What kind of contractor do I need for my project?
It seems like there are a million different kinds of home improvement contractors. There are general contractors, subcontractors, trade contractors, remodeling contractors, plumbing contractors, painting contractors, tile contractors, and the list goes on…
The task of sorting through all of the industry terms and figuring out which type of contractor you need for your project can be frustrating for new and veteran homeowners alike.
What do all the terms mean? Who does what? And, who do I need to hire for my project?
What are the different types of residential contractors?
There are many different types of contractors, but they all fit into two primary categories: general contractors and specialty contractors. So, let’s start by exploring the differences between these two types of contractors.
Specialty contractors
As the name implies, specialty contractors are contractors that specialize in one type of work.
Some of these specialists focus on one trade, like plumbing, painting, or tile setting. These trade-focused specialists are called “trade contractors”.
Other specialists focus on one type of project, like kitchen remodeling, deck building, or additions. When a specialist completes work that spans multiple trades (like a kitchen remodeler would), they don’t fit the description of “trade contractor”. These contractors are actually general contractors, even though they specialize.
Specialty contractors, especially trade contractors, often complete work for other contractors. When a contractor is hired to complete work for another contractor, he is called a “subcontractor”.
While many in the construction industry refer to trade contractors as “subcontractors” (because most of their workload is often subcontract work), these trade contractors are technically only subcontractors when they are working for another contractor, never when they are working for a homeowner directly.
General contractors
While it is great to have a plumbing specialist when you need your toilet replaced, or a painting specialist when you need your bedroom painted, larger projects require someone who can handle a wide range of tasks. This is what a general contractor does.
A general contractor is someone who can complete, or facilitate the completion of, the work of many different trades.
A general contractor will handle the variety of work they are contracted to do in one of three ways:
1. They will subcontract each task to a specialty trade contractor.
2. They will have an in-house team of generalist tradesmen that are proficient in multiple trades.
3. They will use a combination of in-house tradesmen and subcontracted trade contractors.
Unfortunately, there is no official distinction, in the construction industry, between general contractors who subcontract all of the labor, those who have in-house labor, and those that have both in-house and subcontracted labor.
That said, it is very common for remodeling contractors to have in-house labor or a combination of in-house and subcontracted labor. Meanwhile, it is more common for builders to subcontract all of their labor to specialists.
Are there different types of general contractors?
There are, in fact, a few different types of general contractors. Unfortunately, this reality has created a lot of confusion for homeowners and has left many people frustrated as they struggle to find the right type of general contractor for their project.
The three primary types of general contractors are:
Remodeling contractors
Builders
Design-build companies
What is a remodeling Contractor?
A remodeling contractor is a general contractor who specializes in upgrading existing structures.
Remodeling, renovating, or otherwise upgrading an existing structure will often require the completion of a wide range of tasks that span multiple trades.
Because many remodeling projects are small in scope, it is often difficult for specialty trade contractors to be efficient in these types of projects. For this reason, many remodeling contractors have an in-house team of tradesmen who are skilled enough to do the work of many different trades.
What is a builder?
A builder is a general contractor who specializes in building new homes, outbuildings, or other structures.
Just like remodeling, building a new home requires the work of many different trades. It is the builder’s responsibility to facilitate the work of all of these trades in order to complete the build.
Because a new build requires so much work, it often makes the most sense for a builder to subcontract the work of each individual trade. For this reason, many builders subcontract 100% of the labor on their building projects.
What is a design-build company?
A design-build company is a company that has both design capabilities and building capabilities. Their team of designers provides the plans for the project, and their production team builds the project.
Because design-build companies facilitate the work of multiple trades, they also fall in the category of “general contractor”. They are a general contractor with a design team.
Design-build companies will often specialize in either new construction or remodels, and their production team will be structured appropriately for the type of projects they specialize in.
What type of contractor do I need for my project?
The answer to this question largely depends on the scope of work your project entails.
Simple projects that only require one trade can often be handled by a specialty contractor:
A painting contractor is a good choice for a bedroom painting project.
An HVAC company is who you should call when your furnace needs to be repaired.
When your hardwood flooring needs to be refinished, a flooring refinisher will be able to get the job done.
A plumber will be happy to replace your toilet.
The list goes on…
These simple projects only require the work of one trade, so reaching out to a specialty contractor for these projects is often a good choice.
Larger projects, on the other hand, are usually better handled by a general contractor. Large projects, like additions, bathroom remodels, or new home builds, require many different tradesmen, with many different skill sets, to complete. A general contractor can facilitate this work.
What type of contractor should I hire for my remodeling projects?
Builders, remodeling contractors, and design-build companies all have similar capabilities. They are all general contractors, so they all facilitate work by multiple trades, to bring your project to completion.
A bathroom remodel, for example, requires demolition work, framing work, plumbing work, electrical work, insulation work, drywall hanging and finishing, tile work, trim work, and painting. Hiring and scheduling a different specialty contractor to complete each of these tasks would be a logistical nightmare and an incredible amount of work for a homeowner to facilitate. Thankfully, facilitating projects like this is what general contracting companies do every day.
Large projects
Every company is a little bit different, but generally speaking, a general contractor who subcontracts all of their work to trade contractors is a great choice for the largest of projects. New home builds, large additions, and whole house remodels, for example, will often benefit from the use of a large team of specialty contractors, each of whom is subcontracted to do the type of tasks that they specialize in.
Small to medium-sized projects
Remodeling contractors with in-house labor can often be a better choice for small to mid-sized projects. Projects like kitchens and bathrooms have a large number of tasks that need to be completed, but the amount of work that would be required of a specific trade will often be too small to justify calling in a specialist. A remodeling contractor that employs a team of tradesmen with wide-ranging skill sets can often handle this type of small/medium-sized project more efficiently than a general contractor who uses specialists could.
Projects that require design work
Most general contractors will require you to provide them with design plans and material specifications before the work begins. A design-build company, on the other hand, can help you with these things.
If you need help with the design aspect of your project, a design-build company can be a really good choice. A design-build company can help walk you through the design decisions that need to be made, then they can facilitate the build, by acting as a general contractor.
What type of contractor is Rothrock Kitchen & Bath Remodeling?
Rothrock Kitchen & Bath Remodeling is a general contractor that specializes in interior remodeling in single-family residential homes.
We offer project development services (learn more about this service here) for clients who are comfortable choosing products and finishes themselves (with our guidance). We work with local designers when our clients need design help.
We consider ourselves “remodeling contractors” because we complete small to medium-sized renovation projects with a mixture of in-house labor and subcontracted specialists. To learn more about our remodeling process, read our process page here
In conclusion
There are many different types of contractors. Every contractor does things a little bit differently, but overall, contractors fit into the categories of general contractors and specialty contractors.
Specialty contractors are a good choice for simple projects with a scope of work that only requires one skill set.
General contractors are a better choice for projects that require more management and/or require tradesmen with multiple skill sets.
Remodeling contractors with in-house labor are often a good choice for small to medium-sized projects.
Remodeling contractors who subcontract all of their labor to specialty trade contractors are a good choice for large projects.
Builders excel at building new structures.
Design-build companies are great when you need your contractor to provide in-house design services.
Hopefully, this information will help you decide what type of contractor you should hire for your next project!
