General Contractors – A Brief Introduction

 

Simply said, a general contractor (called GC sometimes) is the one that simply manages construction projects. A general contractor can be an individual or a company. 

Overall, the general contractor is the overseer of a project. Among his responsibilities include sourcing the materials, hiring subcontractors and furnishing tools and equipment for the project. This is aside from assuming the responsibilities for crucial factors like timeline and site safety.

Residential general contractors 

By and large, residential general contractors Fortworth are considered seasoned experts with regards to home improvements. They work with the owner conceptualizing the project at the highest level including the design and the project timeline. 

They also hire subcontractors to accomplish specific tasks like the wiring installation or hanging drywall at the right stages of the project. General contractors Fortworth are aided by the right subcontractors to enforce quality work. 

Quality and deadline 

For the homeowner, perhaps the most important function of a general contractor is to ensure the safety of the project as well as compliance to the agreed-on deadline. With the use of their business name, and any violations to the building codes will be theirs to remedy. 

This is a serious boon considering the hefty fees and costly penalties and other legal troubles for out-of-code constructions. 

Other responsibilities 

General contractors protects you from liability with the promise that their projects to be “licensed, bonded, and insured.” Not all states require general contractors Fortworth to be licensed but you need to check out on the other two ingredients of being bonded and insured. 

They also carry worker’s compensation to let the owners avoid liabilities of injuries sustained on the property. 

In practice, general contractors are project managers that might have trades-people on their staff (electrician, handymen). However, their main work is to oversee the project, the site, and the schedule and the construction details needed. 

The general contractors hire various subcontractors for several specialized tasks needed in the project. Examples of these would be the specialty work of plumbers and those of the electricians. These subcontractors are hired to coordinate their work and keep the larger project on track. 

Advantages 

Getting a general contractor is one good step when considering home remodeling or new construction projects. They are the ones handling the building project with all the required permits and the involvement of many trades-people. 

For the owner, it becomes a relief to have someone (or some company) handle the overall responsibility of the daily work while making sure that the entire project is completed – on time, safely and legally. 

For smaller projects, it could be a cost-effective decision to hire the needed trades-people directly. For bathroom renovations, you might need only a plumber and a carpenter and you might be comfortable in directing that kind of labor by yourself. 

Costs 

The costs of hiring and working with a general contractor depend on the project, the company (the general contractor) and several other variables. This includes the agreement on whether they will be responsible for pulling permits or collaborating with an architect. 

The general contractor will submit a price point in their bid for you to approve. This includes labors, materials, and project management, including their profit margin.