29/04/2026
Let’s talk about builder’s holes.
Those who have worked with me know how tidy I am with my work. I cut strips using a saw and guide, often doing multiple at the same time for consistency. When I form openings, they’re always level and uniform — I can feel my OCD kicking in sometimes.
Over the years, I’ve worked on many sites and seen some seriously poor craftsmanship in our trade. Take the last picture, for example — a ready-boarded wall done badly. It doesn’t cost more time or money to pay full attention and deliver a clean, gap-free, tidy builder’s hole.
I often hear tradesmen say, “What’s the point? It’ll be jointed or plastered anyway.” The point is simple — you’re doing 8 hours a day at work, so you might as well take pride in it.
I look at other tradesmen’s work online, and honestly, some of it is shocking. That kind of standard wouldn’t pass inspections on bigger projects — especially multi-million-pound jobs like schools, where the public is involved.
You’ve got one life, and you spend half of it working — so let’s raise the standards. Let’s graft properly and turn our work into something we’re proud of. Let’s make artwork with our hands.
