Understanding the Role of Commercial General Contractors

Navigating the construction process is no easy task. You must account for anything from local laws and permits to labor and materials. With all the moving parts, you need someone with expertise in facilitating new builds. Enter commercial general contractors. 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 you with your construction project?

What Is a Commercial General Contractor?

Commercial general contractors are building specialists who focus on business construction. They oversee your entire construction project to ensure it runs smoothly.

Throughout the process, commercial general contractors are responsible for:

  • Overseeing project stages and development
  • Acquiring the proper materials
  • Providing and using the appropriate equipment
  • Establishing communication loops
  • Handling project logistics
  • Following permits and zoning regulations
  • Staying within a budget and timeline

Quality commercial general contractors should bring a whole team to your construction project, including:

  • Staff
  • Designers
  • Architects
  • Advisors
  • Builders
  • Subcontractors

By consolidating your construction team under a single company, you streamline the construction process. This helps prevent mistakes that occur when multiple builders handle different project stages.

What Work Does a General Contractor Do?

When evaluating local companies, look for a full-service general contractor. Full-service providers bring a complete team to your project, managing the following project stages:

Preconstruction Planning

Completing a successful project largely depends on the quality of your construction plans. When partnering with a commercial 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 construction plan, covering:

  • Accurate cost estimates
  • Engineering analysis
  • Project viability
  • Project timelines
  • Procuring materials
  • Site logistics

These details help create a rough outline for the construction process.

Project Design

After you’ve worked with commercial general contractors to establish a project plan, they’ll begin the design phase of the process. A big advantage of a full-service provider is the fact that they can incorporate architects and engineers into your project development.

You’ll meet with the design team, where they evaluate 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.

Site Prep

Once you’ve finalized your building plans, commercial general contractors begin prepping your construction site. They stabilize the soil and remove any potential obstacles, creating a plot of land perfect for a new building.

Commercial general contractors also finalize local regulations, building codes, and inspection reports, while confirming the required materials are purchased.

Building Construction

Once the site is ready, commercial general contractors begin construction. Throughout each stage of the building process, they’ll follow your project plan and blueprints in this order:

  1. Framing the structure
  2. Installing plumbing, electrical, and other utility lines
  3. Applying insulation
  4. Completing drywall
  5. Installing interior and exterior electrical fixtures
  6. Installing interior trim
  7. Installing flooring
  8. Finishing mechanical trimming and installing plumbing fixtures
  9. Finishing flooring and installing interior doors
  10. Adding final touches and performing a full walk-through

During all ten stages, commercial general contractors should keep you up-to-date on the construction progress, new developments, and potential issues.

Project Completion

After your building is constructed, commercial general contractors handle all the post-construction details. They start by cleaning up the job site, bringing roll-off dumpsters to haul away construction debris. After they tidy up your area, quality assurance inspections begin. They’ll test your building and assess whether the facility is ready for everyday use.

Once finished, you’ll meet with them for a final walk-through. Commercial general contractors will acquaint you with the building’s features, explain maintenance requirements, and cover warranties.

Expectations General Contractors Should Meet

The success of your project heavily relies on the quality of your commercial general contractor. At the bare minimum, your prospective provider should meet the following expectations:

Proper Licenses

Above all else, ensure your commercial general contractors are licensed. Nebraska jurisdiction prohibits contractors from working on projects without a license, as they’re a project liability lacking the experience required to deliver a safe project.

Proof of Insurance

If your commercial general contractor doesn’t have insurance, you could be held liable for any accidents that occur on the job site. Be sure to partner with a company with general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Ask for proof of insurance during the bid process to avoid potential headaches.

Communicative and Professional

It should go without saying you don’t want to partner with an unprofessional, aloof contractor. Commercial construction is a serious endeavor, and in addition to a professional approach, you need a contractor you can trust to handle every project stage.

Nebraska’s Top Choice for Commercial Construction Contractors

CK Construction is the top choice for commercial construction in Nebraska. As a full-service general contractor, we take weight off your shoulders by handling every stage of the project cycle.

Looking for a commercial contractor you can trust? You’re in the right spot—Send us your next project details and experience the peace of mind CK provides.