What is a General Contractor?

What is a General Contractor?

A General Contractor is the project engineer or project manager for construction projects. While there are no set educational qualifications, a General Contractor generally starts out as a construction worker and learns about different aspects of construction, including masonry, carpentry, framing, and plumbing.

A general contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of a construction site, management of vendors and trades and communication of information to involved parties throughout the course of a building project.

A General Contractor is employed by the client and must first assess the project and calculate an estimate. The general contractor considers the cost of materials and equipment as well as the cost of labor to provide the client with an approximate price for the project.

A general contractor is responsible for providing all of the material, labor, equipment and services necessary for the construction of the project. The general contractor hires specialized subcontractors to perform all or portions of the construction work.

Responsibilities may include applying for building permits, securing the property, providing temporary utilities on site, managing personnel on site, providing site surveying and engineering, disposing or recycling of construction waste, monitoring schedules and cash flows and maintaining accurate records.

General contractors need to be familiar with construction techniques so they can manage workers effectively and ensure the quality of work the client expects.

The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses Commercial Contractors for the following trades: Electrical, HVAC, Hydronics, Plumbing, and Refrigeration. OCILB does not license Residential Contractors or General Contractors.

Therefore, it is important that you choose a General Contractor based on experience and knowledge and the ability to work with the client to ensure a successful project. Remember, if a person calling himself a General Contractor has never actually done any construction work, how can he accurately & successfully manage your project.

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