How must the contractor deal with cutting, fitting, and patching?

• A. All areas that require cutting, fitting, and patching shall be restored to their condition prior to the required work. Unless required otherwise.
• B. Patch and leave as is.
• C. Patch with mismatched materials if cheaper.
• D. Cutting is prohibited.

Answer: (A)

When the contractor cuts, fits, or patches, the work in those areas must be repaired and finished so everything looks and functions as it did before the work began. This means restoring surfaces, textures, and finishes to their pre-work condition, matching materials and blending the patch with surrounding work so there’s no visible mismatch. The contractor takes responsibility for this restoration at no extra cost to the owner, unless the contract says otherwise. Cutting is not prohibited—it's allowed as part of doing the job, but it comes with the obligation to restore. Leaving patches, using mismatched materials, or bypassing restoration would fail to meet this obligation.