Construction & Contractors Blog
Most folks who've worked with a general contractor have hired one to lend a hand with residential construction or renovation efforts. It might be easy to think there isn't much difference, but a commercial general contractor operates in what sometimes seems like another universe. Let's look at how working with a commercial contractor is different.
Materials Used for Projects
It's not impossible for a commercial general contractor to use wood to frame a building, but it's definitely a less common choice. Most of the time, folks in the commercial sector will work with steel, cement, blocks, and bricks.
Even the roofs that go on commercial structures tend to be different. Where a house usually has a peaked roof with shingles, a commercial building often has a relatively flat roof that uses metal, rubber, or a stone-tar composite.
Working With Engineers and Architects
Although both engineers and architects work on residential jobs, commercial projects typically loop them in to a much greater degree. Likewise, engineering and architectural challenges tend to be bigger. When a construction team builds a commercial structure, the building exerts more weight and pressure on the ground. That can produce major problems if the soil isn't right.
Similarly, architects often have to worry about more issues with commercial structures. If a building is tall, the wind is oftentimes a problem. Conversely, a flat building needs sufficient support to hold up against things like rain and snow.
Liability
The risk to the public of a poorly constructed commercial building can be massive, especially at locations that get hundreds or thousands of visitors a day. This means a commercial contractor has to carry better insurance that covers more possibilities.
Also, it's common for liability to be a big deal in setting up the contract for a project. For example, a client may ask a commercial contractor to obtain a bond to cover defects, delays, and other work issues.
Industry-Specific Needs
Commercial buildings aren't as relatively similar to each other as residential ones. The difference between the construction of a big box store and a hospital, for example, is significant in many cases.
Likewise, the number of businesses going into a building can pose issues. Many commercial spaces will need to be constructed with multiple tenants in mind. An office complex, for example, may need relatively generic spaces to allow tenants the chance to customize the location to their needs. It's important to build with a median tenant in mind so the building has sufficient electrical, plumbing, and communication systems.
Share14 September 2020
My name is Debbie Greenberg. I’m a single woman who owns her home, and like most homeowners I dread home repairs. I’m not very handy with do-it-yourself projects around the house. I can do a few minor repairs when necessary, but for the most part I have to call in a professional. Last year I had a leak in my roof. When it rained, water would leak into my kitchen. What appeared to be a simple fix turned out to be anything but simple. It took over four months to finally identify the problem, and double the money I was initially quoted to fix it. The problem ended up being that the flat part of my roof didn't have shingles, but a sheeting material. I learned a bit about home roofs along the way, and that is what I want to share with you.
