You may hear the terms building contractors and general builders used interchangeably. However, they have slightly different meanings. A contractor will have a lot more responsibility than a builder. Let’s take a look at what those additional responsibilities are.
What A Building Contractor Does
Building contractors are responsible for their projects from start to finish. This means that they need to coordinate everything that will happen on the building site, including contacting the trades required to carry out the work. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all the workers are subcontracted. Many contractor companies have a workforce that has all the skills necessary for the projects they undertake. It can also be a good indicator that they’re likely to take on commercial construction work as well as domestic.
To put it in very simple terms, a building contractor must ensure that a project goes smoothly from start to finish. They need to have the contacts and resources to employ the right people, create a project plan and take measures to meet the project’s deadline.
What Should You Expect From A General Builder?
You may be wondering what the difference would be to you if you were to employ a general builder rather than a building contractor. Builders can have a limited range of skills to hand, so if you need more complex services offered by HVAC engineers, they may need to subcontract these workers. This isn’t always the case, and you should always discuss what skills are available with the builder you’ve chosen before any work is carried out.
Builders are usually more hands-on than building contractors. Therefore, they can only take on a limited amount of work at any one time. The cost of construction can be a little cheaper with a builder, though this can depend on the price of materials at the time.
Should You Choose A Building Contractor Or A Builder?
The answer to this will be unique to your project and circumstances. More complicated projects, particularly those for commercial spaces, will be better off with a building contractor. However, small construction projects like extensions and loft conversions could be done just as well by a general builder.
For Builders & Building Contractors, Choose LS Building Services
We employ a team of talented builders and building contractors. We can take on any project, no matter how big or small. Our team are competent with domestic works as well as commercial construction, and can complete all work in a timely manner. Get in touch today to discuss your needs with a member of our friendly team.