What are the stages of my building work?

You need careful planning and coordination if your building work involves more than a few simple stages and require the services of more than two or three different trades. You do not want your job to be delayed. You do not want to feel frustrated.

Construction work can be divided into two main stages, known as “first fix” and “second fix”.

First Fix:

?  Preparation, demolition and clearance: putting up scaffolding, clearing furniture and furnishings; protecting surfaces;

   propping up structures; demolishing walls; removing plaster.

?  Earthworks and service connections: digging foundations and drainage trenches; laying new drains; making external

   connections to electricity, gas and telephone.

?  Structural work: building new walls; laying solid floors; putting up roofing (structure and cover).

?  First fix services: laying pipes and cables; installing boilers.

?  First fix carpentry: framing doors and windows; making stud partitions; adding floor joists.

?  Plastering.

Second Fix:

?  Second fix services: installing radiators, sinks and baths; fitting socket covers and switches; connecting appliances.

?  Second fix carpentry: hanging doors; fitting moldings, skirting and architraves; fitting units and built-in features.

?  Tiling and some types of floor finishing.

?  Decoration

?  Flooring

In fact, the building work is more of a jigsaw than a sequence, because different trades have to work around each other. You will gain time, a time you will need if your construction material is not delivered on time.