When it comes to finding a commercial general contractor in Canada, it is always advisable to hire a professional in that field. If you have a really big project in mind, the way professionals can make it successful won’t be possible if you want to do it by yourself.
So just when you decided to hire a professional, you have the option of choosing between general contractor and subcontractor. For example, if you hired an event planner for a wedding, anniversary, or other celebration, you don’t expect them to bake a cake, cook food, grow flowers, etc. You pay the planner to use your industry knowledge and organizational skills to bring together the best baker, vendor, florist, etc in a concerted effort to make this event a success. The event planner is the contractor, and the people at his/her rolodex are reliable subcontractors.
Basically, general contractors are the “big picture” thinkers. They work with you throughout the project, from the idea stage to the final product. On the contrary, the subcontractor comes and goes. They specialize in specific areas of the construction process, such as operating large equipment, concrete formulation, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry. They enter a project to perform a specific task and leave when the job is done.
Do Contractors have their own staff?
General contractors have permanent employees under them which will be directly involved with your project. These employees are basically sub-contractors for your project. Hiring employees versus subcontractors is an economic decision. In this case, the employer, the general contractor, must pay wages and purchase employee compensation insurance for employees.
Since subcontractors are independent entrepreneurs, general contractors do not have to pay their insurance or pay labor taxes. Hiring subcontractors to do the surplus or perform tasks that require unwanted experience regularly saves costs for the general contractor as well as for you.
What are the General Contractor’s Responsibilities?
- Good contractors can bring ideas, industry-standard knowledge, and project management experience. Along with it, they also have the experience of practical work: permits, insurance and workers’ compensation. If you work as a general contractor yourself, you are responsible for personal injury and property damage.
- We all want to save our time and money when it comes to selling our house, but depending on the maintenance situation, not hiring a contractor may put you in danger. The contractor knows people and they know the jargon for getting the job done correctly, and the owner may not have this experience. Sometimes a project suffers from communication and lack of knowledge. The knowledge and guidance a contractor can provide, you can’t get that anywhere else.
- The most important aspect of hiring a general contractor is that he/she is responsible for delivering all the quality work as promised and required as part of the contract. If an error occurs during the construction process, it should be repaired by the general contractor. These repair costs come from the contract budget, not your pocket.
- Knowing the building codes, the correct materials, the appropriate construction methods, and the safety during and after construction are also an important resource that a general contractor brings to your project. This knowledge saves you time and trouble having to learn when the weather is too cold to pour concrete, the duration of pod processing before painting, and why the plumber must install a P trap under the new sink. This knowledge also allows the contractor to know which subcontractors are accredited and reliable, and which ones should not be employed. A general contractor also knows the locality and the area better than you, so if you are planning to get a construction project done, hiring Ontario general Contractors will be appropriate. They will take in-charge of your overall project and complete it successfully without you worrying about it.
- Contractors also have a great advantage which you don’t have – experience. From initial planning to final cleaning, contractors manage the workflow like conductors who manage the orchestra. They understand the structure of the formation and point to different players when it is their turn to take the initiative, and perhaps they have experience in at least some of the exchange tools. The general contractor will continue the work and the crew will be busy throughout the project.
- Contractors are not only experienced but also maintain close contact with a subcontractor, who can use their sources for getting better materials at low prices. They can save a lot of money from spending on big retailers for these materials and can get them at the best price in the market.
Ultimately, it is up to you to decide if your job requires a general contractor or if you can handle the project on your own. But the general contractor can ease your job and reduce your anxiety and stress a bit. So throughout the whole project, you can sit back and enjoy the work.
