I drilled the wrong hole. What do I do before it gets worse?
Stop drilling. Identify what you drilled into, whether it affects structure, rated assemblies, waterproofing, equipment, controls, or finish work, then get direction before patching or drilling again.
Stop drilling, document the hole, identify the substrate/risk, and ask before patching or drilling again.
Do not drill a second hole to “make it work.” Do not patch structural, rated, waterproof, or equipment surfaces without direction.
Check
Substrate/material drilled
Wrong location distance from intended mark
Whether it hits rated/structural/waterproofed/equipment area
Who needs to approve the repair
Steps
Stop using the drill and secure the area.
Confirm the substrate: deck, concrete, wall, equipment cabinet, duct, curb, or finished surface.
Photograph the hole and the layout mark that caused it.
Check if it is rated, structural, waterproofed, energized, or owner-facing.
Ask before patching, adding anchors, moving layout, or drilling another hole.
Say this to your foreman
I drilled the wrong hole at [location/substrate]. I stopped. It is [distance] from the intended mark. Do you want me to patch, abandon, move layout, or wait for direction?