General Contracting

Find a general contractor near Clairemont, CA

Find a general contractor near Clairemont, CA

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Top 10 General Contractors near Clairemont, CA

Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

What kind of jobs can a general contractor do?

General contractors can complete all types of projects, from small home repairs and new construction, from building a new home to landscaping an entire yard. General contractors may specialize in plumbing, framing, electrical, foundations or roofing projects, and they can work on commercial or residential buildings. 

Before hiring a general contractor, make sure the contractor holds the proper licenses, registration, insurance and certifications required by your city or state. 

What do general contractors charge?

If you’re doing a home remodel, building a new home or embarking on a commercial building project, you’ll hire a general contractor. A general contractor is a professional who is qualified to oversee and execute construction projects. Each construction project is unique; even two duplicate homes built on lots next door to each other could have different construction costs due to factors like different excavation costs when building the foundation. Since each project is unique, many general contractors make bids on potential construction projects. These bids can then break down to a per square foot cost that encompasses the labor of all the workers needed for the job, materials, the scope of work, and any equipment needed. Materials and finishes make a major difference in your cost per square foot. For example, choosing standard kitchen tiles at $3 per square foot will result in a lower total project cost than imported marble tiles that cost $63 per square foot. Where you live will also affect how much general contractors charge, as labor and the cost to do business can cost less in many regions than in high-cost areas like New York or San Francisco. Here are some examples of average costs general contractors typically charge in various regions:

  • Home addition in San Francisco: $250-$270 per square foot.
  • New home construction in Knoxville, Tennessee: $100-$200 per square foot.
  • Kitchen remodel in Tennessee: $40-$80 per square foot, depending on finishes.
  • Bathroom remodel in Vancouver, Washington: $110-$170 per square foot.

Be sure to check out our smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor.

How do you hire a general contractor?

You can use Thumbtack to find local general contractors, read their customer ratings and get cost estimates. First, read the written reviews to learn about their professionalism, paying attention to photos for evidence of their workmanship. You should also verify their license, insurance and other credentials.

For more tips, read our guide on how to hire a contractor.

What is a general contractor?

When starting a home remodel or new construction project, you will probably hire a general contractor. A general contractor is a professional who is qualified to take a set of building plans and construct them as outlined. The general contractor may help perform the day-to-day building, or they may just hire workers and oversee all the work activities. In either case, the job of the general contractor is to see that your project gets built.

When you have a building project, ask for bids from various contractors. The bids tell you how much each will charge and what their scope of work will be. Once you have selected a bid, you sign a contract with that general contractor outlining the specifics of the project and the milestones during the project when they will receive payment installments. Once the contract is official, the general contractor will bring in their crew to begin construction. The contractor will manage the workers and subcontractors (anyone who doesn’t work directly for their company but that they need to outsource, like a marble installation pro), order all the materials, obtain work permits, and confirm that all the workers and subcontractors are completing their projects as planned. They typically handle all the payments to the workers and subcontractors, and send you invoice. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor.  If you are organized and competent to oversee construction projects, and are able to make sure everything is being built properly and meeting code, it’s possible you can be your own general contractor.  

How much do general contractors charge per hour?

On average, a general contractor will charge around $50 per hour for their services. However, the range of their fees varies between $30 and $85 per hour, depending on your geographical location and the type of project they’re undertaking. 

You can get a better idea of how much it will cost to hire a general contractor by requesting free estimates from contractors near you.

How do you choose a commercial general contractor?

A commercial contractor provides similar services as a residential general contractor but specializes in working with large-scale projects for businesses, schools, nonprofits, governments and development firms. When researching commercial general contractors, review their portfolio of work and confirm they have ample experience working in the area you need. For example, if you are building a small strip mall, ask if the contractors have experience successfully incorporating all the needed elements such as a parking lot, meeting ADA requirements, accessing the proper permits, and completing work on time.

Once you’ve identified several qualified candidates, request bids for your project and then compare the scope of work with your needs and budget. Your commercial general contractor should oversee design, permitting, construction, materials purchase, and adherence to building code and zoning regulations, as well as sticking to an agreed-upon budget and schedule. It’s important to establish clear communication with your future commercial general contractor, as this will mean a smoother process for everyone. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor.

What does general liability insurance cover for contractors?

For contractors, general liability insurance is an important part of protecting businesses and contractors. This type of insurance will vary in its details and scope, but it can generally be expected to cover damage to the property and injuries. Here’s how you can verify a pro’s insurance.

How much does it cost to remodel a bathroom?

Nationally, the average cost of bathroom remodeling varies greatly. Bathroom remodels can vary widely, from standard makeovers to luxurious master bathroom revamps.

The factors that affect your bathroom remodeling cost are the finishes you choose (marble tiles can cost 20 times as much as standard subway tiles), the square footage of the project, regional labor rates in your area and the scope of work. Changing the layout or size of the bathroom will also raise costs. Moving electrical wiring and plumbing lines will also dramatically increase costs, as you’ll need to hire plumbers and electricians to handle the work. What’s happening behind your walls and under your floor will also affect bathroom remodeling cost. Rot, damage or mold can lead to additional work and charges. 

Here are some examples of average bathroom remodeling costs:

  • 6-foot by 6-foot bathroom remodel: $3,500, including labor and materials.
  • Standard renovation: $6,500-$10,000. Price includes labor and materials the customer has purchased. Labor may include taking out the shower and shower pan, installing new shower pan and shower, and installing new door, new vanity, new mirror, new bathroom fan, and all new fixtures. Price variation depends on the quality of the finishes.
  • 10-foot by 6-foot bathroom remodel: $7,200, including labor and materials.
  • Mid-range renovation: $12,000-$15,000. Price includes labor and materials the customer has purchased.
  • Upscale renovation: $35,000 and up. Price includes labor and materials. Items might include digital displays for fixtures, multiple shower heads and custom showers.

Do general contractors offer remote or virtual services?

General contractors perform manual work and typically need to be present to complete their projects. However, if you come across a profile that states the contractor is offering remote services, ask what those services include. You can also ask if they can perform a consultation via video call and if they can do the job while following guidelines from the CDC and local agencies.

Do I need a contractor for a kitchen remodel?

A kitchen remodel is one of the most important investments you can make in your home, and it’s critical to get the details right; that’s where a home renovation contractor comes in. A minor remodel usually includes new cabinet faces and hardware, replacement appliances, and paint, while an extensive job may enlarge the kitchen’s square footage, install new cabinets or an island, change the layout, and lay new tile or hardwood floors. Any renovation that includes filing permits, construction, or electrical or plumbing work is best completed by an experienced contractor who knows local codes.

Reviews for Clairemont general contractors
Jena G.
Jay is the best of the best for general contracting needs. He is timely, professional and very skilled. We hired Jay for a complete gut of our bathroom and we are so grateful he was so flexible to start work on the job immediately. His tile work is beautiful. He is responsive and extremely helpful with providing advice on what does or doesn’t work. He is budget conscious as well. He also was able to help us on leveling our flooring from a botched job from another contractor and he did an amazing job. 10/10 recommend Jay for your contracting needs. Below are photos of our bathroom remodel.
J-Farrow General Contracting Inc.J-Farrow General Contracting Inc.
Grant D.
Matthew is an amazing craftsman and a very knowledgeable contractor. We hired Matthew to do a complete gut of the house we bought and redo everything from the ground up. We had a vision of what we wanted and Matthew let us choose all the finishes we waned without having to choose from a select number of suppliers like other contractors we interviewed. He was always available and would answer at odd hours for questions we had. He let us run the design while he worried about the right way to get the job done. We would hire him again if we needed more general contracting. Some of the items he did. Remove a wall to create a great room, demo tile and prepare out of level subfloor for LVT flooring. Demo and remodel two bathrooms. Baseboard throughout home. Move our laundry room from the kitchen to the garage. Misc electrical upgrades.
American Custom BuildersAmerican Custom Builders
Thumbtack Customer
Pros: 1. General artistic sense and unified design aesthetic made for a significant modernization and upgrade of the house 2. Project was complex and general timeline for completion was reasonable, with the exception of remediation corrections that took markedly longer than expected 3. Financial accounting was detailed and materials sourced were generally of high quality 4. Project was able to be completed - and remediations eventually fulfilled -- while the house was inhabited 5. Architectural changes enhanced the living space considerably, adding value to the home 6. Final outcome after remediation is now satisfactory, but stars deducted for the below (cons) issues Cons: 1. Budget overages 2. Remediation work took longer than expected and required conflict resolution through third party intervention 3. Certain subcontractors outsourced their remediation responsibilities, but we believe that remains the responsibility of a GC to manage, and we felt it was not handled with the kind of urgency that the initial buildout was. At the end of the day, this was a complex project that I am happy to have completed to a state of finality. We have learned to set absolute budget limits in the future for any home remodel projects we undertake, and would suggest prospective clients set clear scope, budget and accountability requirements upfront to minimize communication issues that can sour a productive relationship. I initially gave 5 stars for the aesthetics and the functional enhancement of the home. Until recently, there were unremediated issues that required a significant modification of that review. Now that they have been remediated, we think a 3-3.5 star review is appropriate, as it reflects the pros (mostly nice results, a major overhaul from a borderline unlivable edifice to a showcase home) and cons (challenging experience) of the whole project. We do love our home and have offered constructive criticism privately to the contractor, and are working to make sure these public facing reviews reflect fairly on both the pleasing aesthetics as well as stumbling blocks that were incurred in the process.
Fabulous Homes of San DiegoFabulous Homes of San Diego
Thumbtack Customer
I hired Cheryl through Thumbtack in Feb 2015 to fully renovate a 1700sqft home in what we thought would be a quick two months. First and foremost, she's a fantastic designer - she understands color, is particular about details, and can visualize what a space should feel like. Different times of the day, different seasons of the year ... she thought through it all and got the right combination of lighting, windows, and heating/cooling to get it right. In ADDITION to that designer's touch, Cheryl is a tiger of a General Contractor. I really can't overstate how much energy and passion she put into the project getting bids from subcontractors, managing and directing her own crew, and fighting to keep everything on schedule. I felt entirely comfortable letting her pick fixtures and finishes, which lessened the load on my shoulders. And, from an owner's perspective, the way she documented every dollar spent and provided reports and accounting was beyond anything I've seen anyone else do. It's amazing. In the end, the project did NOT go as expected. After opening walls, we discovered extensive termite damage (which meant some new exterior walls), antiquated electrical, and sub-standard plumbing work. Most other contractors would have walked off the job or taken advantage of the situation. Most other contractors would have taken an additional four months to finish. Cheryl didn't - she poured her whole self into the challenge and worked tirelessly to get the project done. The end product is fabulous and it took only one month longer than originally anticipated. Perhaps most importantly, Cheryl's integrity, "whatever it takes" attitude, and her extremely high Say/Do ratio is a testament to her character. She's the type of person I like to work with, and I'd be delighted to share any details of my experience with anyone who's considering her services.
Fabulous Homes of San DiegoFabulous Homes of San Diego
Thumbtack Customer
If you are looking for a honest, organized, knowledgeable, professional, hard working and timely general contractor then Matthew is your guy. In our new purchased home we had two old bathrooms that we wanted to remodel, plus the full house re-painting. We got a few quotes similar with Matthew’s but what really sold us was that he just struck us to be a really honest guy...which turned out to be very true. He listened to what we wanted but also used his design expertise to guide us toward a practical and beautiful remodel that we are very happy with. Since we were not home while the majority of the work, Matthew was always available to update us or answer my husband many questions. He also gave us lots of advice on other projects outside of his job scope that really saved us time and money. Simply put Matthew does what he says and comes in on budget. Our scope of work was to basically remodeled both bathrooms, extension to master bath new flooring, plumbing upgrade, new bathtub and custom shower pan, custom tile work for entire bathrooms, electrical upgrade, framing and building new wall, drywall and complete painting for all the house. Overall it was a very pleasant experience working with Matthew and we ended up with two beautiful new bathrooms and a fresh house!
American Custom BuildersAmerican Custom Builders
Monalyn C.
Cheryl really transformed our 4 bed 2 bath Mira Mesa 1979 track dark home into something quite honestly... fabulous! We wanted to add a family room and a small in law suite (-kitchen), and she took that idea and with the architect (Hi Wally!) they came with plans that was really transformative. We ended up doing a complete home remodel, and our family room turned into an open kitchen/family room. The space is so fluid, the rooms really flow quite gracefully. Our home is now a modern 5 bed 3 bath fabulous home with lots of transom windows/french doors that allow the natural light to illuminate the entire place. The sub contractors she brought on were primarily wonderful! Shout out to Nacho (Plumber), Jeff (Concrete), Jesus (Painter), Framer Guy (didn't get his name, but was just as amazing), and Keith (HVAC) are the ones to come to mind but honestly, everyone was really great. I think this really does go to show that Cheryl knows what she is doing, and brings the best to do the job! If there were any kinks she always answered the phone and was quick to get a solution going. They were working hard 6 and sometimes 7 days a week. We started thinking of doing the remodel back in October of 2017, and interviewed lots of General Contractors (10 to be exact), we decided to go with Cheryl January 2018-- Wally (architect) came out to our home and started to do the plans, we received the city's approval of our plans and started construction on March 27 2018, and we passed the city's final inspection July 17, 2018. There are things that need to be done here and there, and suggested for a month to pass by to see if anything else needs to added to the punch list for minor fixes. It was a big project, and a scary leap of faith to take, to trust someone to get the job done well. I am so happy we took that leap with Cheryl. She was always available to take phone calls and you can tell she was truly emotionally invested in the project. I will say that our project was so big that there were bumps in the road along the way, but I believe the open communication is key. Be mindful and aware of what budget you have in mind as well. There were two change orders to the original contract (not bad at all considering how big the project was), just make sure to add the contractors fee to them both so there are no surprises. Be clear with what you want, and she will give it to you.
Fabulous Homes of San DiegoFabulous Homes of San Diego
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