General contractors are the people responsible for bringing construction projects to life. They study the drawings and project needs to create a quote that accounts for the scope of work, materials, labor, office space, insurance expenses, and other overhead.
They also arrange city inspections and ensure that the work meets city specs and codes. Visit Our Website to learn more.
A GC’s primary function is to manage the construction process of a large project and coordinate the work with other trade contractors. The GC is in charge of sourcing raw materials and building components from various vendors. This includes negotiating prices, capacities, quality of work, and turnaround times. He also ensures that the communication infrastructure remains robust among all project teams throughout the construction phase.
During the construction process, it is critical for the project to be on schedule. To ensure that this happens, a GC must develop and implement project plans that detail specific tasks and their respective deadlines. This will help avoid delays and cost overruns. Moreover, he must set realistic closing dates to enable the team to meet client expectancies. Moreover, he must regularly hold project conferences to facilitate effective verbal exchange between team members.
Another aspect of managing a project is managing the budget. The GC must provide cost projections, estimating costs for the entire construction period, and manage the project budget to prevent overspending. He must also track progress on a daily basis to identify any issues that require resolution.
For most commercial and public projects, GCs must compete for a project in the bidding process. This process begins when the property owner or architect shares that a project is ready for bid. The GC then submits their bid and earns the responsibility of carrying out the construction process.
During this process, a GC must be able to understand and interpret architectural plans and specifications in order to provide a bid. He must also be familiar with the local codes and regulations that govern the project. Additionally, he must have experience in constructing projects of similar scope and size.
Managing Subcontractors
Subcontractors play a pivotal role in executing specialized scopes of work, and their performance ripples through project quality, timelines and overall outcomes. To set themselves up for success, GCs carefully curate and evaluate a pool of pre-qualified specialty contractors during the bidding process. They take into account factors like previous work history, safety ratings, references and financial stability to identify potential partners.
GCs also vet a contractor’s insurance to make sure it covers the specific scope of work being performed on site. Additionally, they may also require a performance and payment bond from the subcontractor as an additional layer of risk management.
Once a contract is awarded, GCs establish and communicate schedules with each of their subcontractors, which are incorporated into the project’s overall timeline. This process often includes scheduling meetings with each of the trades and incorporating schedule float into each task to provide flexibility in case a delay is needed. Managing these timelines helps ensure that key milestones are met and the overall project is on target.
On a construction site, a GC must stay open to subcontractor feedback, which can offer invaluable onsite perspectives. It’s also a great way to troubleshoot any potential issues before they become problems. This approach allows a GC to focus on collective problem-solving rather than finger-pointing and leads to an environment of collaboration and teamwork.
Managing subcontractors requires a strong set of communication and management skills. Often, GCs must coordinate with subcontractors on multiple projects at once and have to manage schedules, resources and budgets across all of them. This is a big responsibility and requires the utmost level of professionalism. They must also ensure that they are paying their subcontractors on time, which can be difficult in a construction industry where many contracts have lien waivers and payments that are contingent. Increasing visibility, streamlining paperwork and maintaining open lines of communication all go a long way in resolving these issues and ensuring that all parties are getting paid for their work on time.
Managing a Budget
A general contractor has a huge responsibility when it comes to managing construction costs. They are responsible for working with the architect, sourcing materials and equipment, scheduling work, hiring subcontractors to complete the project and making sure all required permits are obtained. They will also manage the project budget and make necessary adjustments as the project progresses.
It is important to note that the responsibilities of a general contractor differ depending on the type of project delivery method. For example, if the project is a design bid build, the GC will only be responsible for constructing the building once the design and specifications have been completed by the architect. However, if the project is a design-build project, they will need to manage both the design phase and the ensuing construction.
During the planning stage, a general contractor will meet with clients to discuss their project and provide a cost estimate. They will then work with the architect and additional contractors to develop a detailed scope of work. They will also be responsible for obtaining the necessary permits and inspections. In addition, they will oversee the subcontractors and ensure that the work is being done correctly and in a timely manner.
A GC’s experience and expertise can help keep projects on track, keeping the costs down and ensuring that the finished product is as close to what was originally planned as possible. This helps eliminate the risk of unexpected expenses and reduces the overall financial risk. In some cases, a general contractor will offer a fixed-price agreement for remodeling projects that allows homeowners to have a clear understanding of the project’s total cost upfront. This is a popular option for homeowners who want to avoid financial surprises and protect their budget.
Managing a Schedule
A general contractor (GC) is responsible for scheduling construction project activities and overseeing subcontractors. This is an important role to perform since it prevents delays and helps maintain the project schedule. It also prevents cost overruns. The GC works closely with the project owner and other stakeholders to design the project plan and ensure that it is implemented.
A GC must be able to effectively manage the schedule from start to finish, including planning and scheduling all of the work for the subcontractors. This requires a clear understanding of the project scope and specifications, as well as an ability to react to any changes that could affect the timeline.
Managing the project’s schedule also involves creating and maintaining the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and assigning resources to tasks. A WBS defines a complete breakdown of the project’s work into manageable chunks. It includes the duration of each task and identifies any dependencies or constraints that may impact progress.
This step is especially important in union settings where tradesmen are assigned to different projects and cannot work on the same site simultaneously. In this case, a GC must assign multiple teams of subcontractors to various parts of the job site at once, which requires careful planning and coordination.
Other important tasks include establishing project milestones and identifying the tasks needed to achieve them. These milestones are then used to create the project timeline, which specifies the order of the tasks and their corresponding completion dates. Using the timeline, a GC can see which tasks are due to be completed by a certain date and adjust accordingly.
This includes adjusting the schedule as necessary to account for any unavoidable occurrences that might delay progress such as weather, material delivery or labor availability. It is also a good idea to store the initial baseline schedule and compare actual results with it on a regular basis to keep the project on track.
Managing a Site
In construction, communication is key to avoiding disputes and maintaining a healthy working relationship. Clearly communicate your project’s scope, timeline, and budget to ensure everyone is on the same page. Set up regular meetings with your contractor to discuss progress and address any issues promptly. Also, be receptive to feedback and willing to compromise on minor details to keep the process moving forward. Documenting your concerns in writing can also help prevent them from escalating and provide a record of project discussions.
As a GC, you are responsible for maintaining safety on the project site. This includes ensuring that all workers are wearing proper equipment and following all required safety precautions. Moreover, you need to ensure that all materials used on the construction site are of high quality and durable. This will prevent costly maintenance issues after the premise is ready for operation.
Another critical aspect of GC management is strategically selecting subcontractor partners. This involves evaluating subcontractors’ capabilities, expertise, references, and financial stability to select the best fit for the job. Choosing the right partners can significantly improve project execution, outcomes, and client satisfaction. In addition, a GC should ensure that all subcontractors work within the parameters of the design and blueprint.