What is a commercial construction general contractor?

If you’re starting a commercial construction project, you’ll need to partner with a commercial construction general contractor. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t fully understand what a contractor does–or, more importantly, how to find the right one. Here’s everything you need to know about finding a commercial construction general contractor with the right expertise to get you on budget and on time.

What is commercial construction?

Before we dive into what a commercial construction general contractor is, we should probably cover what commercial construction is–and what types of projects do and don’t fall under this umbrella.

Commercial construction refers to projects to build, renovate, remodel, or build-out a space used by a business. These projects can take place in:

• Healthcare facilities
• Restaurants
• Offices
• Retail locations
• Multifamily units, such as apartments and assisted living communities
• Hair shops, yoga studios, and spaces owned by other service providers
• Community spaces, including town halls and pavilions

The other main type of construction is residential. Residential construction covers single-family homes (think HGTV). Since these projects are very different, you’ll want to make sure to partner with a commercial construction contractor–not a residential contractor–to construct, renovate, or remodel your business’ space.

So, what is a commercial construction general contractor?

Now that we understand what commercial construction is (construction for businesses), we’re ready to dive into what a commercial construction general contractor is and when you do and don’t need one for your project.

A commercial construction general contractor is the person who coordinates the different teams for your project and plans the project as close to your timeline, budget, and expected outcome as possible. This individual has construction expertise and should be a good communicator with both you and the teams they subcontract out the work to.

Since they are general contractors, they don’t have specific knowledge in one type of construction. They are not a healthcare contractor or one who specializes in building out a chain of restaurants that all look the same–though they could have experience in either or both of these types of projects.

When you do need a commercial construction general contractor

A commercial construction general contractor is a good choice when you have a commercial construction project. Beyond that, it can be trickier because whether a commercial general contractor is right for your project or not will depend on their specific expertise. Basically, you’ll want to make sure they have experience and expertise in your specific type of project.

For example, Carlton Building Services often partners with retail spaces in malls, healthcare facilities, condo complexes, and other businesses on local construction projects. If your project falls within these parameters, it could be a good fit for us.

When you don’t need a commercial construction general contractor

You don’t need a commercial construction general contractor for a residential project. On the flipside, general contractors are not ideal for chains which are the same nationally, such as building a new Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts location. You want to make sure your contractor deals with projects that are the same size as yours–not residential or national projects.

Along with the type of projects they specialize in, you also want to make sure they can deliver high quality work. We’ve seen several “handy men” botch work that they said was within their wheelhouse.

Whether a commercial construction general contractor suits your project or not will depend on their specific expertise, which is why it’s so important to shop around and discuss your project with multiple contractors before committing to one.

What to look for in a commercial construction general contractor

As you might have guessed, it’s important for a commercial construction general contractor to have experience in your type of commercial building. Beyond that, there are so more general green flags to look out for:

• Effective communication
• A track record of happy clients and impressive case studies
• A clear, logical plan to get the project done on-time
• A budget which aligns with the industry standard–a budget which is much lower than other contractors you talked to means they’re sacrificing quality or will raise the price later

Hiring a commercial construction general contractor is a big step–one that could make or break your commercial space. By looking for general green flags and ensuring the contractor you hire has experience and expertise in your specific type of project, you can set your commercial construction project up for success.

Carlton Building Services in Hampton Roads Virginia

Carlton Building Services specializes in repairs, maintenance, renovations, remodelings and build-outs for a variety of clients in Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake areas. We have years of experience handling projects in the retail, office, and healthcare space and would love to work with you on your next project!

To learn more about our services, check out past project highlights or contact Carlton Building Services to see how we can help with your next project.