Renovation projects are very exciting to start. From regularly scheduled building maintenance to remodeling from scratch, working on a commercial or living space takes time and dedication, and the end result must more often than not be worth it. To achieve this, you need to know that your project will be in the best possible hands. Generally, for this purpose, people hire general contractors. So, what is a general contractor, and what is their role in a construction project?
Roles and Responsibility
A general contractor is responsible for the supervision and effective running of the work site. This might include things such as gathering necessary equipment and material to be used during the building process, monitoring work (such as the supervision of subcontractors), and ensuring the process is as closely aligned to the end goal as possible. A general contractor’s basic aim is to bring the client’s ideas to life in optimum fashion, by monitoring site happenings to ensure this. A few of a contractor’s major duties are discussed in detail below.
Supervision
In the same way that a foreman’s job requires that he or she oversees the actions of the construction crew they employ, so too does a general contractor have to monitor the developments of his or her crew. Contractors sometimes even have to employ other contractors to carry out certain specific tasks on the job (subcontractors), and they have to monitor these too. If anything goes wrong, the contractor has to be held responsible, and so safety is this worker’s number one priority.
Equipment and Material Management
The tools and items that will be used on the construction site need to be stocked at a sufficient quantity at all times so that work can be carried out smoothly and efficiently. This is where a contractor’s skill truly comes in. To always have enough equipment on hand supplied for workers is no easy job. This involves contacting hardware stores, negotiating deals, and having goods transported to the site’s location. When the supply of material is sufficient, work can be more streamlined and carried out in a speedy manner. This may even contribute to early project completion. Who doesn’t look forward to their project being finished ahead of schedule? A good contractor can help you get that and more when they are able to efficiently carry out tasks.
Workforce Management
In addition to the supervision of workers, a general contractor is also responsible for budget analysis and cash flow. All things concerning payments and distributions to workers on the site are done through a contractor. As such, a contractor also acts as a liaison between workers and you, the employer. They let workers know what the end goal is and what the finished should ultimately be, and they further outline the plan to get there as quickly as possible.
Closing Thoughts
For any construction project to be undertaken, from a high budget commercial building to a D-I-Y home renovation, it’s invaluable to have someone on hand that can offer advice and suggest how to best get the ideas that are in your head on paper and then to your house or building. A general contractor is just that for you.
