Commercial general contracting
New buildings, additions and site works for commercial and industrial owners, built to the owner’s drawings and run from tender to turnover. For one contract that covers the design as well, see design-build.
Who does what
On a general contract the owner has one agreement for construction. The general contractor holds the trades.
What a general contractor carries
The general contractor is responsible for delivering the building in the drawings, for the agreed price, by the agreed date. In practice that means:
- Tendering each trade and awarding the subcontracts
- The construction schedule, and keeping the trades to it
- Full-time site supervision
- Health and safety across the whole site, as constructor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- Permits, inspections and testing
- Shop drawings, requests for information and changes
- Monthly progress billing and payments to the trades
- Deficiencies, as-built drawings, manuals and warranties at closeout
How the work can be contracted
- Stipulated price
- A fixed price for a complete set of drawings and specifications. The usual form for tendered work.
- Construction management
- We join during design, give cost and schedule advice, and tender each trade openly. Suited to projects that start before the drawings are complete.
- Design-build
- One agreement for design and construction. Suited to owners who want a single point of responsibility.
- Trade packages
- Concrete forming, demolition and labour priced on their own, to an owner or to another general contractor.
Structure first
Concrete forming is the work we know best. Foundations, slabs and cores are planned with the steel and the envelope that follow them, because the structure sets the pace for everything else.
Long-lead items are ordered early: structural steel, precast, switchgear, rooftop units, elevators. The schedule shows when each one has to be released to arrive on time.
Also available on its own
- General labour
- Crews for site clean-up, material handling, protection and support to other trades.
- Site works
- Excavation, backfill, curbs, pads and exterior concrete.
- Budget pricing
- Early cost estimates from concept drawings.
General contracting questions
What kinds of buildings do you price?
Commercial and industrial buildings, additions, site works and the residential structures that fall outside a custom home.
Can you start before the drawings are finished?
Yes, under a construction management arrangement. Foundations can be tendered and started while the interior drawings are completed, as long as the permit allows it.
How do you handle changes?
A change is priced and its effect on the schedule stated in writing before the work is done, unless the consultant directs otherwise.
