Hiring Subcontractors to Tackle an Addition

There's nothing simple about putting an addition onto a home. That's why so many people hire general contractors to handle the details. These specialists will take care of everything from enlisting design support and pulling permits to bringing in the subs and scheduling the final inspections.

But, if you've decided to go it alone without the help of a general contractor, there are many trades you will have to deal with as you go from room concept to final inspection.

In general, an addition will require an architect or designer, site preparation work, masonry, electrical, framing, roofing, finishing, drywall, painting, carpeting and possibly even plumbing. That's a lot of subcontractors to deal with, so here are some basic guidelines for bringing in the best before you get started.

The first thing's first. You need to have a design. Without it, no contractor can get started and you can't even pull permits with your county or city government office to get the work going.

Contact an architect or designer to get the floor plan for your addition going and bear in mind some work might also need to be done on your existing house, and likely will, unless the addition will be free-standing.

Once an architect has drawn up plans that include alterations to the existing structure, it's time to get the proper permits in place. The architect likely can help direct you on the technical order for hiring subcontractors and maybe can even suggest some good ones, but you'll need to know a few things as well.

In general, before letting subcontractors go crazy, you'll want to determine who you intend to hire before the first shovel hits the dirt. Scheduling folks in advance will be vital or you'll find your site work done and no one available to pour your foundation even though the framers are ready to come in the next day.

It sounds like a lot of work and it is. This is why so many rely on the general contractor to oversee big construction jobs from beginning to end. These folks have the contacts, the scheduling know how and they are knowledgeable on who to bring in and when.

Going it alone is more than possible, but make sure you have everything lined up before work gets started. Rely on your designer or architect to help guide you a bit and make sure your permits and inspections are in order.

An addition to a home is a great way to make your existing property more workable for you and your family. Taking the job lightly, however, can turn into a real problem for you, so proceed with caution and use patience and good judgment along the way.