A General Contractor: What Is It?
The individual or business in charge of managing a building project is known as a general contractor. In order to guarantee that a construction project is finished safely, on schedule, and in compliance with specifications, property owners usually use general contractors.
General contractors, sometimes known as GCs, are crucial for both simple home projects and intricate commercial development. More specialized work, such as installing new flooring or rebuilding a roof, may be contracted out to several subcontractors. Nonetheless, any project that necessitates managing numerous phases or specialized contractors to finish the task is probably going to require a GC.
Continue reading to find out more about general contractors’ roles in construction, how to assess whether a project calls for one, and how they are compensated and regulated. If you are looking for a good Pacific Palisades general contractor, look no further; we at Luxus Construction are here to help.
What is the role of a general contractor?
A general contractor (GC) is in charge of overseeing a building project from start to finish. In essence, a GC serves as a liaison between the owner of the property and all parties involved in the construction process, such as suppliers of building supplies, merchants, and craftsmen.
The GC’s duties are contingent upon the project’s delivery approach. For instance, in design-build projects, the GC or the architect oversees the whole undertaking from inception to completion. This implies that the GC can be in charge of overseeing a project’s design as well as its construction.
Under separate contracts, a design team and GC report to the owner for a design-bid-build project. The contract documentation, including drawings, specifications, and other exhibits, are created by the design team. Once finished, the plans are distributed to general contractors (GCs), who submit bids and oversee the project’s execution.
Before, during, and after the actual building process, the GC has crucial duties that aid in the project’s completion.
Prior to building
A general contractor may be in charge of some or all of the following at the preconstruction stage:
Creating a budget for building
Employing subcontractors to finish specific jobs
Working together with the architect to ensure that the design is implemented
The GC will continue to oversee the budget, collaborate with the architect, and communicate with other contractors for the duration of the project, even though all of these duties start before construction begins.
While building
The general contractor is usually in charge of the following while work is underway:
Supervising construction activities in compliance with the terms of the contract
Maintaining the project’s timeline
Timing coordination for specialist contractors
evaluating the quality of construction and/or planning inspections
Paying suppliers and specialized contractors
Gathering and monitoring lien waivers
In general, a GC’s job throughout construction is to ensure that everyone is cooperating effectively and responding to obstacles that can have a detrimental impact on the budget or timeline.
After building
A GC’s duties continue after construction is finished and include:
Gathering and monitoring any waivers of lien
Making certain that specialized contractors receive compensation for their labor
Handling payment-related problems along the payment chain
As the primary liaison between subcontractors and the building owner, the GC makes sure that the work is finished according to specifications before releasing payment.
To put it briefly, a general contractor oversees every aspect that allows a building project to be completed from start to finish. While subcontractors do the necessary work, the GC frequently takes on a management role.
On smaller projects, the GC could do some of the job themselves and just hire outside experts for specific tasks.
Although there are many distinct kinds of contractors, general contractors (GCs) are essential to a project’s completion and the payment of all those engaged in the building process.
General Contractor Types
The two most prevalent categories for general contractors are commercial and residential, while there are other sorts of contractor licenses as well. Let’s examine the differences and similarities between these two experts.
General Contractor for Commercial Use
Although they specialize in commercial construction, commercial general contractors also build and renovate corporate offices, restaurants, retail establishments, schools, and other structures. They supervise every phase of construction, from zoning and building code compliance to design, permits, and supplier purchasing.
General Contractor for Homes
General contractors that specialize in home construction or renovation work. To complete a project on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with the client’s requirements, they will collaborate with clients, architects, engineers, and subcontractors. Condos, duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and single-family homes are a few examples of residential building. They are in charge of managing the construction schedule, securing permits, locating supplies, employing and overseeing subcontractors, and making sure safety and building requirements are followed.
Compared to a home general contractor, a commercial general contractor will be more knowledgeable about various materials. The standards for code and compliance also differ. The scale of the project might affect the insurance and warranties available.
The Advantages of Employing a General Contractor
Hiring a general contractor, particularly one with a license, has several benefits. They will start by managing the project’s supervision, which is a laborious and intricate procedure. Such projects, whether residential or commercial, are likely to be more expensive and take longer to complete if an expert is not in charge.
It would ordinarily take a lot of time to investigate and one would have to learn by bad experience, but general contractors have working ties with subcontractors and can vouch for their performance. Typically, none of it falls within the purview of a project owner’s interests. Their duties are more significant.
It is best to have a licensed general contractor since it shields the project owner from legal action in the event that something goes wrong on the construction site. Liability insurance and other protections for both owners and employees are provided by licensed general contractors. Additionally, they will follow the correct procedures for lawfully obtaining permits and other building and code requirements that improve the safety, quality, and environmental soundness of the job.