A common misconception people have when hiring a general contractor for a custom built home is that their contractor will be doing all of the work themselves, or “in-house.”
Although we would love to take credit for all of the incredible craftsmanship that goes into the luxury custom homes we build, we actually work with a network of skilled subcontractors who are responsible for various building phases of our projects.
In this article, we’ll explain what work we do in-house, what our subcontractors handle, and whether clients are able to use their own subcontractors.
A majority of the work we do in-house consists of finish carpentry and coordinating all of the moving parts involved in building a custom home.
Finish Carpentry
Once the structural, plumbing, electrical, and drywall stages are complete, we’ll tackle the finishing touches. This is where our employees come in. Finish carpentry includes the final details of a home such as the installation of wood trims, including:
• Crown moulding
• Door and window casings
• Baseboards
• Wainscotting
• Coffered and/or beamed ceilings
Installation of doors, door hardware, cabinetry, towel bars, mirrors, and medicine cabinets also falls under the umbrella of finish carpentry.
Coordinating the Building Process
As a general contractor, a large portion of our job involves coordinating all the moving parts involved in a custom home construction. Scheduling/standing inspections; selecting and scheduling subcontractors; ordering materials; making sure deadlines are met; coordinating with the architect, interior designer, and homeowner; ensuring quality; and overlooking jobs are just a few examples of the work that we handle in-house.
These examples are primarily “behind the scenes,” but they play an important role in the building process and whether a project will run smoothly, meet its deadline, and meet the client’s expectations.
What work do you sub out?
Essentially, 85-90% of the work that goes into the homes we build is subcontracted out, including:
- Framing
- Drywall
- Tile and stone
- Cabinetry
- Painting, etc.
Over the years, we have built strong relationships with subcontractors that we trust and know are reliable and cost-effective and produce high-quality work.
Yes, clients are technically allowed to use their own subcontractors, but we strongly suggest that they refrain from doing so. One of the benefits of hiring us as your contractor is the connections and ongoing relationships that we already have with reputed, high-quality subcontractors.
Think of it as bringing in a new quarterback to a football team that has been playing together for years. Regardless of how skilled or capable the new player is, there are bound to be mistakes and misunderstandings while learning and adapting to the new team’s dynamic and how they operate.
Throwing a new subcontractor into the mix is quite similar. We are unaware of their skill level, timing, or processes, which, from our experience, increases the chances of complications (i.e., work that does not meet our standards, is done incorrectly, is not completed on time, etc.) that can hinder the progression of a customized home building project and cause major setbacks.
We primarily use the same subcontractors for all of our projects, which means that all parties are familiar with protocols, preferences, and expectations. The rapport that we have with our subcontractors and that they share with one another helps the building process flow seamlessly from one stage to the next.
Our team oversees every step of the home building process, ensuring Supple Homes’s reputed standard of excellence is always met and that clients’ expectations are exceeded.
Curious about other aspects of our process? Talk with one of our experts!
All Rights Reserved | Supple Homes Inc
All Rights Reserved | Supple Homes Inc
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