Why Hire a Full-Service General Contractor?
Navigating the construction process is no easy task. You’ll need to account for everything from local laws and permits to labor and materials. But you don’t have to do it alone—it’s always helpful to have someone on your team with expertise in facilitating the entire process of new builds.
That’s why it’s beneficial to hire a full-service general contractor. They’re your go-to professionals for anything related to construction and building design.
But what exactly does a general contractor do, and how can they help through each stage of your construction project? Continue reading to find out.
Hiring a Full-Service General Contractor Means You Have a Holistic Partner Through Each Project Stage
Full-service providers are building specialists who focus on each phase of construction. They’ll oversee all of your construction services to make sure your project runs smoothly.
When you hire a full-service general contractor, they’ll be responsible for:
Preconstruction Planning
Completing a successful project is largely dependent on the quality of your initial plans. After you hire a full-service general contractor, the first thing they’ll do is meet with you and assess your project vision.
They’ll use your input to create a detailed construction plan, which covers:
- Accurate cost estimates
- Engineering analysis
- Project viability
- Project timelines
- Procuring materials
- Site logistics
These details help create an outline for the construction process.
Project Design
After you’ve established a project plan, you can start the design phase. A significant advantage of a full-service provider is the fact that they can incorporate in-house architects and engineers into your project development.
You’ll meet with the design team, and they’ll use your project goals to create a blueprint for your building. Construction details such as material choices, colors, and sizes are discussed during this phase to avoid any hiccups down the road.
Are you looking for a streamlined, money-saving construction process? Design-build services might be the perfect option.
Procurement
If you don’t hire a full-service general contractor, you’ll be responsible for orchestrating project logistics.
From procuring permits to hiring contractors, this is the stage that affects your overall project cost the most. Hiring multiple parties to complete different tasks can add up quickly, and you’ll eventually lose the ability to stay within your budget parameters.
A full-service provider’s operations team will take the necessary steps to secure any required local permits. They’ll also provide in-house general contractors, giving you a fixed cost for construction services and guaranteeing the project stays on budget and on schedule.
Land Development
From obtaining building permits to the construction process itself, full-service general contractors are there to support you through every step of the development process.
They’ll take over the land development process so you can focus more on day-to-day operations. This eliminates the added stress of finding a site, obtaining all the preconstruction permits, and looking for building staff. Full-service general contractors have everything you need under one roof.
Site Prep
Once you’ve finalized your building plans, another benefit of hiring a full-service general contractor is that they’ll begin prepping your construction site. They stabilize the soil and remove any potential obstacles, creating a plot of land perfect for your new building.
Building Construction
Once the site is safe to build on, full-service general contractors begin construction.
Throughout each stage of the building process, they’ll follow your project plan and blueprints in this order:
- Framing the structure
- Installing plumbing, electrical, and other utility lines
- Applying insulation
- Completing drywall
- Installing interior and exterior electrical fixtures
- Installing interior trim
- Installing flooring
- Finishing mechanical trimming and installing plumbing fixtures
- Finishing flooring and installing interior doors
- Adding final touches and performing a full walk-through
During all of the above stages, your full-service construction provider should keep you up to date on progress, new developments, and potential issues.
Project Completion
If you don’t hire a full-service general contractor, you’ll need to conduct safety tests and hire building maintenance providers after construction is complete.
Full-service general contractors do more than simple design and construction. They can conduct post-construction feasibility reviews to certify your facility is safe for everyday use. They also have established connections with HVAC, plumbing, and electrical technicians in your area and can help organize future maintenance arrangements for you.
Evaluating Commercial General Contractors in Denver? Here’s What to Look For
Ultimately, the success of your project relies on the quality of your general contractors. At the bare minimum, your prospective partner should meet the following expectations:
Possess the Proper Licenses
Above all else, make sure your general contractors in Denver are licensed. Colorado jurisdiction prohibits contractors from working on new builds without a license because they lack the experience required to deliver a safe construction project.
Deliver Proof of Insurance
If your commercial general contractor in Denver doesn’t have insurance, you could be held liable for any accidents occurring on your job site.
Be sure to partner with a company who offers both general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Ask for proof of insurance during the bid process to avoid potential headaches during the later construction stages.
Be Communicative and Professional
Lastly, you don’t want to partner with an unprofessional, aloof contractor.
New building construction is a serious endeavor, and in addition to a professional approach, you need a provider you can trust to handle every project stage.
Calahan Construction: Colorado’s Trusted Full-Service Construction Provider
Calahan Construction is a full-service general contractor specializing in managing each stage of your construction process.
By combining all project phases under one roof, we create the balance needed to deliver a successful, cost-effective new build. Get in touch with our expert team to discover the Calahan difference.