When undertaking a construction project, one of the most important activities that need to be done is to identify the right contractor for the job. Whether you’re working on a commercial building, an infrastructure project, or a residential development, you’ll likely need to choose between a commercial general contractor and a specialty contractor. Both are very important contractors that perform different but important tasks in construction and bring to the project different specific knowledge and experience.
Understanding the differences between a general contractor and a specialty contractor will help you determine which one best suits your project needs. In this article, we will look at the two forms individually, the differences between them, and how to decide which might be appropriate for your work on construction.
What Is a Commercial General Contractor?
A commercial general contractor (GC) is responsible for overseeing an entire construction project. They are accountable for managing the processes and deciding whether all aspects of the project are easy to control, punctual, and economical. General contractors are usually engaged from the outset to participate in decisions regarding design, source of materials, and selection of subcontractors. These actors collaborate with the client to present the final product that will meet all project specifications.
Duties of a Commercial General Contractor
The role of a general contractor is multifaceted and includes several key responsibilities:
- Project management: General contractors handle all aspects of construction because they are in charge of the whole project. This encompasses bearing responsibility for the planning of the project in terms of time and assimilation of the project with other teams and the general marking of the work to meet the standard set within the field.
- Hiring subcontractors: Hiring and supervising of subcontractors is one of the most fundamental roles of a GC or a general contractor. Subcontractors, who are usually specialty contractors, are hired to take specific work or jobs for example, electrical work, the work of plumbing, or installation of heating and air conditioning systems.
- Budget management: The GC is supposed to make sure that the given project does not exceed the set budget. They are required to forecast costs and control costs and payment of subcontractors.
- Scheduling: GC is responsible for the production and management of the construction schedule that would facilitate the completion of the project on time. They must factor in time issues and make sure that all the tasks are executed within the right interval.
- Permits and inspections: Some of the non-excluded responsibilities of general contractors include applying for a permit for the project and arranging for an inspection to be made to ascertain that the construction complies with the laws of the state.
- Problem-solving: In the event of unexpected issues, such as delays or budget overruns, the GC steps in to troubleshoot and ensure the project stays on track.
Types of Commercial General Contractors
There are two primary types of general contractors in commercial construction, each specializing in different kinds of projects:
- General engineering contractors: Such contractors possess a Class A license, and they are involved in overseeing the construction of big infrastructural projects like highways, bridges among others and water systems. They have a broad experience in civil mechanical and electrical engineering and are therefore appropriate for any engineering-related tasks.
- General building contractors: General building contractors possess a Class B license, and their services extend to the construction of commercial buildings, residential, and other structures. This is because their specialization is in handling constructions that involve framing as well as structural works.
What is a Specialty Contractor?
Specialty contractors are those contractors that work on a specific section of construction contracting. While general contractors are involved in the overall construction of a project, the specialty contractors are involved in specific activities such as plumbing, electrical work, roofing, or installation of heating and air conditioning systems, among others. It is common to find specialty contractors with Class C licenses suggesting that they possess niche knowledge in their niche.
Duties of a Specialty Contractor
Specialty contractors have specific responsibilities that differ from those of general contractors:
- Expertise in a specific field: Subcontractors focus on offering their services on a single segment of construction like plumbing, electrician services, joinery and carpentry or roofing. It helps them to be able to do jobs that need a high level of specialization.
- Working under general contractors: Specialty contractors normally work for general contractors, who in turn engage them to execute particular sub-contracts on a particular construction project. Most of the time they liaise with the GC to ensure that their part of the work is done at the right time and to the right quality.
- Equipment and tools: Specialty contractors, as a rule, supply their unique apparatus and equipment required for the performance of their hire. This helps them to effectively and competently do what they are supposed to do.
- Licensing and certification: Specialty contractors need to have the right license and certification for their trade or kind of construction activity. These certifications guarantee they have complied with the industry standards and the law frontier of their practice.
- Project focus: The specialty contractors are typically engaged in particular segments of a construction project. For instance, a contractor in HVAC may only be hired to install the conditioning and heating devices, or a contractor in roofing will only install the roof.
General Contractor vs. Specialty Contractor: Key Differences
It is important to note the differences between a general contractor and a specialty contractor to find out which one will suit your project.
Scope of work
Specialists in general construction have overall responsibility for a project and are involved in every phase. They are expected to oversee all the processes of the project right from hiring subcontractors. Trade contractors, however, are engaged in a certain segment of construction work, whether it is electrical construction or plumbing construction.
Licensing and expertise
General contractors possess license Class A or Class B depending on the kind of projects they work on. Specialty contractors are allowed to work on any project that is categorized, and they possess a Class C license.
Project involvement
General contractors are active participants in the activities of design and planning phases, purchasing and acquiring materials and labor, as well as construction and completion of constructed objects. Specialty contractors are only used in the particular activities that they are qualified to perform.
Responsibilities
While GCs are held directly responsible for the success of a particular project, specialty contractors are only held directly responsible for their sub-tasks. GCs manage several teams and are responsible for delivering the whole project, while specialty contractors are only involved in performing their segment of work.
Problem-solving
General contractors manage a number of problems that may occur in the course of the project; time problems, financial problems, etc. There are specialty contractors who deal with problem-solving in their particular field of expertise, such as electrical issues or plumbing.
When Do You Need a General Contractor?
You should hire a general contractor where you need an individual who will be responsible for all the construction processes. This is particularly essential in big construction projects, which involve interactions between substrates or subcontractors. A GC will also make every effort to see that every part of the project works as planned and will assume the roles of scheduling, cost estimating, and subcontractors.
General contractors are essential for projects like:
- Commercial building construction
- Large residential developments
- Infrastructure projects like roads or bridges
- Complex renovations that involve multiple trades
When Do You Need a Specialty Contractor?
When you require certain jobs to be done in a project, is the best time to engage specialty contractors. If you’re only targeting a specific part of construction, like installing an HVAC system, electrical work, or roof replacement, a specialty contractor will possess the knowledge and tools to achieve the goal within a short span.
Examples of when you need a specialty contractor include:
- Slight electrical system installation or repairs
- Plumbing work
- Roof installation or repairs
- HVAC system installation
- Concrete work
Choosing the Right Contractor for Your Project
Choosing between a general contractor and a specialty contractor has to do with the size of the job. Large-scale or complex projects are well handled by a general contractor since they are the ones who oversee the project, so everything goes well. In smaller or more specific projects, a specialty contractor can best fulfill the requirement due to the specialized skills acquired.
Final Words
Both general contractors and specialty contractors play crucial roles in the construction industry. Where general contractors are involved in coordinating the work of different trades in a project, specialty contractors deal with specific aspects of the job. However, this all boils down to the type of contractor that is required for a certain project.
If you want to finish a construction project, a commercial general contractor is the most suitable for you. However, when it comes to certain types of work, it is better to hire a specialty contractor to take care of the job perfectly and without wastage of time. Blackstone Corporation can offer competent general contracting services to any large-scale commercial project as we are capable of delivering quality services to meet your vision.