FAQs

Put simply: NO. A general contractor has connection inside the local labor market that you don't have. Think about it. Do you know a sheetrocker that you an trust? (and that doesn't mean someone you are related to) A general contractor makes it his business to know the local tradesmen in the area, their work history, their dependability and their quality of work. Not every plumber is right for every plumbing job. There are different people inside the same trade that do different jobs in different ways. A general contractor knows which person to call for which job.

Doesn't a general contractor take control out of my hands and slow down the process?

Put simply: NO. Ask yourself this question : How much money do you spend on tradesmen in construction every year? Do you think you spend more than we do? Probably not. Translation is that the tradesmen know that doing the right work, the first time and returning phone calls to address problems is going to keep them in good standing with the broker, the general contractor in this case. Hiring a general contractor means you are taken seriously by the tradesmen. This speeds up your job and gives you the ability to leverage the general contractor's relationship for your own gain.

There are several views on this subject. We say the answer is not to hire your architect first. Architects are skilled professionals capable of things contractors are not, but the same is true of the reverse. Contractors have their finger on the pulse of the economy. Commodities and regulations change as quickly as a politician's opinion, sometimes faster. We know what labor costs , transportation fees, logistics, and materials are doing in the marketplace. We also know what goes in to choosing different options regarding one single idea. For example: a shower in a bathroom that has a mud floor, tile to finish with backer board , body sprays, and a light and frame-less glass is almost $10,000.00 different in price from a single piece rosin shower stall with a prefabricated door. They tend to look the same on a plan. We make sure that your ideas are met, your needs fulfilled and that the architect doesn't draw his personal vision of the Taj Majal.

The price of construction varies widely. Most reputable companies charge around the same price (approximately $140 +/- per square foot). The greatest difference is going to be in the quality of the products being used and whether or not the person you are hiring is capable and actually intends to finish the project.

Depending on the materials you are using a deck can range from $25/square foot for treated lumber to $65+ per square foot for maintenance free decking with features and vinyl railings.