I cut the duct too short - patch, sleeve, splice, or remake?
Do not force the joint, stretch flex, bury a gap, or tape over a bad connection. First identify the duct type and connection. S-and-drive, TDC/Ductmate, flex, and round/spiral all recover differently. Small gaps may be recoverable with an approved sleeve, coupling, splice, or filler piece. Larger gaps, TDC mistakes, exposed work, rated assemblies, specialty duct, or inspected work usually need a remake or approved recovery plan.
Identify the connection type first, then choose the clean recovery: sleeve/coupling/splice/filler only when appropriate, remake when the connection cannot be recovered cleanly.
Only ask after you have checked the connection type, measured the shortage, and identified whether it is hidden, exposed, rated, specialty, or inspected. Then ask with the likely recovery option ready.
Watch out
Do not stretch flex to cover it. Do not leave a gap and bury it with tape, mastic, insulation, ceiling tile, or paint. Do not force a TDC/flanged joint that will not seat. Do not add a random patch to rated, specialty, exposed, or inspected duct without approval.
Check
How short is the duct or piece, and is the gap small enough to bridge cleanly?
What connection is involved: S-and-drive, TDC/Ductmate, flex, round/spiral, or specialty duct?
Is the short end at a joint, fitting, wall/shaft opening, equipment, damper, exposed area, or inspected work?
Will the fix affect access, damper operation, insulation/vapor barrier, support, airflow, slope, finish appearance, or rated/life-safety work?
Is the clean recovery an approved sleeve/coupling/splice/filler, or does the piece need to be remade?
Steps
Stop before making the gap bigger or hiding it.
Measure how short the piece is and where the gap lands.
Identify the connection type: S-and-drive, TDC/Ductmate, flex, round/spiral, or specialty duct.
Check whether the area is hidden, exposed, rated, near equipment, near a damper, already inspected, or controlled by a project detail.
Pick the likely recovery path: approved sleeve/coupling/splice/filler for small recoverable gaps, or remake/reorder when the connection will not be clean.
Fasten and seal any approved recovery per project specs, shop standard, manufacturer instructions, and direction from the responsible lead.
Say this to your foreman
I cut this [S-and-drive/TDC/flex/round] duct short by about at . It is [hidden/exposed/rated/near damper/near equipment]. I think the clean recovery is [sleeve/coupling/splice/filler/remake]. Does that match the job detail, or should I remake it?