Why would you hire a contractor if subcontractors are the ones handling the work?

One essential skill for any do-it-yourself enthusiast is knowing when it's best to hire a professional. For a large project, like adding a new room or undertaking a task that requires specialized skills (and tools) you're not familiar with, hiring experts is a smart choice.

Now, let’s dive into the world of contractors and subcontractors. What sets them apart? Imagine hiring an event planner for a wedding or a milestone celebration. You wouldn’t expect the planner to bake the cake, prepare the meal, grow the flowers, or provide the music. Instead, you’re hiring the planner for their industry expertise and organizational skills, ensuring they bring together the best baker, caterer, florist, and musicians to make the event a success. In this analogy, the event planner is the contractor, and the professionals they know are the subcontractors.

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General contractors are the overall planners. They guide you throughout the entire project, from the initial concept to the completed result. In contrast, subcontractors specialize in specific areas of the construction process, such as operating heavy equipment, mixing concrete, plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. They come in to perform a specific task and leave once it's done.

Shouldn’t Contractors Have Their Own Workforce?

If you hire a general contractor, they might have a core team of permanent staff. In this case, you might see minimal involvement from subcontractors. The choice to hire employees or subcontractors comes down to economics. The general contractor, as the employer, is responsible for paying salaries and providing worker's compensation insurance for their employees.

"It’s not cost-effective for me to expand my team since the workload varies," said Raymond Vigneau, owner of Metal Building Contractors, Inc. in Allen Park, Mich. "I hire subcontractors for tasks beyond the capabilities of my regular staff."

Since subcontractors operate as independent businesses, general contractors don’t need to provide insurance or pay employment taxes for them. By hiring subcontractors for extra work or specialized tasks that aren't needed regularly, general contractors save costs, which in turn saves you money.

Should you hire a general contractor for your renovation or remodeling project, or would it be more efficient to hire subcontractors directly? We’ll explore what general contractors bring to your project in the following pages.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Contractor?

Experienced contractors offer peace of mind, knowledge of industry standards, and effective project management. They also provide essential elements like a license, insurance, and worker’s compensation. If you decide to be your own general contractor, you’ll take on the liability for any injuries or property damage.

One of the biggest advantages is that the general contractor is accountable for the quality of all the work they manage under the contract. If anything goes wrong during construction, it's the contractor's responsibility to fix it. The cost of those repairs comes out of the contract budget, not your personal funds.

A general contractor brings essential expertise to your project, including knowledge of building codes, suitable materials, proper construction techniques, and safety measures, both during and after the build. This saves you from having to learn things like the right temperature for pouring concrete, how long caulk should dry before painting, or why a plumber must install a P-trap beneath your new sink. Additionally, this knowledge helps the contractor choose reliable and reputable subcontractors, avoiding those you should never hire.

Contractors have a distinct advantage over you: they’ve done it before. From the initial planning stages to the final cleanup, contractors manage the flow of work like conductors manage orchestras. They understand the structure, know when to cue different team members, and likely have hands-on experience with various tools. If you hire a well-prepared contractor, they’ll ensure everything runs smoothly, keeping the work moving and the crews productive throughout the project.

Ultimately, the decision is yours: do you need a general contractor, or can you handle the project on your own? However, hiring a general contractor could relieve some of the stress and worry, allowing you to relax and enjoy the finished result when the job is done.

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