What Is A General Contractor?
A general contractor is either an organization or individual who oversees the entirety of a construction project.
A general contractor is essential to any major build project and is responsible for hiring sub-trades, collaborating with the project designer and architect, and conducting worksite maintenance and upkeep.
Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction have extensive experience with general contracting services across Alberta.
We maintain communication with owners, architects, subcontractors, and any other party directly involved with the construction project. Our goal is to see your project through swiftly and efficiently while staying on budget.
How Can A General Contractor Help Your Project?
A general contractor team organizes all facets of your build project. The team at Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction, specifically, function as a design-build general contractor. This means we have the team capabilities to integrate ourselves into the entire project, from conceptualization and initial design to completion.
Another benefit of our design-build general contracting approach is our staff. We employ in-house design staff that continues to be involved in all relevant design components as the project progresses. This method ensures that design considerations remain consistent and helps if any modifications are required.
When To Hire A General Contractor
Whether or not a general contractor is required depends on the project scope. If your needs are fairly basic, such as a small renovation that will take under a week, it might be best to select a specialist or sub-trade.
If, however, your project is a significant renovation or a new custom build with plenty of moving parts, a general contractor is recommended.
General contractors take much of the administrative responsibility off of the project owner’s shoulders and can look after needs like inspections and permits. General contractors will have preexisting relationships with specialized subcontractors to draw upon when it comes time to distribute tasks - all of which can be overwhelming for the inexperienced project owner.
What We Do
While not an exhaustive list, here is an overview of the tasks we take on as design-build general contractors at Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction.
Day-to-day operation management
The main role of a general contractor is to oversee the day-to-day operations at the job site or building in question, with a focus on keeping the project moving and addressing any delays that may arise. A general contractor may employ a project manager or superintendent to perform this function.
This function requires exemplary project management skills.
Hire and coordinate subcontractors and trade individuals
A general contractor will almost always hire subcontractors for different facets of the building project. Some examples are painting subcontractors, roofing tradesmen, or plumbing experts. Most general contractors won’t have the staff to complete the entire job, and instead, focus their efforts and expertise on day-to-day project management.
A general contractor will also liaise with the project owner and all subcontractors to ensure communication remains smooth and any issues or concerns are addressed promptly.
Oversees the budget and project scope timeline
As outlined in our pre-construction services page, Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction can help determine the rough project scope, timeline, and budget in the pre-construction phase of the project.
Once the project moves into the final planning stages, we ensure that these project facets are finalized and adhered to throughout all phases of the build, always striving to provide high value to the client - even if the budget needs strategic adjustments.
Depending on the project, a general contracting team will conduct regular check-ins to ensure all parties are satisfied with the build progress and to address any concerns the client may have.
Supply materials and equipment
Aside from any materials that a subcontractor supplies for their specialty (which depends on the contract they agree to and the type of work they’re performing for the project) the general contractor is responsible for supplying all materials, equipment, and labour to complete the project.
General contractors also ensure that the materials are high quality, show up on time, and that the equipment in question is in good working order - all while being cognizant of the project scope and budget.
Primary client contact
We are the first point of contact to the project owner, and, as stated above, will conduct regular check-ins to ensure any questions are answered, provide project updates, and ensure the project owner is satisfied with the work as it unfolds.
Ultimately, the general contractor operates as a guide to the project owner and to the overall project and is responsible for dealing with any delays promptly to ensure the project deadline is pushed back as little as possible.
Why Work With Southwest And Midwest Design & Construction?
Our team has over 40 years of experience with general contracting and construction. In these 40 years, Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction remain dedicated to high-quality work and customer satisfaction.
Want to learn more about our general contracting services? Contact the team at Southwest and Midwest Design & Construction with our convenient online quote request tool. A member of our staff will be in touch to discuss finer details and next steps.