Are you planning to remodel your home or a commercial renovation and unsure why you need a general contractor?
This article provides detailed information on who a general contractor is, license requirements for general contractors, other types of contractors, and the top 10 things that a commercial contractor does on a project site.
This article is meant for homeowners or commercial property owners in California who wish to know more about general contractors. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for contractors seeking a license.
Who Is A General Contractor?
A General Contractor, sometimes called the main contractor or a prime contractor, is one who is responsible for the day-to-day management and operations of a construction worker. He manages workers on the site, vendors, and trades and is the communication link between the owner of the construction work and all other parties involved in the building project.
A General Contractor is the extension of the project’s owner and is employed to manage the project from ground break to completion.
License Requirements For General Contractors
General Contractors in the United States do not need any federal license requirements to work. However, most states demand that a commercial contractor should be licensed locally before working on projects. Also, certain types of projects’ duties line electrical, plumbing, and HVAC installation might require special licenses. Also, projects exceeding specific value might require the contractor to obtain special licenses.
In California, where Extreme Epoxy Coatings is located, to work as a general contractor on a project of $500 or more, an individual has to obtain a General Contractor license for the California Contractors’ State License Board (CSLB). The license requirements in California are standardized state-wide. There are no special educational requirements, but an individual must be 18 years of age or older and have a valid Social Security Number or individual taxpayer identification number.
Also, the applicant must have the necessary skills and knowledge needed to manage the daily activities of a construction business, including field supervision. The individual applying must have had at least four full years of experience within the last ten years at a journey-level or above in the classification for which he or she is applying. Finally, the individual must pass a two-part exam through the CSLB.
In California, General Contractors can obtain three different types of licenses before undertaking any commercial building project. The first two types allow you to work as a general contractor, while the third allows you to work as a specialty contractor.
The Class A General Engineering Contractor License is your license to work on specialized engineering projects. This is required majorly by contractors that work on large projects like the building of dams, bridges, skyscrapers, and other large structures.
The Class B General Building Contractor License is the license required to work on general and building projects for commercial and residential dwellings. This is needed by contractors that build homes, remodel homes and build home additions.
The Class C Specialty Contractor License must undertake about 42 different types of construction work. Contractors require it with specialized roles like fireproofing, construction of elevators, asbestos removal, and many others.
Licensed general building contractors can obtain a specialty license to partake in projects limited to a particular trade. However, class C contracts cannot serve as general contractors on projects that involve multiple types of construction work.
Are There Other Types of Construction Industry Contractors?
Apart from a general contractor, there are six other contractor categories: electricians, plumbers, heating and ductwork, drywallers, painters, and finish carpenters.
Apart from these six categories, the specialty contractors include the roofers, masons, excavators, landscapers, pool builders, etc. The general contractor’s primary duty is to ensure coordination and synergy between all contractors for a successful construction project.
Top 10 Things A Commercial General Contractor Does
Below are the top 10 duties of commercial General Contractors:
1: New Construction Projects
In a new construction project, the general contractor has a wide range of duties and is in charge of the whole construction project. The general contractor is in charge of the day-to-day activities of all workers and subcontractors on site.
He is in charge of keeping the construction project on schedule. He ensures that the project is completed within the quoted time frame. Failure to stick to schedule might result in additional costs to the owner of the project or delay due to weather issues if the project spans multiple seasons.
2: Commercial Renovation Projects
A commercial general contractor oversees a commercial renovation project. He is in charge of the project from start to finish and keeps the owner updated about the project from time to time. In a commercial renovation project, contractors are usually told to submit a bid for the project. The contractor provides a bid that is a rough estimate of the project cost.
Once awarded the project, the contractor employs all other contractors and labor needed to complete the project within the estimated delivery time. He oversees their activities and ensures their safety while on site. He also provides the necessary material and equipment needed for the project.
Most times, the company you hire will be responsible for general construction management. If you have an upcoming project, make sure the terms and services are defined properly.
3: Residential Remodeling Projects
In California, a general building contractor manages a residential renovation project with a Class B license. Without such licensing requirements, you are not qualified to work as a residential remodeling contractor in California.
A general building contractor gives a realistic idea of the project and where issues might lay. He also provides a rough estimate of what the project would cost.
Once the project commences, he actively manages the owner’s budget in real-time and updates the budget every time an invoice is issued. He hires and oversees all the subcontractors and workers needed during the remodeling project and ensures that the project is completed within the stipulated time frame.
4: Siding Installation And Repair
The general contractor also oversees any siding installation and repairs to be done. If he is licensed, he might complete the task himself. However, he would employ a subcontractor to carry out the task while he oversees and provides needed material in most cases. Depending on your specific needs, this service can be used for residential and commercial office space.
5: Commercial And Residential Painting
Commercial and residential painting can be overseen by a commercial construction contractor or a commercial painting contractor. Both types of contractors hire and supervise the workers employed to undertake the project.
The contractor ensures that all safety protocols are followed to avoid serious labor injuries and death, especially when applying paints to elevated structures and poorly ventilated areas.
He also ensures that the paint materials applied by the painters are suitable within a particular work or home environment. He also ensures that appropriate clean-up is done after the project is completed.
6: Electric Wiring Services
The general contractor manages subcontractors needed to complete part of the project, including electric wiring. As a rule of thumb, general contractors do not provide electrical services. Instead, the contractor oversees the quality of work delivered by subcontractors hired to provide electric wiring services.
However, licensed general contractors in California with a Type C license can provide electrical wiring services. For most prospective contractors interested in this service niche, you are required to get the necessary license before the commencement of operations.
7: Installation of Plumbing Materials
The general contractor is in charge of employing specialized subcontractors to provide plumbing services either for a new project, commercial renovation, or residential remodeling. He oversees their day-to-day activities and ensures the safety of all workers on the job site.
However, it is important for you to hire the right contractor for the job. If you fail by hiring the wrong construction companies, your plumbing installations may have faults down the line.
8: Woodworking Project
In a woodworking project, the general contractor orders the materials needed for the woodworking project. He works hand in hand with the vendors, subcontractors, and laborers to ensure that the materials are provided within the appropriate timeline. He oversees the project to ensure that the owner’s specifications are strictly adhered to in design, modifications, and quality. In some cases, wood framing might be included in this type of service.
9: Flooring Services
The general contractor is in charge of overseeing the subcontractor’s activities in charge of concrete and flooring services. He employs specialty contractors to handle flooring services and ensures that the subcontractor provides quality services that pass all safety checks and recommendations.
10: Roofing Projects
In a roofing project, the general contractor manages subcontractors and labor needed for a roofing project.
He provides reasonable bids from multiple prospective subcontractors and ensures that the subcontractor to be hired offers quality roofing services while working with his client’s budget. He also keeps the owner in the loop and provides advice based on the project.
Conclusion
We wrote this article to help homeowners or commercial property owners in California who wish to know more about general contractors, and we hope you found this article helpful.
ExtremeEpoxyCoatings is a leading general contractor in California. Need a general contractor near you? Contact us today for more information about our services.
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