Nitpik — Guide 2026
Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026, explained.
Designer defect inspections, professionally picky.
The rulebook behind every Nitpik defect. Here's what it is, how finishes are judged, and how we cite it in your report.
What the Guide is
The Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026 is published by the Building and Plumbing Commission (Victoria). It sets out the tolerances that domestic building work in Victoria should meet — from paint and plaster to tiling, joinery and glass.
2026 vs older editions
The 2026 edition replaces earlier versions for current work. Clause numbers and some tolerances have moved, so a report citing an old edition can be easier for a builder to dispute.
Which edition applies can depend on your contract date — check your contract, and ask us if you're unsure.
Normal viewing position
Most finish defects are judged from the normal viewing position: 1.5 m or greater for walls, ceilings and floors; 600 mm for appliances and fixtures; 3 m for glass — with the surface lit by non-critical (diffuse, non-glancing) light.
We use raking light to find marks, then confirm each one from that position before it goes in the report.
Finish clauses we cite most
- Paintwork — runs, sags, patchy sheen, paint on other surfaces
- Plaster and cornices — visible joints, waviness, cracking
- Tiling — joint alignment, lipping, grout voids, chips
- Stone and joinery — door and drawer gaps, joints, caulking
- Glass — scratches judged from a set distance and count
See them in practice in the pre-handover checklist, or book a handover inspection or building defects inspection.
Common questions
What is the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026?
It's the Victorian reference for acceptable workmanship in domestic building, published by the Building and Plumbing Commission (Victoria). Builders, inspectors and dispute bodies use it to decide whether a finish is a defect.
Does the Guide override my building contract?
No. Your contract and the law take precedence. The Guide fills the gap where the contract doesn't set a specific standard.
How does Nitpik use the Guide?
Every defect in a Nitpik report carries the clause number and tolerance it fails, checked from the Guide's normal viewing position, so your builder can see exactly why it's on the list.
Get a report cited to the 2026 Guide
$450 single-storey · $750 double-storey. Every defect photographed and cited to the Guide to Standards and Tolerances 2026, with your PDF report the same day. Servicing Melbourne and Victoria.
Nitpik inspects cosmetic finish only. We are not structural engineers, building surveyors (RBS), or pest and termite inspectors, and we don't do pre-purchase building and pest reports on existing homes. This page is general information, not legal advice. Your contract and the law take precedence over the Guide.