25+ Years of Local Experience
First & Second Fix Partitions
Metal stud partitions from first fix framing to second fix boarding, to divide rooms or create new layouts.
- Family-owned & local
- Residential & commercial
- Free site visits
About this service
First fix to second fix: new walls built dead straight.
We build partition walls in two stages. First fix is the framing: laser set-out, head and floor track, metal studs, door openings and plywood pattresses, left open so electricians and plumbers can run their services. Second fix is closing it up: insulation, boarding and detailing once the services are in, ready for tape and joint or skim.
Galvanised metal studs go up quickly, stay perfectly straight and will not warp or twist like timber. Changing the boards and insulation makes the same wall acoustic, fire-rated or moisture-resistant, for anything from an en-suite to a full office layout.
What's included
- First fix: laser set-out from your drawings
- First fix: head and floor track fixed to the structure, with deflection heads where needed
- First fix: metal studs at the right centres for the board and height
- First fix: door and window openings framed and reinforced
- First fix: plywood pattresses for TVs, basins, handrails and wall units
- Second fix: mineral wool insulation in the cavity
- Second fix: single or double-layer boarding to the specified system
- Second fix: beads and detailing, ready for tape and joint or skim
Why it works
The benefits of first & second fix partitions
- 01
Fast to build
A typical room split goes from set-out to boarded in a day or two.
- 02
Plumb and square
Steel studs are dead straight, so walls, corners and doors line up.
- 03
Works around other trades
First fix leaves the frame open for electrics and plumbing; we close it up when they are done.
- 04
Acoustic and fire options
Built to tested systems for bedrooms, corridors, escape routes and flats.
Options
Systems we install
Who it's for
Housing & commercial
Housing
Homeowners, builders and developers.
- Room splits
- En-suites
- Loft conversions
- Garage and basement conversions
- New builds
Commercial
Main contractors, fit-out firms and businesses.
- Office layouts
- Corridors and cores
- Retail units
- Clinics and healthcare
- Schools
Our work
From our sites
How it works
Simple from start to finish
- 01
Tell us about the job
Use the quote form, call or send photos on WhatsApp.
- 02
Free site visit
We measure up, check the walls and ceilings and talk through options.
- 03
Clear written quote
An itemised price by system and area, with no vague provisional sums.
- 04
We get it done
Built to programme, snagged with you and left clean and ready to finish.
FAQs
First & Second Fix Partitions: your questions
Something else? Ask us when you request a quote, or call and talk it through.
What is the difference between first fix and second fix?
First fix is building the frame: track, studs, openings and pattresses, before services go in. Second fix is closing the wall up afterwards with insulation and plasterboard. We can do both, or just one stage to fit your programme.
Metal stud or timber stud?
Metal is straighter, lighter, quicker to build and will not shrink or twist, so it is our usual choice. Timber still suits some domestic jobs where it ties into existing timber framing.
Can I hang heavy things on a stud wall?
Yes. Tell us where TVs, basins, radiators or cupboards are going and we will build in plywood pattresses at first fix so they fix solidly.
Does a partition wall need Building Regulations approval?
Simple room divisions usually do not, but walls forming escape routes, separating flats or affecting fire safety often do. We build to the system your building control officer or designer specifies.
Other services
More from D&D
Dot & dab01Drylining (Dot & Dab)
Plasterboard bonded straight to block and brick walls with adhesive dabs: flat, straight walls without the wait of wet plaster.Explore drylining (dot & dab)
Timber studs02Tacking
Plasterboard screwed directly to timber stud walls and ceiling joists, ready for skim or tape and joint.Explore tacking
Suspended04MF Ceilings
MF suspended plasterboard ceilings: a hidden metal grid that gives a flat, seamless ceiling below pipes, ducts and steels.Explore MF ceilings
Lift-out tiles05Grid Ceilings
Exposed-grid suspended ceilings with lift-out tiles for offices, shops and schools, coordinated with lights and services.Explore grid ceilings
Acoustic06Soundproofing
High-density acoustic plasterboard, resilient bars and mineral wool insulation fitted together to block noise.Explore soundproofing
Fire-rated07Fire Protection
Fire-rated plasterboard (typically pink-faced) to meet Building Regulations in kitchens, garage ceilings and loft conversions.Explore fire protection
Need first & second fix partitions? Let's price it.
Tell us about the job and we will come back with a clear, itemised price. Site visits are free.