If you are a contractor who is throwing your bid in on a fairly largescale commercial construction project for the very first time, you know that you will need to factor in all those subcontractors that will be required. Although there are some that are an absolute necessity, some you may be able to do without, depending on the size and scope of the project. These will also be ‘turnkey’ subcontractors because they will be needed from design all the way through completion of the job. With that in mind, let’s look at a few subcontractors that will be needed on literally any commercial construction of any size.
HVAC Design and Installation
No matter what part of the country a commercial building is being constructed in, climate control is an absolute necessity. Whether it is a central HVAC Installation for the entire building or plans for individual installations for individual units, it is essential that they are with you and your engineers and architects from the very beginning. Some design elements may need to be contingent on how HVAC equipment will be installed, so they are a vital part of the planning team.
Concrete Subcontractors
Obviously concrete subcontractors should have a bit of input on designs as well. No one understands the weight of concrete on load bearing beams quite like those who are experts in the field, and as we have seen in Miami within the past year, buildings can collapse under the weight of unsupported loads.
Electricians
Here again, from the amount of power a building will need to where the wires will be run and the way in which circuit boxes are installed, an electrician is an absolutely important part of the design team, and thus a turnkey subcontractor. Electricians are one type of subcontractor OSHA will fine heavily if found in violation of rules and regulations.
Plumbers
There probably is no need to explain just why plumbers should be an integral part of the design team but with so much running water throughout a business and plans for sewage disposal, these should be turnkey subcontractors as well. From connecting into a city’s main lines to explaining where restrooms and perhaps commercial kitchens should be located, this is also something these experts are best equipped to do.
Roofers
It might not seem as though roofers would be an integral part of the planning and design team but consider this. There is a growing ‘push’ toward equipping homes and businesses with solar power for any number of reasons. Together with electricians, they can have a huge amount of input on the type of solar panels installed, usually on roofs, and how then individual meters could be connected to, and benefit from, this type of alternative power.
There is so much to consider when winning a bid on a large-scale commercial construction project, but the bottom line is always bidding within reason and then staying within the time and budget constraints of the job. This is something you may not be ready to manage the first time you write a bid on such a big undertaking. Each of these specialist professionals can help you gauge costs, so include them calculating costs as well. You never want the whole to be more than the sum of its parts in terms of cost, and that’s what we’ll leave you with today – your ultimate bottom line.