Bathrooms are small, expensive, and unforgiving. Water finds every weakness, buyers inspect them closely, and a missed leak becomes a ceiling repair downstairs. They consistently produce more snags per square metre than any other room. Here is the checklist to work through.
Plumbing and fixtures
Start with water, because water is where the expensive failures live:
- Run every tap and check flow, temperature, and that hot and cold are the right way round.
- Fill the basin and bath, then release and watch the waste for slow drainage or gurgling.
- Check every trap and waste connection below for weeping, with tissue if needed to spot slow leaks.
- Flush the toilet several times: it should refill promptly, stop cleanly, and sit rock solid on the floor.
- Run the shower on every setting and check the screen or curtain actually contains the spray.
Silicone and seals
Silicone is the single most common bathroom snag. Check every joint: around the bath, basin, shower tray, and where tiling meets any fitting. It should be continuous, smooth, fully adhered on both sides, and free of gaps, discolouration, and mould. Run a finger along it if the site allows; gaps you can feel are leaks waiting to happen.
Check the bath panel seal and the junction between the shower screen and the tray, two spots routinely missed.
Tiling and finishes
- Tap tiles lightly across walls and floor: a hollow sound means poor adhesion and future cracks.
- Check for cracked, chipped, and scratched tiles, especially cuts around fittings and corners.
- Look along grout lines for consistency, pinholes, and missing sections.
- Check lippage by eye and by hand, particularly on large format floor tiles.
- Inspect the decoration: ceiling paint in bathrooms shows moisture marks fast, so look up.
Ventilation and heating
Poor ventilation is the seed of every future mould claim. Confirm the extract fan runs, actually moves air, and is quiet enough that the owner will leave it on. Check any window opens and has a working restrictor or trickle vent. If there is a heated towel rail or radiator, confirm it warms evenly and its valves do not leak.
Doors, accessories, and details
- The door should close and latch without fouling the frame, and any lock should work from both sides.
- Check mirrors, cabinets, and accessories are level, secure, and undamaged.
- Test every socket and switch, and confirm shaver sockets and lighting all work.
- Look behind the door and inside cabinets, the two places damage hides best.
Photograph as you go
Bathroom defects are the most disputed on any project because so many trades pass through such a small space. Photograph every item when you find it: wide for location, close for detail. A timestamped photo of a cracked tile on inspection day ends the argument about when it happened.
SnagCore lets you capture each of these checks on your phone with photos attached, so the bathroom list is complete before you leave the room. Try it free on your next inspection.
Ten careful minutes per bathroom, every time, is the cheapest insurance on the project.