General Contractor Services Los Angeles, CA
What is a General Contractor?
When you're looking for General Contractor Services Los Angeles, CA offers, it can be beneficial to know how the process works. The general contractor hires specialty contractors or sub-contractors to perform certain portions of the construction work, or sometimes all portions. The role of the building contractor is that of a manager and sometimes a tradesman, employed by the client and usually referred by the advice of the architect, engineer or the client him/herself acting as the manager. The GC must first assess the project documents, with a basic knowledge of the architect's process for creating drawings and specifications (plans and specs). This includes why both drawings and specs are needed and how they complement each other, as well as an understanding of the contents of, and how to read, a specification. Building contractors need to understand what drawings and specs are needed to make a complete and accurate bid. In addition, they must know how to correctly submit questions during the bid period (RFI's).
A general contractor (sometimes referred to as a general constructor) is responsible for providing the following:
- Materials
- Labor
- Equipment
- General Conditions
- Building Permits
- Securing the Property
- Providing Temporary Power Utilities
- Managing Personal on Site
- Providing Site Surveying
- Engineering
- Disposing or Recycling of Construction Waste
- Monitoring Schedules
- Cash Flows
Creating Drawings and Specs
Who creates drawings?
- Architect
- MEP Engineer
- Structural Engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Landscape Architect
- Security Consultant
- Audio/Visual Consultant
- CM / GC
Who creates specs?
- Architects and Consultants
- In-House Spec Writer
- Professional Spec Writer
- Product Manufacturer
Bidding
Basic Contract Documents
- A-101: Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Contractor…
- A-201: General Conditions
- A good contract to reference: B-141, Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect…Nielsen (or other General Contractor) Subcontract Agreement
- “Boiler Plate” Subcontract Form, Standard Provisions, and other Exhibits
- Additional Provisions (Scope of Work)
Understanding Drawings
- Understanding Specs:
- General Conditions
- Front End (Division 1)
- “Specific Conditions”
- Divisions 2 and Higher
- Materials
- The parts of a spec section:
- General
- Products
- Execution
Know the Applicable Jurisdictions
A jurisdiction is a:
- Code
- Department
- Entity
- Civil Rights Act
Know the Applicable Energy Requirements
Title 24 (Part 6):
California Code of Regulations, Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings
www.energy.ca.gov/title24/
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) - optional
RFI's: The correct way to ask a question
Addendums: The way questions are answered
The Bid Review Process
What to do when your bid is accepted (besides celebrate)? Sit back and let the Nielsen Environmental and their General Contractor Services Los Angeles, CA needs do the rest!