As a resident of Calgary, you may have seen commercial contractors working on various projects in your neighborhood. But what do they actually do? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the work that commercial contractors undertake and provide some tips on how to find the right contractor for your needs.
Everything You Need to Know About Commercial Contractors
When it comes to commercial construction, there are a lot of different hats that need to be worn in order to get the job done. From the architect who designs the building to the engineers who figure out how to make it all work to the construction workers who actually do the physical labor, it takes a village to build even the most simple commercial structure. And tied into all of this is the commercial contractor, who acts as both the project manager and the liaison between all of these different groups. But what exactly does a commercial contractor do? Let’s take a closer look.
The Role of a Commercial Contractor
A commercial contractor is responsible for ensuring that a construction project is completed on time, on budget, and to the required specifications. In order to do this, they must wear many hats and perform a wide variety of tasks, including:
- Hiring and managing sub-contractors
- Ordering materials
- Resolving issues that arise during construction
- Conducting on-site meetings
- Coordinating with inspectors
- Creating punch lists of items that need to be completed before the final inspection
- Managing payroll
- Handling billing and payments
In short, a commercial contractor is responsible for everything that goes into a construction project, from start to finish. And because they play such an important role, it’s essential that you choose a contractor with experience in your specific type of project. For example, if you’re building a hotel, you’ll want to find a contractor with experience in hospitality construction. Similarly, if you’re constructing a retail space, you’ll want someone with experience in retail construction.
Trying to cut corners by hiring a general contractor or going with the low bid can often lead to problems down the road, so it’s always best to choose someone who specializes in your particular type of project.
How To Choose the Right Commercial Contractor?
Now that you know a bit more about what commercial contractors do, you may be wondering how to go about finding the right one for your needs. Here are a few tips:
1) Get recommendations from people you trust
If you know someone who has recently completed a commercial construction project, ask them who they used and if they were happy with the results. Getting a personal recommendation is always a good place to start.
2) Do your research
Once you have a few contractors in mind, take some time to research each one. You can look them up online or ask around to see if anyone knows them. This will help you decide which contractor to choose. Check out their website, read online reviews, and see if they have any experience with projects similar to yours.
3) Ask for a proposal
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, reach out to each contractor and ask for a proposal. This will give you a chance to see their pricing and get a feel for their process.
4) Meet in person
Finally, set up a meeting with each contractor so you can get to know them better and ask any remaining questions. This is also a good opportunity to get a feel for their professionalism and see if you’ll be able to work well together. Contact us to learn more.