirting (paint chips, dents). Painter and carpenter to rectify. 
How Build Clean documents defects
Build Clean’s standard process on every job:
- During the clean. The crew leader keeps a running list of defects identified during the clean. Photos are taken of significant defects.
- Final walk-through. The crew leader walks the site with the site supervisor. The defect list is reviewed item by item. Each defect is assigned to the responsible trade for rectification.
- Documented register. On Tier 2 and Tier 3 commercial projects, a written defect register is provided.
- Additional re-clean (quoted separately). Once trades have rectified, Build Clean can return for an additional re-clean of affected areas. The standard package is a single clean, with additional cleans available at additional cost on request.
This process is the difference between a handover where the client is delighted and a handover where the client opens the front door and sees three things wrong in the first sixty seconds.
Frequently asked questions
Do you rectify defects you find, or just report them? Build Clean rectifies defects that fall within the cleaning scope (paint splatter on glass, silicone smear, surface marks). Structural and trade defects (cracked tiles, misaligned doors, missing grout) are reported to the site supervisor for the responsible trade to rectify.
- What if you damage something during the clean? Build Clean carries $20 million in public liability insurance. Any damage caused by Build Clean is documented and processed through the insurance.
- Do you provide a written defect register? Yes for Tier 2 and Tier 3 commercial projects. For residential, the defects are walked through with the site supervisor verbally and photographed where significant.
- How long after the clean is a touch-up available? The touch-up window is agreed at quote stage, typically 5 to 10 working days. Outside the window, defect cleans are charged at the hourly rate, in line with the industry $70 to $90 per hour range.
- What if trades don’t rectify their defects in time? This is the principal contractor’s problem to manage with the trades. Build Clean can return for a second touch-up but additional visits outside the agreed window are charged.
- Can you provide photo evidence of defects? Yes. Photos of significant defects are provided to the site supervisor at the final walk-through.