The DIY craze of the past decade has been great for giving people a feeling of control over their lives and property, but it’s also created an inflated sense of possibilities in some. It may be tempting to believe that, because you were able to replace the kitchen countertop, that you can now oversee the remodeling of the entire bathroom. But the fact is there are quite a few home remodeling projects where you’re still far better off hiring a general contractor (GC) and stepping aside.
Letting the General Contractor Handle Complex Projects is the Right Decision
The GC plays an indispensable role in the execution of large scale home renovation projects. Some projects where their presence is crucial include:
- Kitchen Remodeling – Remodeling the kitchen is a complex process requiring careful planning and the coordination of workers from a number of different trades; carpenters, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, painters and more. Failing to coordinate everyone effectively can result in important components of the remodeling scheme being overlooked or poorly executed with long term risks to the home’s occupants and your wallet.
- Bathroom Remodeling – The bathroom may look like a harmless place where people take showers and do makeup, but in fact the bathroom is a fulcrum of the homes utilities where plumbing, wiring, exhaust vents, heating and air conditioning need to exist in close proximity and do their jobs flawlessly. Any misstep in the handling of these forces can have expensive, even deadly consequences. Let the general contractor handle it.
- Home Addition – Home additions in Toronto require the services of even more tradesmen than a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel. The GC’s job of shuffling everyone in and out at the right time while ensuring they’ve done their work properly and that no detail gets overlooked is not unlike being a conductor. Sure it looks easy on TV, but try it yourself and see what kind of music you get out of that orchestra.
- Pool Installation – Attempting to act as the general contractor for a pool installation is perhaps one of the worst mistakes you can make relative to your home. There are so many things that could go wrong from rupturing a gas line to a major leak that slowly causes large areas of your yard to subside that you should leave it to a well-qualified GC every time. No exceptions.
The general contractor makes sure everyone shows up when they’re supposed to, double checks everyone’s work, acts as a liaison with the sub-contractors, inspectors and suppliers, secures all necessary permits, ensures the safety of the job site and makes sure you’re not getting ripped off for materials and labour. Without the GC what you’d have is chaos.
If you are of the opinion that you can bring things into line yourself remember this: like people in any other profession, members of the building trades are far more likely to take direction from one of their own rather than an outsider who is trying to save some money. That’s not a reflection on you, it’s just life. So don’t scrimp on safety and quality. Hire a GC the next time a home renovation project requires the services of more than 2 different trades. You’ll be glad you did.
Karen Homes is One of the Most Respected General Contractors in the GTA
Karen Homes is one of the Toronto area’s premier home renovation and remodeling contractors. Our designers and craftsmen are the best in the business and we have the expertise and experience necessary to handle any project regardless of size or level of complexity. Before you decide to act as your own general contractor, give us a call on 416-661-6006 and talk to one of our remodeling experts.