Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

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.

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.

Jane S.

Verified review

Harry was professional, polite, knowledgeable, showed good work ethic and did the job in a timely manner (garbage disposal replacement and electrical switch and outlet fixed. He even noticed my dishwasher hose wasn’t installed correctly and fixed it for me! His rates are fair and quality of work was great. He took the time to discuss other home projects and repair options with me. I was impressed and will be using Harry the Handyman for several other home repair projects down the road.

Thumbtack Customer

Bob was great. He offered great value,started the job right away and did excellent work with our basement window removal and installation. Space was cleaner than when he started. We are already talking about additional work to be completed. Thank you Bob. I will for sure recommend you to my friends and family.

Woody H.

Brian came right over (on a Sunday evening) and has followed up conscientiously to solve the problems caused by flooding in the basement. He's extremely responsive and easy to work with. We'll definitely call on him again if we run into further difficulties. Highly recommended.

Maxx F.

A company really easy to work with! Was very prompt and work ethic was awesome all throughout our basement construction project. All the guys were courteous, neat, and respectful of our family and home from start to finish. I'd highly recommend! They're coming back next year for the patio.

Andrew S.

Had Dimension install a new laminate floor in my basement. They were very professional and responsive. Also offered great advice. Would use again and recommend. Great people.

Kathleen B.

I do not even know where to start. If Bruce lived in a different time he would have been a Renaissance man. He possesses a masterful blend of artistry and intellect. The first project he did for us was to redo a simple laundry room. This entailed making templates and installing granite for a counter with a sink and a making a folding table/counter. He had to repair some sheet rock and repaint the room. The results were impressive. The second job he did was design and build a workbench for my art studio. His architectural renderings were impressive. He measured the length of my arms to insure I was able to reach the peg board behind the work bench. He thought to install a length of electrical outlets beneath the lip of the bench. The side drawers are easily opened and closed and the paper trays are large enough to hold my watercolor paper. He is extremely meticulous and his work shows this. He installed glass doors in the basement studio to allow more light to enter the area. When this wasn't sufficient, he cut through the concrete and installed a window (with molding and a sill). His masterpiece was the deck he built for us. With Bruce's skill and our artistic input he produced a showpiece deck. The three tiered deck allows for minimal visual obstruction of the woods below. He installed tiny lights on the stairs to make them safer in the evening. He thought of these. He made a portion of the deck curved to provide harmony with the landscaping. Again, his renderings were precise and impressive. He laid everything out carefully and was always thinking ahead. Our deck is magnificent. He handled all the paperwork for the permits as well. On a smaller scale Bruce hung paintings, our TV, glass doors leading to a bonus room, fixed all our leaky faucets and provided names when we needed a generator and a water softening system installed. Bruce is one of a kind in that he is masterful in so many areas and knows when to get a consult. He is prompt and ready to work hard. He put in very long hours, cleaned up and just did amazing work. I still look forward to having him finish an upstairs loft, a bathroom in our studio and build a space for a china hutch. I feel so fortunate that we found Bruce and would give him the highest of recommendations. He really is a Master of many things! He is also very easy to talk to and to work with.

Tom C.

For U Builders replaced 7 basement windows for us. The introduction/quote visit was excellent. Really nice folks! Follow up was good. Brandon stayed on top of our order and kept us informed. Install was great. Leon tailored the trim to the space so it wasn't a "one size fits all" install. Very much appreciate that - and they were done earlier in the day than we expected. This would be a 5 star review if the time between the initial appointment and the installation hadn't been over 6 weeks. We understand the windows come from PA, and there was the Thanksgiving holiday in there, but that's twice as long as unexpected/were told.

Laura B.

Extremely responsive and hard working! We hired John and Angie to work on our newly finished basement. John and his team skim coated and painted the walls, ceiling, and built-in shelves, as well as installed our luxury vinyl flooring. They did excellent work and provided good communication through out the project. Would hire again in an instant!

Leonte L.

Jorge and his crew are excellent in doing all things at home. They installed new drywall’s into my basement and they did a great job. They provide a fast and professional service and also cares about the look of the finish and provided ideas. Highly recommended.

Kenneth M.

Ed responded to my request for a quote to remove knob and tube wiring in my attic and basement. I found Ed to be professional, knowledgeable, and priced competitively. He kept me in the loop on the progress made each day and made sure he left the work area clean at the end of day. I can now sleep safety knowing that all the knob and tube wiring has been removed or made inactive within my house. I strongly recommend Ed to my close family and friends and will definitely reuse him when I need additional electrical work done in the future.

T. R.

We had an incident where one of our basement windows had broken. Victor came to the house the next day to measure the three windows for replacement (we decided now was the time to replace them all). That evening we had an estimate emailed to us, and the pricing was good. Victor ordered the windows, and the day they came in he called to schedule installation for the next day. He was on time, quick, and the work is very high quality. After installation he walked us through opening the windows, showing the completed work, and gave us recommendations regarding the rain/snow covers we had over the windows. We have plans for the basement which includes finishing it, update flooring, etc and plan to work with Victor for that as well.

Mary J.

Mike responded almost immediately to my thumbtack request for help replacing a sump pump in my basement. He scheduled an appointment to give me an estimate on Tuesday and job was completed on WEdnesday. Will definitely use again.

Hillary D.

Mike installed 6 basement windows for us. Job was completed in 1 day, but it took 3 days of him canceling before actually starting the job. Windows look great, job was cleaned up after pretty well- just few bits of wood and nails/screws left in basement, but a lot of the finishing wasnt completed- such as caulking and painting of the interior framing wood- so now we have to do it, which isn't bad- just wish I had known that that would be the case ahead of time. probably a misunderstanding on my part. Thanks, would recommend him again!

Sarah G.

Tiled our basement floor - approximately 500 sq ft. He got it done quickly as we were in a time crunch. He always communicated when he would arrive and always showed up when he said he would.

Kristina B.

We hired Irene Design for our basement finish project. Our goal was to have a finished basement that would provide enough room for entertainment to fit a bar and a pool table and would also have a guest room with a half bath. Initially Irene met with us to understand our ideas and then provided her own suggestions on how the space in our basement can be used in the most efficient way. We especially appreciated her showing us a few different 3D models with various design options. She also made her recommendations regarding specific materials for the project and helped to select them as well. The work itself was performed in a timely manner and we had our basement ready for our New Year party! Working with Irene was a very pleasant experience as she has an ability to make your renovation job enjoyable and relaxing. We will definitely hire Irene for our next house renovation project.

DR.Geoffrey C.

finished basement Working with B&R,LLC was the best experience I've had with contractor in general. They took great pride in the quality of their workmanship. The response and effort for customer satisfaction is like no other. B&R,LLC is the only contractor I will call in the future for all of my home improvements

Cheryl K.

Jay and Steve did a great job. I had the basement compounded and painted, wallpaper removed in two rooms, 2 bedrooms, a foyer, two hallways repainted and textured ceiling redone. They were neat and clean, informative and professional. Don't hesitate to contacts them for estimates. I plan on having them do my outside deck, gazebo and kitchen next. You won't be disappointed.

Heather M.

My experience with Twin Renovation was outstanding. They finished my basement and this project was completed about 2 weeks ago, so while I can't comment on the long-term lasting results, and immediate finished product is exactly what I was looking for. It was a relatively simple job - I just wanted the concrete walls nicely finished in a cost-effective way and for the existing tile floor to be covered in carpet. Right off the bat even before coming to see the project, Vinnie spent time with me carefully listening to my ideas and questions, and giving me advice about what would work best for my situation. Quotes I got from other contractors only included moisture protection, framing with furring strips, and drywall, and were still astoundingly high even without the flooring. Vinnie's quote was significantly under every other quote I got and included all those things plus the carpeting, painting the walls, framing out the windows, and installing a nice baseboard and window trim. Vinnie and his team were all very friendly, approachable, and accommodating, which helped put me at ease because this was the first home renovation project I had ever attempted and I wasn't confident in how to walk through the process. Vinnie communicated well and kept me well-informed every step of the way, and they ultimately finished the entire project in under a week while staying true to the original price quoted. At the end they told me that if I noticed any problems or issues that I should just call them and they'd come back to fix it. I also really appreciated their honesty because at the last-minute I asked if they could carpet the stairway as well and Vinnie said that his carpeting specialist was not available for a while. He said that the person doing the work was proficient in carpeting flat flooring but was not proficient in stairways, and he would prefer to be honest rather than potentially do a sub-par job on something. I think sometimes people can be greedy and want to find any way to inflate prices and make an extra buck, and that is just not how Twin Renovation does business. I got a fair price for high quality work and I will definitely be using them again and recommending them to anyone I know! Thank you!

Kathleen H.

I am very happy to write this review for BB Remodeling! I highly recommend BB Remodeling for all your jobs to make your home beautiful. Brian is a honest, hard working gentlemen that does quality work, his attention to detail is like no other and knowledge of all areas of the home is truly amazing. His prices are SO reasonable, they are just UNBEATABLE! I hired Brian from BB Remodeling to redo my basement after a flood. He had to replace the entire basement floor, fix sheet rock , repaint the basement and today, you wouldn't even know it happened other than it looks better than it did before. BB Remodeling has been back to my home for other projects since then and I couldn't be happier! Definitely call BB Remodeling for your next project or repair, you will be so happy you did, I guarantee it!

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