Every project will include plenty of various builders works such as letterboxes, patching, rectification, remedials, cutting out and etc. During this small project we have done a lot of these works.

As you all aware from time to time you would need to do some service holes or letterboxes, especially if partition or bulkhead is part of Fire Strategy. Depends on setting out drawings it could be done before boarding or sometimes it needs to be done when 1^st fix boarding completed, so M&E could make their mark up. Best option is always trying to fit your letterbox between two studs. Please remember that letterbox lining must be the same spec as actual partition, which means if wall is double skin – letterbox must be double skin as well. There are could be some additional requirements for letterbox lining, which could be found in site specifics.

Sometimes, letterboxes could be not above ceiling or somewhere at high level, these could be below floor level, if you have access floors on site. These types of under flooring letterboxes might be required depends on your project needs. This needs to be checked with fire strategy drawings and wall types acoustic requirements. I believe many fixers have seen letterboxes setting our drawing, where you need to do your 1^st fix partitions and fit service holes before you start boarding. Otherwise, if these drawings issued late… this could lead to lots of extra hours spent on rectification works. Always check if there are any letterboxes requirements.

Cutting out using specific drawing to allow installation for other trades. There is nothing special or difficult to cut out part of existing ceiling, but sometimes this must be done according to specific request by others such as Main Contractor or M&E. Sending to do this job whoever could lead to unexpected result and could cost much more to patch it later on.

From time to time, we need to come back to some areas and do some rectification or patching works. It could be faults of our colleagues or faults done by other trades when they tried to do something like hole cut out and done it in a wrong place. These works taking a lot of time, because usually there is plenty of different type of obstructions above ceiling level.

What could be easier than boarding 1^st fix partitions where you have no sockets to cut out? Unfortunately, there could be serious problems if done without good attitude. Metal studs could bend slightly and if your boards were cut to incorrect size, you could push partition while connecting T junction. Nobody ever notices this, until finish stage of the project – when it is time to fit tiles or furniture.

Nearly every site will have remedial works, sometimes these could be just simple boarding or it could be areas with difficult access and different penetrations such as M&E pipes and trays. Such works would need extra time and planning these works is a bit complicated – very difficult to predict exact time of completion to areas like these.

Every site is full of extra works such as patching. These bloody works are making headache to every manager and supervisor on site who is involved in paperwork to sign off area for the handover. These works taking a lot of time, especially if you are working in the area which is nearly finished – Final decorations and carpet is done… Nightmare…