Commercial history
Bills of quantities, estimates, tender revisions, valuations and variations, linked to the final account. Keep a proposed change distinct from an instruction or approval.
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Our specialist foundation
Construction & building services
The original tender is only the beginning. Drawings, site decisions, variations, tests and final accounts can reveal how a project actually unfolded.
Discuss records in this sectorBuilt & made
What changed between the price, the work and the final account?
This is where Richard McKay brings direct experience: an honours degree in Quantity Surveying and over 30 years in construction. That knowledge helps frame the first conversation; it does not establish an archive’s ownership or suitability.
Illustrative connectionNot a sample archive or a promise of value
- 01
Tender & quantities
- 02
Instruction or variation
- 03
Site evidence & revisions
- 04
Final account or follow-up
Relevant records
Look beyond
the final file.
What was known, what was decided, what happened and what the evidence shows.
The examples below are categories to discuss. Existence, rights, suitability and buyer requirements still need to be established.
Technical choices
RFI responses, drawings and as-built versions, method revisions and the reasoning behind material or installation choices.
Testing & remedial work
Moisture readings, commissioning results, defect photographs, repairs and later recurrence. Unsuccessful attempts can be informative when their context is preserved.
Potential uses, not promised demand
What might an AI team investigate?
- Testing whether an AI tool can trace a cost change back to its supporting evidence.
- Researching how technical decisions, revisions and observed site conditions connect.
- Evaluating document retrieval across the different stages of a project.
Any actual recipient, purpose and permitted use must be agreed. These are research and evaluation possibilities, not confirmed buyers, available datasets or claims of proven AI performance.
Before anything is shared
The boundaries
are part of the work.
- Client and designer copyright, subcontractor records and contractual restrictions need checking, even where files sit in your own archive.
- Keep open disputes, security-sensitive building information and personal details out of the initial enquiry.
- A final account is not, by itself, evidence of payment or a settled dispute.
McKays does not promise that redaction or anonymisation will make material suitable. Detailed review, preparation responsibilities and any specialist advice must be agreed separately.
Find your kind of business
Specific work.
Specific records.
Explore examples for the businesses and organisations in this sector.
General building contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Site diaries and change-order registers
- RFI answers and construction-sequence decisions
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveResidential renovation companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Before-and-after photographs and concealed defects
- Estimates linked to actual job costs
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveEarthworks contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Terrain surveys and excavation quantities
- Machine production and ground-condition logs
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveDemolition contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Structural surveys and demolition plans
- Salvage inventories and material recovery
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archivePiling and foundation contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Pile-driving logs and penetration rates
- Pile integrity and load-test results
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveStructural steel erectors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Erection drawings and lift plans
- Connection inspections and remedial work
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveMasonry contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Wall details and setting-out drawings
- Mortar tests and wall-defect assessments
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveRoofing contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Roof surveys and leak photographs
- Repair histories and leak recurrence
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveGlazing and curtain-wall contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Shop drawings and fixing details
- Water-penetration and air-leakage tests
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveHistoric building restoration firms
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Original-material provenance and condition surveys
- Conservation treatments and restoration sequences
- Client, designer and subcontractor correspondence resolving site questions
- Method statements and work-sequence revisions
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveHardwood and parquet flooring specialists
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Subfloor moisture and timber movement readings
- Laying patterns, sanding sequences and refinishing methods
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveCarpet installation companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Room measurements and seam plans
- Fit defects, stretching and replacement records
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveResilient flooring installers
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Substrate moisture and adhesive compatibility tests
- Vinyl, linoleum and rubber joint-failure records
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveTile and stone flooring contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Setting-out patterns and substrate details
- Cracking, lippage and installation defect investigations
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archivePolished concrete flooring specialists
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Grinding and densification sequences
- Gloss, slip resistance and surface-flatness tests
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveEpoxy and resin flooring contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Resin mixes, batch specifications and application conditions
- Adhesion, curing and chemical-resistance tests
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveDrywall and suspended-ceiling contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Wall and acoustic-ceiling assembly details
- Joint, ceiling and acoustic defect records
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archivePainting and coating contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Surface-preparation and coating application methods
- Film-thickness and adhesion measurements
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveWaterproofing contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Membrane and junction details
- Leak tests, remediation and recurrence histories
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archivePassive fire-protection contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Penetration and firestop asset registers
- Installation evidence and firestopping inspection records
- Product, substrate and installation questions with resolved answers
- Substrate, product and installation choices with technical rationale and later results
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveHVAC service companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Temperature, pressure and equipment trend logs
- Fault diagnoses, repair choices and commissioning decisions
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archivePlumbing contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Pipe routes and as-built diagrams
- Pressure tests and confirmed leak findings
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveElectrical contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Circuit schedules and wiring diagrams
- Electrical inspection readings and fault tests
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveElevator maintenance companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Controller fault histories and operating cycles
- Callouts, component replacement and repeat failures
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveFire alarm and sprinkler contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Alarm zoning and sprinkler design calculations
- Alarm, flow and pressure-test results
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveSecurity-system integrators
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Equipment layouts and system diagrams
- False-alarm investigations and equipment faults
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveBuilding automation integrators
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Control logic, configurations and sequence revisions
- Building trend logs linked to interventions
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveSolar installation companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Shading surveys and roof layouts
- Generation, inverter faults and performance histories
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveBattery backup and UPS service companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Load tests and battery-capacity measurements
- Battery failure and replacement outcomes
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveCommercial kitchen equipment service firms
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Appliance temperatures and fault codes
- Diagnostic steps and repair decisions
- Service requests and customer descriptions of faults
- Commissioning checklists, technical runbooks and repair procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveScaffolding contractors
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Scaffold designs and load configurations
- Erection inspections and alteration records
- Client, supplier or technical query correspondence
- Specialist operating and quality-control procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveLandscape design and build firms
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Planting designs and construction details
- Plant establishment and maintenance outcomes
- Client, supplier or technical query correspondence
- Specialist operating and quality-control procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveSwimming-pool maintenance companies
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Water chemistry and equipment measurements
- Treatment adjustments and water-quality outcomes
- Client, supplier or technical query correspondence
- Specialist operating and quality-control procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveLocksmith businesses
Record classes to describe, not upload
- Fault diagnosis and repair decisions
- Service jobs and hardware-compatibility records
- Client, supplier or technical query correspondence
- Specialist operating and quality-control procedures
Examples to investigate, not a claim that these records exist, are owned by the holder or can be licensed.
Discuss this type of archiveNo matching business type in this guide. Search all sectors, or describe your records in an enquiry.
A useful first enquiry
Start with a description.
Not the archive.
Describe the trade, approximate project dates, the kinds of commercial and technical records retained, and whether project references connect the files.
Paper, digital and mixed archives can be discussed. Approximate answers are fine. Mention your role, who can authorise a review and any practical deadline.
Prepare an enquirySend a non-confidential enquiry through the website. No archive files are uploaded.