Once a wall is boarded and plastered, correcting a first fix problem means cutting back into a finished surface, patching and redecorating. The window to catch a problem cheaply is narrow — while the studwork is still open and the trade is still on site — which makes it worth being deliberate about what gets checked at this stage.
None of the checks below require technical knowledge; they're mostly about looking, asking and confirming before anything gets covered up.
Walk the positions in person
Stand in each room where sockets, switches and outlets have been marked or roughed in, and check them against how you'll actually use the space — where furniture will sit, which way doors swing, where a worktop or splashback line will fall.
It's much easier to move a mark on the wall before cable is run than to move a socket after it's fixed, so this check is worth doing as early in first fix as possible, not once the whole stage is finished.
Confirm every circuit you expected is actually there
It's easy for a circuit discussed verbally partway through design to fall out of the final first fix if it was never written down. Cross-check the actual runs on site against your specification document, item by item, rather than trusting memory on either side.
- Outside sockets and lighting, if planned
- A dedicated circuit for anything high-load, such as an electric shower or induction hob
- Data or aerial points, if wanted
- Outlets for anything specified late, like underfloor heating controls
Ask to see photographs before boarding goes up
Request that runs are photographed before the wall is closed, and ask to see them, or at least confirm they've been taken and saved, before you sign off that stage. This is a five-minute check that prevents a real headache later if a shelf bracket or picture hook needs positioning with confidence.
If photographs aren't being taken as standard, ask for it explicitly rather than assuming it's happened by default.
Check testing has actually taken place
Ask whether electrical circuits have been tested and whether plumbing runs have been pressure tested before boarding proceeds. This should be a distinct step with a result, not something assumed to have happened because nothing obviously went wrong.
Keep any test certificates or records with your project file — they're evidence the work was checked while it was still accessible, which matters if a problem shows up later.
Don't let boarding get ahead of your sign-off
On a fast-moving site, boarding can go up quickly once first fix looks complete. Agree in advance that you'll be given the chance to check positions and confirm circuits before that happens, rather than finding out after the fact that the wall is already closed.
This isn't about slowing the job down — a quick walk-round takes minutes — it's about making sure that window doesn't close before you've had the chance to look.
Common questions
How do I know if a socket position is wrong before it's too late?+
Stand in the room and mentally place your furniture and appliances against the marked positions, including door swings and worktop lines. Do this before cable is run, since moving a mark costs nothing but moving a fixed socket does.
What if I forgot to specify a circuit earlier in the design?+
Raise it as soon as you notice, while the wall is still open — adding a circuit at first fix is far cheaper than adding one after plastering. Get it priced and agreed in writing as a variation before it's installed.
Do I need to see the test certificates myself?+
It's worth asking for them and keeping copies with your project paperwork, even if you don't need to interpret every detail yourself. They're proof the work was checked, which matters for future reference.
Ask us for a first fix walk-round before boarding starts
We'll confirm every position and circuit with you on site, and photograph runs before anything is covered.