Make good

Make good is a contract phrase meaning “rectify to an acceptable condition”, usually applied to surfaces, fittings, or finishes that have been disturbed by the work. The phrase is everywhere in residential building contracts, demolition scopes, defects lists, and end-of-lease specs. It’s also the source of more disputes than almost any other line item, because “acceptable” is undefined.

Where it shows up

• Demolition scopes: “make good wall after removing built-in robe”
• Plumbing / electrical work: “make good wall surface after relocating GPO”
• Defects lists: “make good paint where damage occurred during handover”
• Variations: “make good adjacent finish after the variation is implemented”

In each case, the writer means “leave it like it was, or like it should be”, but doesn’t specify what that looks like.

Why it matters

Without tight definition, “make good” is a one-way bet for whoever holds the cheaper interpretation. The builder thinks “make good” means a patch and matched paint. The owner thinks it means a like-new finish: paint to nearest corner, carpet stretched, wallpaper match. The plasterer thinks it means flush, not Level 4. Disputes at PCI sit-down often turn on whose definition wins.

Common gotcha

The classic trap: a job removes a built-in cabinet from a 10-year-old painted wall. The builder patches the gyprock and dabs touch-up paint matched to a chip. Owner walks in, sees a rectangle of slightly-different paint against an aged wall. Now what? Strictly the builder did “make good” the hole. The owner says the wall isn’t made good (it has an obvious mark). Both readings are defensible.

What to write instead

Define the scope so it’s testable. Either of these is better than “make good”:

• “Patch and paint to match adjacent surface, paint to nearest internal corner or break.”
• “Restore wall lining to AS/NZS 2589 Level 4 finish, repaint full wall in matching colour.”
• “Replace damaged tile, no patching.”

If the owner expects the wall repainted entirely, the contract has to say so. If the builder is only patching, the contract has to say that too. Make-good as a bare phrase is a sign the scope hasn’t been thought through.

Also known as: Rectify, restore, reinstate.

Category: Demolition & make-safe.