Contractors

what can a general contractor do
Contractors

What Can a General Contractor Do for You?

by Block

When you hire a general contractor for a remodeling project, you select the person or company that will supervise the job. However, that doesn’t mean the general contractor (or GC) will personally perform all the work needed to meet the specifications of the project.

In fact, in a bathroom or kitchen renovation, it’s likely the general contractor will hire out or subcontract much of the work.

What Does the General Contractor Do?

As the job supervisor, the GC performs many functions. Those include:

  • Getting any permits required for the job. [add internal link to Do you Need a Permit article]
  • Keeping an eye on the budget.
  • Ordering materials and scheduling their delivery so that they are onsite when needed. The GC also makes sure supplies aren’t delivered too early when they could clutter the job site and be damaged.
  • Hiring subcontractors to perform specialized work such as plumbing.
  • Scheduling the job so that work is tackled in the proper order. This requires getting the right workers in and out at the right time so everything that needs to be completed or prepped is ready before the next group of workers shows up.
  • Checking the work to make sure it’s done correctly and meets the quality standards necessary to pass inspection.
  • Scheduling inspections.
  • Communicating with the property owners and keeping them apprised of progress and setbacks.

What the General Contractor Can Do

If the licensed GC or company you hired has its own laborers, these workers may perform some of the less-specialized tasks like removing old cabinets, pulling up flooring, or doing basic demolition.

They may also be tasked with carpentry, installing cabinets, or painting.

What the General Contractor Can’t Do

While general contractors must understand the entire building process to run the job, they don’t necessarily need to have highly specialized skills in every trade. That’s why they are “general” contractors—they are generalists.

When it comes to specialized work like plumbing and electrical, the GC can’t do the work without being licensed in those skills. To pass inspection, someone with the required licensure and training must perform these tasks.

While the general contracting company may have a licensed plumber or electrician on staff, it’s more likely the GC will bring in subcontractors to take care of those aspects of the project.

The rules on what specialty trades need to be licensed can vary widely from state to state. Most, including New York, have strict rules about the education and experience required to become a licensed plumber or electrician. HVAC contractors usually need a license, too.

California has a whopping 44 different kinds of contractors licenses for everything from electrical and plumbing to landscaping and painting.

In many cases, the GC will use subcontractors for a variety of specialties, including tiling and plastering, even if those trades don’t need to be licensed. It makes more sense for them to call in someone with specific skills when needed rather than to keep them on the payroll full-time.

Why a Good GC Is Important

As you can see, GCs will touch every aspect of the job in some way or another, so it’s essential to select someone who has a good network of reliable subcontractors. Skilled workers can be in high demand and they’re most likely to be available for your project if they have a good relationship with your GC. A great general contractor also:

  • Understands how projects work
  • Schedules sensibly and makes sure things are ready before bringing subcontractors onsite
  • Pays on time.

If you’re undertaking a remodeling project, interview several general contractors (internal link to the article on how to check out a GC) before hiring anyone. Find a general contractor who has experience in renovations similar to what you’re trying to achieve.

Alternatively, you can select a company like Block, which only works with general contractors who have passed their stringent vetting process. Block’s contractors have extensive experience working on both kitchen and bathroom projects of all shapes and sizes so you know you’re getting someone qualified for the job.

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contactor license check
Contractors

How to Do a Contractor License Check Before Hiring a Pro

by Block

The most important decision you’ll make during a bathroom remodel doesn’t involve picking colorful tile or a cool shower head, it’s choosing the right people for the job. This is why it’s important to perform a contractor license check before you sign the dotted line.

Unfortunately, not everybody who claims to be a remodeling contractor is legitimate. There are scammers in every industry, including this one. Making sure potential contractors have the proper license confirms they are serious about being in business and following the rules.

In the U.S, there’s a patchwork of rules regarding general contractor licenses. Specialized trade contractors (such as electricians and plumbers) have to meet requirements for training and certification, but such requirements are rare for general contractors. Some jurisdictions, but not all, require contractors to have insurance or a surety bond,which guarantees they will act in accordance with certain laws. So how do you vet your contractor effectively? Here are a few tools to get you started:

Online contractor license check

Contractor licenses are granted at the state or local level, so you may have to do a little digging to find the right authority in your area. In New York, for example, home improvement contractors are licensed at the local level. If they operate in New York City, the city of Buffalo, and the counties of Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam, or Rockland (just to name a few) they need to obtain and maintain a license with the appropriate local jurisdiction.

New York City has an online tool that allows you to check a license. You can search by license type, license number, contractor’s name, business name, or trade name.

Other states and cities have similar tools. Some even allow you to search for complaints:

To conduct a contractor license check in other places, do an online search such as “check contractor license in [your city or state].”

More things to verify

Making sure the contractor’s license is valid is only the first step in screening a contractor. You also want to make sure he or she has the right insurance, including liability and worker’s comp.

      Liability and property insurance cover any property damage or injuries that might occur while the contractor is working on your home. (Accidents do happen.)
      Worker’s compensation insurance covers the people who work for the contractor in case of injuries while working on your property. Without it, an injured worker may seek payment under your homeowner’s insurance, and if your policy doesn’t pay out enough, it could come out of your pocket.

When you’re interviewing contractors, request a copy of their Certificate of Insurance. If you have any doubts, call the insurance company to confirm the policy is still in effect and will be valid for the duration of your remodeling project.

It’s also a good idea to see if any complaints have been filed against the contractor. Check with the licensing board in your city or state and the Better Business Bureau. If you find one or two complaints, there may be a valid explanation, but you’ll want to ask the contractor about it. If you find a pattern of complaints, that’s a bad sign. You should probably go a different route. Asking for references is also an effective way to get honest feedback from other homeowners.

If you’re concerned about hiring a good contractor, leave the hiring to Block. We check the licenses and thoroughly vet all the contractors working on your remodel.

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how to find a good gc
Contractors

How to Find a Good General Contractor

by Block

Remodeling a bathroom or kitchen requires making thousands of decisions. But one of the most significant ones you’ll make is selecting the right general contractor to oversee the project.

A general contractor, or GC, is the person who’ll be in charge of your renovation. (If you need help with the design too, consider using a design-build contractor). Finding the right general contractor is critical because the GC is involved in every aspect of the project, including:

  • Monitoring the budget
  • Getting the necessary permits
  • Finding and scheduling workers, including licensed plumbers and electricians
  • Ordering supplies
  • Meeting deadlines to keep to your desired timeframe

Where to Look for a General Contractor

The best way to find a general contractor is to talk to people who’ve used a GC recently and ask if they’d recommend them.

If your friends or neighbors recently completed a home improvement project, see if they’ll give you a referral. Request details, like what the project entailed, the quality of the work, and how well the GC communicated with them.

You should also always interview more than one GC before hiring the right person for the job, so you may need to look beyond recommendations from friends. If you live in a condo or co-op, ask the managing agent or board what they know about local contractors. The building manager may keep a list of GCs who have performed work for residents and know which ones are reliable. If possible, find out who in the building hired them in the past and contact them for a recommendation.

Many real estate agents maintain a list of contractors they recommend to clients as well, so they’re a good source of contractor names if you’ve recently purchased a home.

Finding General Contractors on the Web

Several well-known websites can help you find local contractors that can perform the kind of work you’re looking for. Some of the most reliable include:

These sites recommend contractors based on your zip code and desired project. They also provide reviews from previous clients and some even verify that the contractor is licensed.
Recommendations from these websites will help you narrow your options, but you should still interview each GC before signing a contract.

Before Hiring a General Contractor

Talk to at least three contractors who come highly recommended. During the interview, find out:

  • If the contractor has experience in the kind of project you have in mind
  • If the contractor accepts jobs of the size and scope you’re looking for
  • How long the GC has worked with their subcontractors
  • If the contractor has the required licenses, liability insurance, and workers’ compensation insurance. (In New York City, you can easily confirm the contractor has a license here.)

Use the interview to see if the contractor communicates well and if you’d be comfortable working with them. The GC will be your main point of contact for everything related to the renovation, so you should feel like you can trust them implicitly. He or she may be in your home daily during the project too, so comfort and good communication are essential.

Finding the right general contractor can take time. Still, it’s worth the effort to ensure your remodeling project will be handled by a pro who can deliver the bathroom you want on time and on budget.

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examples of general contractors
Contractors

What is a General Contractor, Exactly?

by Block

“Contractors coordinate the moving parts in complicated building and remodeling processes. They find and manage subcontractors, deal with payments to vendors, work with an architect if needed, purchase materials, and in general act as much-needed guides through the complex process of home building or remodeling.”
– The Spruce

That’s a very long answer to the question, “What is a general contractor?” It’s a good definition, but there’s a lot more to know about what these tradespeople do and how they can add value to your renovation project.

There are lots of reasons you might think about hiring a general contractor, and we’ll get into those shortly. But first, let’s get to the core of what they really do.

What does a general contractor do?

A general contractor typically supplies all the material and equipment—tools of the trade—for construction projects. They can handle a wide variety of tasks that may range from remodeling your kitchen to building a new structure.

The general contractor often hires subcontractors to handle special aspects of a project, such as plumbing or electrical work, that may fall outside their area of expertise. They also manage workers, keeping them on time and on budget.

Why choose a general contractor over a handyman?

You don’t want to bring in your everyday handyman to rebuild parts of your house. The main reason being that adding anything to an existing structure requires building permits. You want to hire a general contractor to do the kind of work that requires city approval or has many moving parts and multiple workers, as this can be beyond the scope of a handyman.

In New York City, a general contractor must meet several basic requirements:

  1. Be at least 18 years old
  2. Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
  3. Be able to work legally in the U.S.
  4. Have a clean work record in construction or an adequate explanation of any job-related incidents.

Unlike other states, a New York state contractor must also have a license for each county they are working in. Each area also has its own requirements, so what’s legal in Albany might not cut it in Manhattan.

In New York City, for example, a general contractor must submit:

  • A completed form LIC6 with notarized signature
  • A notarized list of all owners, stockholders, and shareholders in their company, including social security numbers
  • An employer Identification Number form from the IRS
  • Previous 3 months’ worth of corporate bank statements showing an available balance of $25,000, or a bank letter stating that the balance of the account has not gone below $25,000 in the last 12 months
  • General liability insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance to properly cover all employees
  • Proof of physical business address
  • A background check fee.
  • Contractors wanting to obtain a license in NYC must do so through an application adviser.

How to choose a general contractor

While it isn’t mandatory, general contractors can join the General Contractors Association of New York, which holds its members to an agreed-upon set of standards.

This is the best place to start your search for a qualified general contractor.

The second-best way to find a trustworthy general contractor is by referral. Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors who have had work done and ask for a recommendation. Ultimately, always do your research before hiring to ensure your project goes smoothly.

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hire a general contractor or do it yourself
Contractors

Hire a General Contractor or Do it Yourself? The Eternal Question

by Block

Watch enough HGTV and you’ll feel like there’s no home renovation project you couldn’t handle yourself. Knocking down walls seems like fun, and it couldn’t be that hard to install a sink, right? Well, depending on the type of job you’re looking at, you may be seriously considering the question, “Do I hire a general contractor or do I DIY it?”

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design build vs general contractor
Contractors

Design Build vs. General Contractors: What’s Right for What Type of Project?

by Block

In today’s remodeling world, there are generally two types of ways to execute a project: traditional construction also known as Design-Bid-Build (DBB) and Design-Build (DB). For the most part, a lead contractor is involved in both types of construction, however, there are some differences. So, what’s right for your project? Design-build vs. general contractors?

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How to Pick a General Contractor That’s Right for Your Project
Contractors

How to Pick a General Contractor That’s Right for Your Project

by Block

If you’re ready to remodel, and you’re really set on not going with a design-build solution, you’re probably going to need a contractor.

But where do you start? How do you know you’re going to get what you’re paying for? How do you find someone in the first place? What makes them qualified for the job? Well, if you follow these tips on how to pick a contractor that’s right for your project, your remodel should go as planned.

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