With the very name itself open to ambiguity, it can be difficult to know exactly what a general contractor is responsible for, and when they might be required during a construction project.
If you’re considering a home renovation or construction project, you might be wondering whether to use the services of a general contractor, or you may not even be sure what their role is. The following information should help you decide whether your project requires a general contractor, and when you hire them, what you can expect them to be responsible for:
Whether you’re undergoing a commercial or residential construction project, it’s imperative that you work with a general contractor whom you can not only trust, but communicate effectively with. The better the relationship between you and your general contractor, the better the chances of the project being carried out successfully i.e., within budget, on time and to an appropriate standard.
When beginning a new commercial building project, many phases are involved and it’s critical to get all of them right for a successful build. Perhaps the most crucial phase of any commercial project is the design, and once you’ve got one in place that matches the building’s intended function and the project’s budget, all that remains is for the design plans to be put into action.
Whatever type of construction project you’re undertaking, the company that you choose to carry out the work can be the difference between a successful project, and one that is an expensive failure. Below are some of the most important things to look out for when hiring a general contractor, and what you should expect from a reputable, professional one:
The different lintel types available for use in construction, each have their own pros and cons, with the most commonly used being made out of timber, concrete and steel.
If you’ve had construction work carried out on your home and the project was kept in check by an experienced general contractor, then there’s a strong chance it will add to the value of your home. However, some projects are more effective than others for increasing a home’s value, and below are some that generally give a great return on an investment:
With the ongoing pandemic having turned many industries upside down, the construction sector has suffered greatly, and as a homeowner with plans to remodel or have a new home constructed, you may be wondering whether it’s safe, or even possible, to go ahead with the project. Thankfully, restrictions have eased in many parts of the country, and work has been able to recommence as vaccination programs are accelerated. However, if you still have concerns as to whether your construction project can go ahead, the following information should help put your mind at ease:
There are really only disadvantages and risks involved when you hire a general contractor that isn’t fully licensed, and if you want your home remodeling, renovation or addition project to be a success, hiring a licensed contractor is the only sensible solution.
A great way to increase the value of your property and make your home more functional and stylish, masonry home improvements such as stone patios, walkways, veneer facades and outdoor fireplaces, can be extremely effective when the work is carried out by a skilled professional, such as a masonry contractor.
Making your home stand out from the Jones’s is easy with the addition of some expert masonry construction, and by adding some durable and aesthetically pleasing stone elements to the exterior of your home – like a patio or outdoor fireplace – you can do more than make your home look better than your neighbors, you can make it look the best in the entire neighborhood!
There are certain projects around the home that benefit from the skills of a masonry contractor, and in many cases, their work can embellish a home and make it unique.
If you’re planning on having your new home professionally constructed, you’ll need to think carefully about what you want it to be made from. Masonry construction is a popular choice for many homeowners, and can not only make your home look great from the outside, but can make your home structurally stronger. Among the most common types of materials used for masonry construction are brick, stone and concrete, and below we look at their advantages in more detail:
Concrete is by far the world’s most widely used material for construction projects, and it has many advantages when compared with other materials. If you’re unsure whether to use concrete to build your new home or office, the following points might just convince you otherwise:
Whether you own and live in your own apartment, or are a landlord with a tenant-occupied apartment, unless the space is new and has been designed to match your tastes and needs, you’ve probably thought about having it renovated.
Qualified masons are trained to work with a variety of different materials, and some of these include clay and concrete brick, natural rock, terracotta and ceramic or stone. However, it’s important to note that not all masons have the same level of experience and skill, and if you’re looking for a qualified masonry contractor to carry out work for you, you’ll need to ask them a few questions first:
Whatever your construction needs, it’s crucial that you find a company whom you can trust, and who you can be sure will complete the project with professionalism and skill. While this may be a difficult thing to guarantee, you can at least keep a few factors in mind when choosing a construction company, that should help to give you more peace of mind:
Even if your budget is limited, saving money by hiring an amateur masonry contractor is never a smart choice, as aside from ending up with stone work that you’re less than happy with, it could cost you a lot more to correct the problems when your budget permits.
As a way of refreshing your home, giving it a new lease of life, and even increasing its value there are a number of home improvements you can make. However, one surefire way of decreasing the value of your home and making it a space you no longer enjoy spending time in, is by attempting to carry out the work yourself. Unless you’re an experienced individual with construction qualifications and plenty of know how related to the subject, attempting to carry out home improvements yourself, is a recipe for disaster, and while you might believe you can save money in this way, you’ll likely end up spending more to correct your mistakes.
Structures that are built using masonry techniques are made from single units laid and bound together with mortar, and brick, stone and concrete blocks are the most commonly used materials in masonry construction.
Adding value to your home is easy with the right kind of construction projects, but it’s not always easy to know how much you should spend to get a good return on your investment, and what types of projects to choose.
Providing one of the best returns on a construction investment in the architectural industry, masonry construction has many advantages; below are just 9 of them:
Moving into a newly constructed home has many advantages, and not only do you get to relish the feeling of everything being shiny, new and untouched, but you get an amazing opportunity to put your personal stamp on the place.
Finding a trustworthy and experienced general contractor isn’t always easy, but if they show any (or all!) of the following 9 signs, then you should probably start your search again and try to find a contractor who will be better suited to the job:
There are a multitude of general contractors out there, all vying for your custom, and all claiming to be professional, qualified, licensed and fully insured. But how can you be sure that you’ve chosen the right one for your building project?
Scheduling a remodeling or renovation project can be a time of excitement and intense anticipation for the entire family, but things can quickly go off the rails if you fail to hire a professional construction company.
Finding the ideal home can be hard, and sometimes, what’s on the market just doesn’t meet enough of your criteria. When this is the case, you might think that your only option is to keep looking (for goodness knows how long), or to settle for second best. However, building your own home, designed to meet your every need, desire and whim, is absolutely possible, and while it’s true that it takes a little more planning and patience, the end result (provided you work with a reputable architect and construction company) will be more than worth it.
Unless you’re skilled and experienced at handling some of the more complex elements of an apartment renovation project, it’s always best to hire professionals to ensure that the work is carried out properly, and perhaps more importantly, safely.
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Any structure with lintels professionally installed is likely to last a lot longer than one without them installed, and they can help buildings of all shapes and sizes maintain their structural integrity for many years. If you’re having a home or commercial property built for you, your construction contractor will likely be planning to insert lintels throughout. And while plenty of structures don’t have lintels installed, those that are big or which have foundations designed to support a significant weight, would almost certainly benefit from their installation at the point of construction.
If you’re having your home built by a professional construction company or general contractor, you’ll need to sit down together and have a conversation about what your home will be built from, and how it will be constructed.
One of the most important things you can do to help any renovation project go smoothly, is to select the right general contractor. By choosing someone who can prove their level of experience at handling such a project, and who is qualified, skilled and licensed, you’re already well on the way to getting the home you’ve dreamed of, but there are a number of other factors to consider before construction gets underway.
A well-constructed and maintained driveway can make a real statement about a home, and as such, investing in them makes a lot of sense. If your existing driveway is less than impressive, or you want to create one from the space outside your home, it’s important to make the right choices when it comes to the materials you use. The following brief guide will give you a basic idea about the different materials available, but a conversation with your local paving or general construction contractor, will help give you a much more detailed understanding:
Whatever type of construction project you’re planning, from a full house-build to a home renovation, engaging with the services of a general contractor right off the bat, can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Brick masonry construction can be extremely effective, durable and attractive when used in a construction project, and pointing in brick masonry can be used to accentuate the craftmanship and improve its overall appearance.
Used in all manner of construction projects throughout the world, whether for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, masonry structures are typically sturdy, durable, energy efficient, resistant to fire and even sound-proof. That said, while nothing beats masonry in terms of longevity in the construction world, it can still be prone to damage that if left unrepaired or unrestored, can pose a serious threat to the very integrity of a building or other such structure.
Masonry structures are typically extremely durable, hardwearing and long lasting, but as with most construction materials, time and general wear and tear can cause them to become damaged. In fact, there are a number of different factors that can contribute to masonry damage, either directly or indirectly:
When mortar joints found between masonry materials such as brick and stone are finished, this is known as ‘pointing,.’ While masonry materials are typically long lasting and strong when used in construction, the mortar, however, isn’t quite as indestructible and needs periodic maintenance to ensure and maintain structural integrity.
Buildings constructed professionally and from high quality materials such as bricks and mortar, should have a relatively long lifespan before any repairs may need to be made. But, it’s important to remember that environmental factors may play a part in determining how long brickwork lasts, and at what stage it needs to be assessed and repaired by a skilled masonry contractor.
Patios are a fun and practical addition to any home, and there are many reasons for having one installed by a masonry contractor. That said, it isn’t always easy to know whether a brick or concrete patio is best, and there are arguments in favor of both.
Used for hundreds of different types of construction work, from sidewalks and homes to high rise towers, concrete has properties that can be customized according to the specific needs of each building job, and has played a significant role in the construction industry since its humble beginnings way back in 1875.
Brick Made during a process in which clay is fired in a kiln, brick is durable and fire-resistant. Available in a wide variety of both colors and sizes, bricks can be laid to create numerous different patterns, and with its low maintenance and longevity, it remains a popular material in the construction industry.
While building your own home can be a fantastic idea, there are few individuals who are capable of doing so without the project becoming a disaster, as they’re simply not qualified or experienced to act as their own general contractor, or GC. Hence, for most, it makes sense to hire a professional, licensed contractor.
Some people choose to see parapet walls as outdated construction features that no longer serve a purpose, and which therefore aren’t of any value to a home. However, while it may be true that they no longer serve their original purpose of providing rooftop protection from enemies on the ground, on buildings such as forts and castles, parapet walls can still be functional and in many instances, can even enhance a building aesthetically.
With any type of project involving a construction or renovation process, cost will likely be a key factor in determining whether you can go ahead with the project or not, or to what extent you can add on to, or renovate your home. However, while many homeowners are deterred by the seemingly high price of professional masonry services, it’s important to understand why their work is priced the way it is, and what factors can impact their final estimate.
As one of the oldest methods of construction known to man, masonry has been used to build many important, unique and historic structures the world over, and thanks to its durability and strength, many of them are still standing today.
Some people choose to see parapet walls as outdated construction features that no longer serve a purpose, and which therefore aren’t of any value to a home. However, while it may be true that they no longer serve their original purpose of providing rooftop protection from enemies on the ground, on buildings such as forts and castles, parapet walls can still be functional and in many instances, can even enhance a building aesthetically.
Routinely checking your roof for damage after a storm has hit, can help mitigate the risk of costly repairs, and having a professional roofing contractor check it out, is always advisable.
If you’re waiting for warmer weather before tackling your concrete repair work, it might be worth checking with a local construction company as to whether that’s a sensible idea or not. While you might automatically think that a sultry summer’s day would be ideal for repairing concrete that’s showing signs of wear, humid and hot weather conditions can actually stop the concrete from setting properly, while colder temperatures can easily cause the formation of cracks.
Routinely checking your roof for damage after a storm has hit, can help mitigate the risk of costly repairs, and having a professional roofing contractor check it out, is always advisable.
Having played a significant role in architecture over the centuries, parapet walls were once an essential feature on many buildings, as people tried desperately to protect themselves from the enemy. Made from a variety of different materials and forming a defensive layer of additional protection, parapet walls and parapet roofs were included in the construction plans of some of the world’s most well known historical forts and castles, and yet they are still being used by architects today.
Building violations in New York City are no joke, but armed with the right information, and by seeking help from an experienced construction firm who can successfully and legally rectify the issues, you can tackle them with confidence and minimize penalties.
There are many different kinds of materials to choose from when having a new roof installed on your Florida home, and while the choices may seem overwhelming, a conversation with your chosen local roofing contractor will help you determine which would best meet your needs.