What is a General Contractor?

A general contractor is needed to manage your construction team as you are creating your ideal home.

This expert is responsible for all day-to-day activities, including ensuring quality control and meeting deadlines. A general contractor is a professional in charge of everything when you need engineers, architects, interior designers, and other construction professionals. Every construction project needs a general contractor.

What Does a General Contractor Do?

Most of the time, general contractors supervise construction projects on site from the planning stage to completion. Some of the responsibilities of the general contractor in this process are as follows:

Proposal: The offer often follows the initial bidding process. The general contractor will study the project's specifics and prepare an estimate that will consider the cost of building materials, labor, fees, and permits.

Plans: Planning begins in earnest as soon as a proposal is accepted. Subcontractors such as plumbers, carpenters, electricians, painters, HVAC installers, and other craftsmen receive design work from general contractors. These specific craftsmen are hired by a general contractor who balances their proposals against the overall budget. They are also responsible for obtaining the necessary building permits.

Progress: The general contractor acts as the site construction manager after the project is underway. They ensure that the project is completed on time, that everyone keeps their word, and they help with any issues that may arise. In many cases, they will also be in charge of the cash flow by issuing checks to workers and items that must be purchased throughout the project.

Safety: The primary responsibility of a general contractor may be to ensure safety in the workplace. A potentially hazardous procedure is construction. The general contractor is responsible for ensuring that all necessary safety measures are in place and that everyone on the construction site, whether they are working or just visiting, is always as safe as possible.

Coordination: In most cases, the general contractor will act as the main liaison between the client and other important parties. Zoning boards, project engineers, and large equipment or materials suppliers may fall under this category.

Types of Contractors

Homeowners looking to renovate have access to various contract service options, so choosing the one that best suits your needs is important.

Extensive Home Renovation

You may want a professional repairer to act as a general contractor for large or extensive projects, additions, or a combination of repairs and refurbishments. The general contractor will organize and be responsible for all project-related tasks such as design, hiring subcontractors, managing permits and inspections, and acquiring construction materials and materials.

Specific Room Renovations

You may need a specialized contractor if you remodel a specific space, such as a kitchen or bathroom. Numerous specialist kitchen and bathroom companies offer design services and either manufacture or sell the products they install. Renovation contractors can also handle this kind of project.

Electrical, Heating, Mechanical, and Plumbing Repair

You can also hire artisans directly, such as roofers, masons, and carpenters, but you will need to identify them and oversee the contracting process yourself. The best trade contractors for your needs will likely specialize in each area. Repairs to heating and cooling systems are often carried out by utility providers, helping to streamline the process. In most provinces, trade contractors must be licensed in their area of expertise.

The Bottom Line

For commercial and residential contracts, Trust on Doug Construction for all your general contractor needs; we can work beyond your expectation. Hiring someone with the proper licensing needed for every state is an advantage to regional and national companies to maintain continuity across multiple sites and to share efficiencies from one project to the next.