Construct This: A Contractor's Blog

What Can a Commercial General Contractor Do for You?

16 March 2022 by Joyce Rivera

As opposed to general contractors who build homes, commercial contractors specialize in building schools, hospitals, shopping malls, large apartment buildings, and other commercial facilities. Their clients can be individuals, businesses, government, non-government entities, and many more.

If you're planning a commercial construction project, knowing what a commercial contractor does will help you understand their obligations towards you. When hiring a commercial contractor, here are some expectations you should have of their roles and responsibilities.

Construction Planning

A commercial contractor's role in building construction starts with creating a plan for how work will be managed and executed to achieve the goals of the project. It involves establishing the specific tasks that will be done, from start to finish, and the timelines to complete those tasks. 

Commercial construction projects are large projects. Construction planning helps break down the entire project into smaller, manageable tasks, allowing you to have better control over project outcomes.

Personnel Management

Commercial general contractors are responsible for recruiting the different teams that will work on your construction project. These include architects, building designers, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, construction supervisors, construction workers, and many more.

General contractors carry out the interviewing and screening processes required to get the right people for the job. They're also responsible for ensuring the safety of those they hire to work on your project. Hence, they can be held liable for any workplace injuries that arise during the progress of your project.

Material Procurement and Equipment Rental

Commercial construction projects require purchasing quality building materials and renting the appropriate equipment for the job. These material purchases and equipment rentals must fit your budget and meet your deadlines.

A commercial contractor can find the right materials and equipment suppliers and negotiate the best deal on your behalf. 

Subcontractor Management

Given the sheer size and scope of commercial construction projects, general contractors usually outsource most or even all of the work, and for good reason. Subcontracting work helps:

• Reduce the need to manage a large workforce
• Avoid dealing with human resource issues in a variety of trades
• Reduces the need to oversee the operations and conduct of multiple vendors and suppliers
• Transfer risk to other contractors 

Excavation, masonry, carpentry, roofing, HVAC installation, electrical, and plumbing are some common construction jobs that can be farmed out. Commercial construction contractors can find the right subcontractors for your project and manage their work and performance. If there are disputes among the different subcontractors working on your commercial project, your general contractor may help ensure such disputes are resolved amicably.

When it comes to commercial construction projects, general contractors serve as the vital link between project owners and all of the construction professionals that keep everything moving smoothly during the progress of a project. Without them, you'd struggle to finish your project on time while complying with building codes and standards. If you're ready to get started with your project, contact your local commercial general contractor today.

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