A general contractor typically takes on the responsibility to oversee a project from start to finish. They are responsible for all of the general contracting duties, such as planning and organizing construction projects, estimating costs, and scheduling work. They will also manage subcontractors and suppliers, make sure that supplies are delivered on time, monitor the progress of the project; they may also be involved in hiring workers or getting them fired. Information can be found here.
This includes everything but actually performing any labor themselves. General contractors can perform one or two tasks (like framing) if they have expertise acquired through experience working as an assistant general contractor/subcontractor under another general contractor. General contractors are often used when there isn’t enough money available to hire different general contractors for all of the different types of work that will be performed. This is often the case for large commercial projects, historic renovations, and other renovation which requires more general contracting expertise than one company possesses. See here for information about Finding a General Contractor.
The general contractor typically hires subcontractors to do all of the work that they don’t have skills or experience performing themselves. This includes everything from electrical wiring to plumbing, painting, tiling, and landscaping. General contractors are the general overseers of a construction project from start to finish. This means that they help plan and organize the entire process, as well as estimate costs, schedule work, manage subcontractors/suppliers, make sure everything is delivered on time, monitor the progress of the project; general contractors may also be involved in hiring workers or getting them fired.
