Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

Why should you hire a contractor?

Hiring a general contractor is a good idea for many remodeling projects. Home renovation contractors have a broad range of skills to manage, coordinate and complete a project. They should help make sure your project comes in on time and within your budget as they hire and supervise all the necessary subcontractors, including electricians and plumbers. They also handle procuring all the materials required for your job. Some homeowners look to save money by acting as their own contractor, but an experienced home renovation contractor is worth the cost. They should know local building codes, be able to pull all necessary permits, and work with inspectors to make sure the construction meets local codes. Also, because they get professional discounts, they can typically buy materials at a better price than you can; better prices on materials and labor save you money, and make up for at least a percentage of the cost of the 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 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.

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.

How much will it cost to remodel my house?

The cost to remodel a home is highly variable — size and scope of the project, quality of materials, and the number of subcontractors required to complete the job all affect the total cost. The average national cost of a home renovation project is $13,500. The national average per-square-foot cost of a remodel ranges from $25 to $100. Nationally, kitchen and bathroom remodels are the most popular types of projects, in part because they typically have the highest return on investment when the home is sold. The national average cost of a major kitchen remodel ranges from $25,000 to $62,000, while the average bathroom remodel tends to cost $6,000 to $18,000. In addition to materials and labor costs, many remodeling project costs include permit fees, which, average $900 or more, depending on your location.

Aska B.

Verified review

Fantastic to work with Joel Mayorga of Platinum Plumbing He was the first to respond to my work request. Answered every question almost immediately! I have tenants living in my home in Los Angeles & I live in Miami. I wanted someone I could feel confident with doing the work 3000 miles away. My tenants have been going without hot water due to ineffectual work by American Home Shield repairs My former TAKAGI tankless was never vented properly nor valves put on for easy maintenance. It was a 15 year old tank Joel described via this app exactly what I needed. I sent him photos so he could see the space. He offered me several options I decided to get a NEW Noritz tankless heater. He was at my leased home within 2 hours ; new heater & all necessary parts in hand! It was a big job but in a few hours; DONE! He returned the next day to make sure all was ok & water temp was holding. He even serviced my HVAC heater at no extra cost! Will I be using JOEL again?! YOU BET I will! Using him for ALL my heating & AC & plumbing needs!

Matt P.

Robert was right on time and came within hours to give me an estimate. He was very patient with me while i made some repairs on the house. He and his father came out and did a great job with sandblasting and the stucco. He went above and beyond to waterproof around my garage and even did extra work once the sandblasted walls were revealed for no extra charge. He has years of experience and I would absolutely use him again. He sandblasted, scratch coated some walls and color coated my entire detached garage and home in 6 working days. He was great. Thanks Robert!

Brian J.

We hired Excel Construction few months ago and we just finished our entire home remodeling project. We researched, met and interviewed few other remodeling companies before we decide to hire Excel Construction and we couldn’t be happier and more satisfied with our great decision. We love Eyal and the ideas/solutions that he brought to the project. His design team was perfect for us and they always has few options for us to think of before we took the right decision. We’ve noticed very clear that everyone on the job was skilled and professional in his own trade and specialty. They did a perfect job by keeping the house as clean as they could and they were very respectful of our space. We remodeled our entire house including the kitchen, bathrooms, living room, garage, laundry room and bedrooms!!! We are super happy with the new house that we got and the complete transformation of it. Excel Construction are highly recommended and we already recommended them to few of our friends.

Richard K.

I hired John a few weeks ago to fix a list of small items that were broken or not working around our house. I picked him because he is skilled in many areas: carpentry, plumbing, electric wiring, etc. he has a master's degree as a civic engineer, and his knowledge goes far beyond understanding individual tasks. He fixed our front window, our ceiling fan, the bathroom plumbing, our garage gate, our front door lock, and removed our big old did Swamp Cooler from the roof, which he then patched. We also laughed at each other's jokes. We have more left for him to do, after the current heat wave passes. I recommend him highly.

Todd Y.

From the first time Jay came out to give an estimate, I knew he was someone I wanted to work with. Throughout the process, he stayed in constant communication and was always professional. His work in installing 5 doors around my house and garage was excellent. He's a problem solver with a great attitude. I can't say enough good things about my experience with Haggerty Construction!

Eric F.

I've had multiple jobs done by Sean. From recess lighting to extra outlets done in my garage to some outdoor LED light fixtures installed. All done professionally in a timely manner. I already recommended him to friends and family and they're also happy with the work done.

Lida G.

Milton and his son were exceedingly professional and friendly. I have worked with several electrical companies, and I must say Milton is Highly skilled, very efficient and an experienced electrician. Clean working habits. They cleaned their work space. Tested the outlets to ensure all in great working condition. Went above and beyond the scope of the project and patched the holes resulting from installing the outlets as well as patching unrelated holes in the closet. Their price was fair and competitive. Quick response time and scheduling. Spoke with him yesterday afternoon and he finished the project today. Will highly recommend this company and use their services in the future. I couldn’t have been more pleased! Thank you

Patrick M.

Khalil and Lazarro did a great job were punctual and professional. We have two new roof fans one on each story. The garage is at least 10 degrees cooler now and they spin and no electric cost for cooling.

Thumbtack Customer

Germaine and his crew did an excellent job on my project. They installed a subpanel on my detached garage that required a 100 foot trench. They ran into some problems that took them a little longer than originally planned, but he communicated clearly and finished the project with great quality. I will definitely hire Germaine and his team again for future projects.

Paul M.

Daniel, Mario and the rest of the team at World Class Construction are honestly the best crew I’ve ever hired, and I’ve done quite a few remodeling projects over the last 20 years. They are extremely professional, courteous, fairly priced, and best of all – fast! My wife and I were very impressed by the speed at which our luxury bathroom remodel was completed, and trust me when I say this was no ordinary job…. everything was custom, and they stepped up to the challenge and delivered. Overall, we are 100% satisfied – so satisfied in fact, that we immediately hired them again to remodel our garage conversion project. Thank you World Class Construction!! (PS, a lot of companies ask you to write a review… we were not asked – our bathroom just looks that AWESOME ☺.)

Beverly G.

Zach was extremely professional, on time and efficient. He communicated on his pricing and was very fair. I would hire him again in a millisecond. I wish there were more contractors in every trade just like him.

Jim G.

I contacted Dave to replace a side door to my garage and to help with a badly painted fence including a side gate. The paint was falling off! We both thought the paint could be scraped off, that did not work. All the boards had to be removed and replaced. Dave and his crew were professional, on time, worked steadly and cleaned up properly before leaving each day. Before work started Dave inspected the job. Dave gave me a written estimate breaking down each cost of the Job. Job well done Dave.

alan p.

A to Z Construction performed 2 complete bathroom remodels ( down to the studs) and repaired all the plumbing and prior water damage. Their crew had all the necessary skills to perform the work and worked every day until the job was complete. They added a second crew for the second bathroom which was much appreciated and took weeks off the completion time. Work was completed ahead of schedule. Very happy with the results. Highly recommended.

KENNY L.

Good experience after a horrible discovery that had been hidden by my solar system installers (Titan Solar and Construction). Glad to know that Titan Solar is no longer in business.

Elisa B.

Monterrozo Construction definitely superseded my expectations. I needed to convert my garage into a living headquarters. Carlos explained everything I needed to know about it. He checked with the city ahead of time to make sure that I was zoned for the conversion and didn't even charge me ahead of time. He was honest and throughout about it. I would use him again.

Royal M.

I worked with lior and his team to re-do both of the bathroom in our home in Woodland Hills and could not be happier with his work. Lior was a referral to me, I was so thankful for the introduction. He came out and gave us a quote for the project and kept his word through to the end of the project. He did exactly what we asked for and make recommendations throughout that helped in our decision making. This is the first big project that my wife and I had done, and I really appreciated lior helping explain the process and why each step was taking place. We receive so many compliments on how wonderful everything looks and already are working with lior again on garage conversion and have referred him to our neighbors as well! Excited to get to work with him and the rest of his crew again! Thanks, for all your hard work! - The Morales

Simon H.

Great guy, will be starting a project with him soon. Reza goes the extra mile to make sure that you are satisfied. Before we even decided to hire him, he went to the Los Angeles city building department to verify the possibility of our attic conversion. He will give you his full attention when you decide to work with him.

George M.

Ramos & Son Contruction Co has done alot of projects for me over the years. I live in a Tri Level home in Covina Ca and Juan Ramos has Remodeled my 2 bathrooms, Kitchen area, Outside waterfall pond, electrical work, reinsulated the upstairs walls in all bedrooms, plumbing work, recessed lighting, repositioned a major support post in my Garage area for more room in the laundry room, installed Crown molding around the interior of my home, and painting. I have a touching story of Juan Ramos, In the summer of 2016 as Juan Ramos was reconstructing my exterior waterfall pond area, my 4 year granddaughter was placed in foster care, so I had applied for my granddaughter to get placed with me, there was alot of things that I had to do to get my home ready for inspection by the dept of Children Services for the home to be approved for my granddaughter to be placed with me. Inspection day came and everything was looking good until the social worker inspected the fireplace, the social worker indicated that she could past the. Inspection because the fireplace did not pass because the fireplace had a steel mesh protector in the front and that it needed a more stable protector, my heart just dropped because my granddaughter was still in foster care with people she did not know. So, immediately I thought of Juan Ramos that was outside rebuilding my pond as the social worker was there doing the inspection. I immediately went outside to ask Juan Ramos if he could temporarily construct a temporary barrier in front of fireplace so the inspection could pass. The social worker said that would be good and ask me to send a picture of the temporary barrier once its installed since she had to leave for her another assignment. Juan Ramos immediately went to Home depot to get the materials needed to construct barrier as I had to report back to work, Juan Ramos completed the temporary barrier within a couple of hours and then he sent me the picture of barrier so I could send to the Social worker, the Social worker was impressed and approved home for my granddaughters placement with me. My granddaughter now has a safe home, and I have adopted her and she now goes to a Christian school in Covina Ca. I give alot of thanks to Juan Ramos for going out of his way and doing this for my granddaughter . Overall Juan Ramos does excellent and remarkable work, his work is very neat, clean, and very detailed at a great price, there was never no delay in all the projects that he has done at my home. Most importantly he's a man of honor, with a heart of gold. I have so much respect for Juan Ramos because of his honesty and caring nature. Best contractor I have ever met in my life.

Michael M.

After bidding with four contractors for a garage expansion, brick porch and patio installation,roof & window replacement I chose CJS Construction Inc. based on referrals and cost. I highly recommend Tino Arteaga of CJS and the entire crew, work was top quality and any suggestions and changes I mentioned were quickly resolved even after the fact.

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