Misplaced Pages

#461538

28-731: HomeBase was a home improvement warehouse chain in the Western United States based in Irvine , California . Robert J. McNulty and George Handgis founded the chain as a warehouse club called the HomeClub , opening the first two stores in Norwalk and Fountain Valley, California , in 1983. It went public in 1985, trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HBI . In 1985, it

56-418: A client proposes to award a contract is often referred to as a "preferred contractor". A general contractor is responsible for providing all of the material, labor, equipment (such as heavy equipment and tools) and services necessary for the construction of the project. A general contractor often hires specialized subcontractors to perform all or portions of the construction work. When using subcontractors,

84-444: A contractor may be a sole proprietor managing a project and performing labor or carpentry work, have a small staff, or may be a very large company managing billion dollar projects. Some builders build new homes, some are remodelers, some are developers. A general contractor is a construction manager employed by a client, usually upon the advice of the project's architect or engineer . General Contractors are mainly responsible for

112-504: A contractor to work on their house. Because interior renovation will touch the change of the internal structure of the house, ceiling construction, circuit configuration and partition walls, etc., such work related to the structure of the house, of course, also includes renovation of wallpaper posting, furniture settings, lighting, etc. Aggregators are companies that bundle home improvement service offers and act as intermediary agency between service providers and customers. Home improvement

140-399: A design professional, such as an architect .The general contractor may also assume the role of construction manager, responsible for overseeing the project while assuming financial and legal risks.There are several types of risks can occur include cost overruns, delays, and liabilities related to safety or contract breaches. Prior to formal appointment, the selected general contractor to whom

168-427: A home bigger by adding rooms/spaces, as a means of saving energy, or to improve safety. While "home improvement" often refers to building projects that alter the structure of an existing home, it can also include improvements to lawns, gardens, and outdoor structures, such as gazebos and garages. It also encompasses maintenance, repair, and general servicing tasks. Home improvement projects generally have one or more of

196-400: A program of their needs and selects a site (often with an architect). The architect assembles a design team of consulting engineers and other experts to design the building and specify the building systems. Today contractors frequently participate on the design team by providing pre-design services such as providing estimations of the budget and scheduling requirements to improve the economy of

224-646: A team of plumbers , electricians , bricklayers , carpenters , iron workers , technicians , handymans , architects and roofers . General Contractors build their business by networking with potential clients, buying basic construction tools, and ensuring that their subcontractors complete high-quality work. General Contractors do not usually complete much construction work themselves, but they need to be familiar with construction techniques so they can manage workers effectively. Other reasons include access to specialist skills, flexible hiring and firing, and lower costs. A property owner or real estate developer develops

252-542: Is an almost $ 300 billion industry in the United States, and a $ 48 billion industry in Canada. The average cost per project is $ 3,000 in the United States and $ 11,000–15,000 in Canada. Professional home improvement is ancient and goes back to the beginning of recorded civilization. One example is Sergius Orata , who in the 1st century B.C. is said by the writer Vitruvius (in his famous book De architectura ) to have invented

280-488: Is the process of renovating , making improvements or making additions to one's home. Home improvement can consist of projects that upgrade an existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), exterior (masonry, concrete, siding, roofing) or other improvements to the property (i.e. garden work or garage maintenance/additions). Home improvement projects can be carried out for a number of different reasons; personal preference and comfort, maintenance or repair work, making

308-899: The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) if the total cost of one or more contracts on the project is $ 500 or more. In every state that requires a license, a surety bond is required as part of the licensing process, with the exception of Louisiana , where bonding requirements may vary in different parishes. Not all states require General Contractor licenses - these include Vermont , New Hampshire and Maine , among others. Some general contractors obtain bachelor's degrees in construction science , building science , surveying , construction safety, or other disciplines. General Contractors often learn about different aspects of construction, including masonry , carpentry , framing , and plumbing . Aspiring general contractors communicate with subcontractors and may learn

SECTION 10

#1732859310462

336-455: The United Kingdom , Australia and some British Commonwealth countries, the term 'general contractor' was gradually superseded by builders during the early twentieth century. This was the term used by major professional, trade, and consumer organizations when issuing contracts for construction work, and thus the term 'general contractor' fell out of use except in large organizations where

364-659: The United States and Asia , the terms general contractor (or simply "contractor"), prime contractor and main contractor are often interchangeable when referring to small local companies that perform residential work. These companies are represented by trade organizations such as the NAHB . Prime contractor is a term defined in the US law. Statutory definitions of prime contract, prime contractor, subcontract, and subcontractor are in 41 U.S.C.   § 8701 . The prime contractor term

392-637: The United States . Although it outperformed competitors like Orchard Supply Hardware and Builders Square , it could not match the growth or pricing power of The Home Depot or Lowe's . On December 5, 2000, after several dramatically unprofitable years, it announced that 67 stores would be converted to a home decorating superstore chain, House2Home , and the remainder closed. House2Home would fare no better, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 7, 2001, and ceasing operations by early 2002 after 19 years of service. Home improvement The concept of home improvement , home renovation or remodeling

420-460: The builders that have specialized credentials , licensing and experience to perform renovation services in specific municipalities . While there is a fairly large "grey market" of unlicensed companies, there are those that have membership in a reputable association and/or are accredited by a professional organization. Homeowners are recommended to perform checks such as verifying license and insurance and checking business references prior to hiring

448-483: The hypocaust . The hypocaust is an underfloor heating system that was used throughout the Roman Empire in villas of the wealthy. He is said to have become wealthy himself by buying villas at a low price, adding spas and his newly invented hypocaust, and reselling them at higher prices. Perhaps the most important or visible professionals in the renovation industry are renovation contractors or skilled trades. These are

476-569: The United States, there are no federal licensing requirements to become a general contractor, but most US states require general contractors to obtain a local license to operate. It is the states' responsibility to define these requirements: for example, in the state of California , the requirements are stated as follows: With a few exceptions, all businesses or individuals who work on any building, highway, road, parking facility, railroad, excavation, or other structure in California must be licensed by

504-415: The difficulties involved include: Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House (1948), starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy ; George Washington Slept Here (1942), featuring Jack Benny and Ann Sheridan ; and The Money Pit (1986), with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long . The sitcom Home Improvement used the home improvement theme for comedic purposes. General contractor In the United States ,

532-430: The following goals: Maintenance projects can include: Additional living space may be added by: Homeowners may reduce utility costs with: The need to be safer or for better privacy or emergency management can be fulfilled with diversified measures which can be improved, maintained or added. Secret compartments and passages can also be conceived for privacy and security . Home or residential renovation

560-412: The general contractor is responsible for overseeing the quality of all work performed by any and all of the workers and subcontractors. It is a best practice for general contractors to prioritize safety on the job site, and they are generally responsible for ensuring that work takes place following safe practices. A general contractor's responsibilities may include applying for building permits, advising

588-507: The general contractor will submit a fixed price proposal or bid, cost-plus price or an estimate. The general contractor considers the cost of home office overhead, general conditions, materials, and equipment, as well as the cost of labor, to provide the owner with a price for the project. Contract documents may include drawings, project manuals (including general, supplementary, or special conditions and specifications), and addendum or modifications issued prior to proposal/bidding and prepared by

SECTION 20

#1732859310462

616-449: The main contractor is the top manager and a general contractor shares responsibilities with professional contractors. General contractors who conduct work for government agencies are often referred to as "builders". This term is also used in contexts where the customer's immediate general contractor is permitted to sub-contract or circumstances are likely to involve sub-contracting to specialist operators e.g. in various public services. In

644-435: The management skills they need to run their own company. Experience in the construction industry as well as references from customers, business partners, or former employers are demanded. Some jurisdictions require candidates to provide proof of financing to own their own general contracting firm. General Contractors often run their own business. They hire subcontractors to complete specialized construction work and may manage

672-409: The overall coordination of a project and may also act as building designer and construction foreman (a tradesman in charge of a crew). A general contractor must first assess the project-specific documents (referred to as a bid, proposal, or tender documents). In the case of renovations, a site visit is required to get a better understanding of the project. Depending on the project delivery method ,

700-430: The person they are hired by, securing the property, providing temporary utilities on site, managing personnel on site, providing site surveying and engineering, disposing or recycling of construction waste , monitoring schedules and cash flows, and maintaining accurate records. The general contractor may be responsible for some part of the design, referred to as the "contractor's design portion" ( JCT terminology). In

728-487: Was acquired by Zayre , a Framingham, Massachusetts -based discount department store chain. After Zayre was acquired by Ames , HomeClub was spun off under a new company called Waban Inc., which also owned BJ's Wholesale Club . In 1991, it discontinued its membership program and adopted the HomeBase name shortly thereafter. The chain expanded to 89 stores by the mid-1990s, becoming the sixth largest home improvement retailer in

756-593: Was already defined before the 8 March 1946 passage of An Act To eliminate the practice by subcontractors, under cost-plus-a-fixed-fee or cost reimbursable contacts of the United States, of paying fees or kick-backs, or of granting gifts or gratuities to employees of a cost-plus-a-fixed-fee or cost reimbursable prime contractors or of higher tier subcontractors for the purpose of securing the award of subcontracts or orders. (Pub. L.Tooltip Public Law (United States) 79–319, 60 Stat. 37) Licensing requirements to work legally on construction projects vary from locale to locale. In

784-458: Was popularized on television in 1979 with the premiere of This Old House starring Bob Vila on PBS. American cable channel HGTV features many do-it-yourself shows, as does sister channel DIY Network . Danny Lipford hosts and produces the nationally syndicated Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford . Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete co-host the nationally syndicated The Money Pit Home Improvement Radio Show . Movies that poked fun at

#461538