Shrinkage

Did you know that the materials we use to build your home absorb a lot of moisture during the construction process? As you settle into your new Redrow home and temperatures change, shrinkage cracks and gaps may start to appear.

Your home is drying out, which is perfectly natural and nothing to worry about. The cracks are cosmetic and will not affect the structural stability or safety of your home.

You may find this more noticeable where plaster meets woodwork and skirting boards. It is particularly common on the stair string where the skirting board meets the wall.

We recommend that you keep your house well ventilated to reduce the amount of shrinkage you may experience. Keep your window vents open and your heating on a moderate temperature so that it does not get too hot.

If you have concerns about any shrinkage cracks around your skirting boards, we will resolve this as part of your warranty if they are wider than 2mm (4mm on your staircase). For ease this is generally the width of a pound coin. Smaller cracks are considered normal and can be addressed as part of your home owner maintenance routine.

As a guide, your skirting boards should have an even appearance when viewed from a 2-metre distance in natural daylight. We usually suggest that you stand in the middle of your room in natural daylight and if there are clear visible marks to your skirtings then let us know.

Finish

Your staircase has been designed with adequate guarding and your safety in mind.

Shrinkage is likely to occur along the staircase edge / stair string as your home dries out. This tends to be more apparent as we change from one weather season to another.

Shrinkage is not classed as a defect, neither are imperfections in the finish unless you can see it from a 2m distance in natural daylight.