Contractors: who are they and what do they do?

In the construction industry, terms like ‘contractor’ and ‘subcontractor’ are thrown around all the time. In fact, our Sydney commercial building company is made up of a group of contractors! Unlike ‘builder’ and ‘plumber,’ these terms aren’t very self-explanatory. In this post, we thought we’d focus on what contractors are, and what they do.

What is a contractor?

A contractor is the builder or building company assigned to a project. They are employed by the client, and are chosen for their experience, portfolio, qualifications, and reputation. Contractors usually compete in the tender process, where they submit their expressions of interest and explain why they deserve the job. They are then judged by a panel. It really is a case of “may the best man – or contractor – win!”

What is a contractor’s responsibility?

In most cases, the contractor is involved in the planning, building, and managing stages of a project. Firstly, they assess the tender documents to see if they can meet all of the requirements of the project. If they can, they will then take the time to visit the site where the build or refurb will take place. This is an important step, as the best way to gain a fuller understanding of the scope of a project is to visit the site. The contractor will then consider the cost of labour, equipment, and materials, and provide the client with an approximate price – called an ‘estimate’ – for the project. The price should be realistic and carefully calculated, and if possible, within the client’s budget.

After the quote has been approved, the contractor officially starts work on the project. They are responsible for providing all the equipment and sourcing material from suppliers. They are also responsible for the labour, and will often hire specialised subcontractors to do the plumbing and electrical components. Their other duties include applying for building permits, keeping the site secure, providing utilities, disposing of waste, and managing everyone working on the site. In terms of admin, contractors will look after schedules and budgets, and maintain records for the client.

What qualifications should they have?

In this industry, contractors aren’t required to have educational qualifications. In fact, most building contractors start out as construction workers, where they learn the ropes and get hands-on experience. That being said, the term ‘contractors’ can refer to all the people involved in a building project. This can include engineers, surveyors, and project managers. Of course, these kinds of contractors will have degrees in areas like business management, construction science, building science, surveying, and estimating.

In the building industry, the best qualification is experience. If a Sydney commercial builder can prove that they can do the job, and do it well, they are likely to get hired. Building companies also need to be registered and insured. Clients can easily find this out by looking up their accreditations, which companies often promote on their websites. If they are licensed in OH&S, Quality Assurance, and Environmental Management, it is safe to say that they are a reputable company. That is because the government and the industry’s peak bodies have recognised their excellence.

Hopefully this post has helped you to understand a little bit more about contractors, as well as their duties and qualifications. Next week we will focus on the role of suppliers.

What’s involved with maintaining a commercial building?

Buildings are like cars – they do require some ‘servicing’ from time to time. While some of the maintenance is based around making the building as aesthetically pleasing and comfortable as possible, there are actually many aspects that are legally required. For owners, maintenance really is an ongoing thing. It’s a good idea to review and fix problems as they arise, rather than allow them to build up and get worse. Trust us when we say that it’s worth investing in maintenance in order to avoid costly work later on down the track! Below is a very brief checklist of the types of things Sydney developers and owners need to be able to tick off.

Interior

Commercial buildings can house hundreds or thousands of people at a time. Because there are so many people that work and generally spend a great deal of time in commercial buildings, it is so important to make sure they are regularly maintained. Building inspectors can drop in at anytime unannounced, so it is in every owner’s best interest to be confident that everything is up to scratch.

Safety

• Review safety measures of the building. Are they compliant with the latest version of OH&S? (The most up-to-date OH&S requirements can be found on the Australian Government website).
• Check the condition of stairs and railings – they need to have enough grip to support those using them.
• Test the fire alarm and make sure the fire extinguisher is working.
• Confirm that the emergency exits are easily accessible by everyone in the building.
• Check for tripping hazards.

Facilities

• Ensure that the plumbing and electricity throughout the building is safe and unexposed.
• Check that all fixtures in the kitchens and bathrooms are working properly (e.g. fix any dripping taps and broken flushes)
• Make sure the elevator is operating well on each floor, and that the emergency instructions are clearly visible.
• Windows and doors should easily open and close.
• Confirm that the garbage removal and cleaning services are sufficient enough for the demands of the building.

 Aesthetics & comfort

• Check that lighting is sufficient in all areas of the building.
• Maintain insect and pest control.
• Make sure there is enough ventilation flowing through the building, particularly in basement areas or rooms where there are a lot of computers.
• Ensure that signage is clear and obvious.

Exterior

Maintaining the outside of a building is just as important as the inside. While it’s important for the building to look presentable, it also needs to be safe for people walking in and around the property. Sydney commercial builders will usually take the below into consideration in the design stages of a project.

Street view

• The street number, warning signs, and other signage needs to be clearly visible from the street.
• There should be sufficient lighting for people walking in and out of the building during nighttime hours.

Grounds

• If the commercial building has gardens or landscaped grounds, they need to be attended to on a regular basis. This involves mowing, manicuring, and weeding.
• Owners also need to fix any weather damage, such as erosion, leaks, or the impact of hail or heavy rain.

While this checklist will guide owners about what they need to look out for when maintaining their building, it is not as extensive as the official ones provided by the government as well as investigators. This is a good start, but please contact those departments for the most up-to-date, comprehensive information.

Who will you find working on a construction site? What are their roles?

A building site can seem like a dirty, busy place. But amidst all that chaos is structure and organisation. In fact, there is a hierarchy in place to ensure both safety and results. Everyone knows their roles, what is expected of them, and who their superior is. Below is a very brief outline of the people who typically work on a construction site, and what exactly they do.

Project manager

The project manager is the person in charge of the project from beginning to end. They are involved in every single stage, from design to construction. Basically, they are responsible for planning, managing lead stakeholders and suppliers, and successfully completing their projects. This job requires the ability to work under intense pressure and to remain calm. With so many people working under them, they have to be extremely organised and always in problem-solving mode. They also have to keep their team and the client happy. A huge part of this is communication – they must be willing to listen to demands and issues, and be able to clearly explain themselves. When the project is at the construction stage, the Sydney project manager does not stay on site. They usually just drop in from time to time to monitor progress. In a nutshell, the project manager is the ‘boss’, and most accountable person involved.

Site manager

Also known as the construction manager or foreman, the site manager is in charge of the workers on site. The site manager is usually a tradesman who has had many years of experience, and has proven their leadership and trade skills to the point where they have been entrusted with the supervision of a project. Their job description includes in it several key responsibilities, all of which are key to ensuring the smooth running of a project. Among their many roles are the following:

-        Reporting any issues as well as progress to the project manager

-        Supervising the safe use of equipment by workers

-        Creating the workers’ schedule

-        Arranging for materials to be delivered to site.

Site managers must possess a can-do attitude. They need to be able to coordinate up to hundreds of workers on a site so that they work in the most safe and efficient way. It is essential for them to have great communication skills, and to build up a rapport with their workers. These qualities ensure that the projects are delivered to the satisfaction of the project manager and client.

Construction workers

‘Construction worker’ is the umbrella term for professional tradesmen who are involved in the construction of infrastructure. While some people take this term to simply mean ‘builder’, it can also encompass a very wide range of specialised tradesmen. In other words, it refers to any and every person who is hands-on involved in the building process. Construction workers include but are not limited to: bricklayers, carpenters, concreters, heavy equipment operators, electricians, labourers, plasterers, plumbers, roofers, tilers, and welders. Typically, a construction company like Patterson Building Group will employ or sub-contract work to these tradesmen. Because there are so many people involved in building and refurbishing commercial buildings, it’s a great idea to enlist a Sydney commercial builder to take care of the entire project for you, from start to finish.