Can a General Contractor Do Concrete Work? What You Need to Know

The most crucial decision that you will make while carrying out a construction exercise is the choice of professionals you are going to hire. Most of these will usually involve a good proportion of concrete work. Hence, can a general contractor perform the concrete work? The short answer is “yes,” but the long answer requires a deeper look into the duties and capabilities of general contractors and the nuances of concrete work.

General Contractors As Explained

General contractors are persons or bodies responsible for looking after a construction right from the startup to the completion. They are engaged in hiring subcontractors, preparing estimates, buying materials, and ensuring that the work is well executed to meet the set standard while completing in good time. They often boast a breadth of knowledge about construction practices and regulations, hence readily able to manage divergent tasks.

The Scope of Concrete Work

General concrete work covers foundation pouring, driveway creation, building of walls, and other big structural tasks. It involves specialized skills, specific equipment, and a good knowledge of the materials. The work involved in concrete work requires precision. Otherwise, a slight flaw will be a marked failure and a sure biggest risk to the structural integrity and safety of the building.

Can a General Contractor Do Concrete Work?

Yes, but with Considerations

1.  Experience and Expertise: Remaining on point here, not every general contractor will be equipped with the same level of experience when it comes to concrete works. Be this the case or not, you’ll need to make sure that the contractor you choose has had experience working on projects of this type. See past examples and check all references.

2. Licensing and Certification: There are some places that require a specific type of license or certification to do the work involving concrete. Enquire that the general contractor is properly licensed or certified to undertake concrete tasks in your area.

3. Quality of Work: In concrete work, to a great extent, precision counts. Check the quality of earlier concrete work done by the general contractor to measure it against your standards.

4. Subcontractors:  Most general contractors carry out certain specialized jobs such as concrete works by themselves. This has an added advantage in view of the fact that usually, subcontractors have specialized experience and skills.

contractors doing concrete works

Benefits of Engaging a General Contractor to Execute Concrete Work

Engaging a general contractor, such as Apexx Enterprise LLC,  to execute your concrete work has its own set of benefits:

Better Project Control

General contractors handle all aspects of a construction project. For example, they can easily integrate concrete work along with other aspects of your project for continuity and better productivity. They ensure a smooth flow of work via time control, management of multiple trade functions, and oversight of the quality of work.

Single Point of Contact

One of the major advantages of hiring a general contractor is that you have to deal with one person; this epitomizes ease of communication, reducing possible miscommunications or missing essentials in your project. Be able to discuss anything regarding your project with one person, who knows and understands the whole project scope involving concrete work.

Experience and Ability

General contractors such as Apexx Enterprise LLC have experience and extensive supplier and subcontractor networks. In this way, they can find the most appropriate materials and labor—indeed, not only concrete—for the task, as well as for better rates than you could find independently. Their expertise in industry standards and building codes means that the concrete work meets all regulatory requirements.

While general contractors may use sub-specialties to perform the concrete works, there are times when specialist contractors are favored more: 

Projects That Are Large Scale or Complex

This includes projects where concrete work is complicated for one reason or another or which requires concrete work on a grand scale—for example, large-scale commercial buildings or specialized structures. Companies specializing in concrete work have access to a higher degree of experience and familiarity with the specific techniques and materials used.

Unique Applications of Concrete

Some concrete work includes special applications or decorative finishes that may call for special skills. For instance, stamped or stained concrete, polished concrete floors, or intricate architectural features are specialties that may be best handled by a contractor experienced in these areas.

Questions to Ask Your General Contractor

Ask your general contractor the following to be sure you are making the right choice:

1. What is your experience with concrete work? Inquire about experience in concrete work. Request copies of projects they have done that are a match for what you are doing and demand references.

2. Do you have the necessary licenses and certifications? Ask if they have the right licenses and certification to perform concrete works in your locality.

3. Will you be doing the work yourself or hiring subcontractors? Find out if they are the ones who are going to do the work, or if they always have a tendency to sub out.

4. Can you provide an elaborate estimate?: Make sure it includes costs of materials, labor, and any potential subcontracting fees.

5. When will you finish your work?: Make sure you’re clear on duration: how much time will this take and when can we expect it to be completed as a part of your other priorities?

So, can a general contractor do concrete work? A general contractor can be used to arrange for and complete concrete work that is typically performed within the scope of any larger, multi-disciplinary construction project. The key requisites for successfully pursuing this path are experience, expertise, and resources available with the contractor. Companies like Apexx Enterprise LLC prepare projects, organize and manage, ensure quality, and pass on effective communications.

You’ll instead want to consider hiring a specialist concrete contractor if your concrete job is advanced or very technical. You could then pick a general contractor or concrete specialist who you feel capable of helping you complete your project by looking carefully at what you need and asking the right questions.

Conclusion

This is because concrete work is encompassed in most construction activities, in whose success the handiwork of whoever performs the work depends. Whether you use a general contractor, like Apexx Enterprise LLC, or a specialized concrete contractor, detailed research and due diligence will give you the best results that will match your task. With a well-experienced professional in the field of concrete work, you will be guaranteed a strong, durable, and safe base for your construction project.