A ‘closed shell’ is a structure with a roof, windows and doors, but without any services or interior wall finishes. A ‘developer’s finish’ goes a step further. It also includes installed services, screed, and walls and ceilings clad with panels.
This difference has a significant impact on the budget. With the building at the ‘closed shell’ stage, the developer has to find an electrician, a plumber and a team to lay the screed themselves, and each of them arrives on site at a different time. In a timber-frame house, it is most convenient to install the services within the partitions before they are closed off with boards, so dividing this work between different contractors can be problematic. When comparing quotes, ask which stages are included in the price, as different companies may interpret the same terms differently. This is a common reason for discrepancies between quotes.
