General Contractor (GC)

Related terms

• Contract

  The legally binding agreement between owner and contractor that defines scope, price, schedule, and responsibilities. A remodel should ne…

• Permit

  Official jurisdiction authorization to perform regulated work, triggering required inspections. Unpermitted remodels can force teardown,…

• Subcontractor

  A specialized trade (electrician, plumber, tile setter) hired by the general contractor to perform a portion of the work. You contract wi…

• Grading

  Shaping the ground around a structure so water drains away from the foundation. Poor grading is a leading cause of basement and crawl-spa…

• Furring

  Thin strips fastened to a wall or ceiling to create a level, plumb nailing surface or an air gap before finish material is applied — comm…

• Grout

  The material that fills and seals joints between tiles. Sanded, unsanded, and epoxy grouts differ in durability and stain resistance — ep…

• Framing

  The skeleton of wood or steel members — studs, joists, rafters, beams — that gives a structure its shape and carries its loads before fin…

• Hard Costs

  The tangible construction costs — labor, materials, equipment — as opposed to soft costs like design fees, permits, and financing. Hard c…