Once the Work Begins

Once you have made your selection and awarded the construction contract, the general contractor is ready to begin work. While many general contractors and their crews do work in specialized areas such as excavation, concrete, framing, roofing, plumbing, electric, and landscaping, many general contractors in Canada subcontract some or all of these phases to other contractors. They act as supervisors over the whole project. A good general building contractor will coordinate all steps of the project with subcontractors, as specialized areas of the work will overlap and intertwine. Excavation and concrete work are the first actual steps in the dream home plan. A good home builder will know that if there are any planned landscaping features involving excavation or dirt work, it may be wise and cost effective to do it all at the same time. Some plumbing features will need to be incorporated into the excavation and concrete work. Framing is the next phase and includes stud walls, floor joists and decking, and roof trusses. Plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, as well as doors and windows will all have features integrated into the framing. When the framing is complete, the next step is to “dry in” the structure by completing the roof system, exterior sheathing, and exterior doors and windows. Once the structure is “dried in”, other specific areas of the “rough work” such as plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling may be coordinated among the subcontractors so that work goes quickly and smoothly without workmen getting in each other’s way.