The simple answer is yes, and there may be good reasons for this being a necessity. Supawood can supply panels and recommend ways to modify these products onsite. Reasons for doing so could be:
- Limited time to ensure onsite measurements are accurate;
- Realistic inability to supply accurate measurements, for example, position of services;
- A cost decision to purchase a cheaper and simpler version of the product for the installer to do more of the work (keep in mind, however, that Supawood provides products completed to minimise the work that needs to be done onsite to reduce risk of poorer quality work and to assist in reducing install time and construction schedules).
Modifying perforated panels onsite for cut-outs can be done with little risk as most services have a flange that will overlap beyond the edge of the hole and thus cover the potentially rough edge of the cut-out.
If you need to trim perforated or slotted panels onsite for size or shape, request a larger border (e.g., 75mm instead of 50mm) to the perimeter of the panel, so that you can trim them without cutting through the non-machined border or making it look too small.
If you need to cut services in slotted panels and the precise service locations are unknown, we suggest a blank section in these panels in the approximate position, for the installer to do the final cut-out onsite. If you have many services to cut, try standardising on a non-slotted section across a multitude of panels, to create a zone that is as consistent as possible.
Slatted panels can also be modified onsite; however, we will always supply additional cross battens for onsite application to ensure that all slats are still fixed to a cross batten using the maximum overhang or cantilever of slat as recommended by Supawood.
Beams can also be cut short to fit inside coffers, or to mitre and join onsite.
Please visit the Supawood site for accurate instructions on specific cutting methods for our products.
Image: Melbourne Square Tower 1, Southbank, Melbourne VIC
