A newly built home keeps changing for months after the keys are handed over. Plaster and timber dry out, hairline cracks appear, and some jobs are best done straight away while others are better left until the building has settled. Voltify Contractors provides property maintenance in Barking Riverside as part of its documented IG11 coverage, including decorating, electrical and plumbing work, appliance installation and handyman jobs. Use the timeline below to plan what to do when, and what to raise with your builder instead.
What to do in a new home’s first year
NHBC’s guide to your new home says drying out takes around nine months to a year, depending on how the home was built and the weather. That timescale shapes the order of work.
| When | What is happening | Jobs that make sense now |
|---|---|---|
| First few weeks | Materials are still releasing moisture | Curtain poles and blinds, TV mounting, furniture assembly, connecting appliances, extra sockets where you need them. Run extractor fans and keep trickle vents open. |
| First few months | Small cracks in walls and gaps in joinery start to show | Note and photograph them. Report anything larger than a hairline crack, or anything that is not a finish problem, to the builder. |
| Around 9–12 months | Drying out is largely complete | Fill shrinkage cracks and redecorate. This is a sensible point for the first full repaint. |
| Up to two years | The builder remains responsible for defects, according to NHBC | Send defects to the builder before paying anyone else to fix them. |
| After that | Routine upkeep | Normal maintenance and any improvements you have been saving up. |
Are the cracks a problem?
NHBC describes small cracks in walls and gaps in joinery as common signs of shrinkage and completely normal in new homes. It says they can normally be put right with ordinary filler and paint during routine redecoration. That is why filling them straight away is often wasted effort: more may appear until the drying is done.
Cracks that keep widening, doors that suddenly start sticking, or cracks with damp around them are different. Report those to the builder. If you are not sure which side of the line a problem falls on, our Docklands page explains how to tell a builder’s defect from a maintenance job.
Before you drill into new walls
Newer homes are often built with plasterboard linings, and a few rules from the NHBC guide are worth knowing before you put up shelves or a TV:
- On a wall shared with a neighbour, do not reduce its thickness or cut holes in the plasterboard for sockets or shelves, because that can weaken its sound and fire resistance.
- In a timber-frame home, cutting into the plasterboard on an outside wall can puncture the vapour control layer; any hole should be sealed with tape.
- Heavy items need fixings suited to the wall, or a fixing into the frame behind it, rather than standard plugs.
Our handyman and property maintenance service handles shelves, mirrors, TV brackets and curtain poles, checking the wall type and hidden cables and pipes before drilling.
Adding what the builder left out
Once you have lived in a new home for a few weeks, the gaps in the specification become obvious. Common requests include more sockets or USB sockets in the kitchen or bedrooms and different light fittings, which come under electrical services. Swapping or adding a dishwasher, washing machine or cooker is appliance installation, and a dripping tap or a slow waste is a plumbing job. When the drying-out period is over, painting and decorating can deal with the shrinkage cracks and replace the builder’s standard finish in one go.
If your home is in a block or on a managed estate, check the lease or estate rules before changing anything on the outside, such as an external light or socket.
Booking work in Barking Riverside
Standard working hours are 7am–5pm, Monday to Friday, and the documented standard minimum call-out is £80 for the first hour. Grouping several settling-in jobs into one visit usually makes better use of that time; the final price depends on the work and materials. For urgent leaks or electrical faults out of hours, emergency call-outs are available at different pricing. Call 020 3411 1855 or email info@voltifycontractors.co.uk.
Barking Riverside is part of the IG11 coverage that also includes Barking and Creekmouth. See all areas we cover or every service we offer.
