You’re three months into your commercial building project when someone on the job site notices an issue with the foundation. Guess it’s time to pause the work and get the concrete specialist back on the line, right? Not necessarily. If you’re working with a self-perform construction company like Griffin Construction, you already have a full-service team on hand to tackle any challenges that arise during the building process.
Working with a self-perform general contracting company comes with a number of benefits, like saving time and money while ensuring higher quality standards. But first, what exactly does self-performing entail and why does it matter? Let’s break it down.
What is self-perform construction?
When you hire a general contractor who can self-perform, their team has the skills to complete a good portion of the construction without bringing in additional subcontractors. For example, Griffin Construction’s self-perform capabilities include demolition, concrete, steel, framing, finish carpentry, windows, doors and hardware, weather barrier systems, siding systems, and sheet metal roofing—just to name a few.
By tapping into this trade-specific experience, building owners get more efficient results, dependable schedules, and accurate cost estimates. A self-performing general contractor also provides better access to specialized labor, leading to reduced costs and risks.
Why choose a self-perform general contractor?
The most common reasons owners choose a self-perform contractor revolve around time, cost savings, and expertise. Here’s a breakdown of how self-performing can add value to your project:
Save time
Saving time on a construction project benefits everyone from the architect to the owner. Because self-perform contractors know how to do the work, they can be more flexible, communicate effectively, and create accurate and efficient schedules. Ultimately, the trade experience required to self-perform creates a stronger partnership. It also eliminates the need to bid and coordinate with multiple subcontractors. As a self-performing general contractor, Griffin Construction can maintain control of construction schedules with skilled in-house tradespeople and managers.
Save money
A common misconception is that self-perform work costs more. This is simply not true. Because self-perform general contracting companies have specific trade experience. They know the material options, labor requirements, and current market conditions. During pre-construction, the lead estimator can provide architects and owners with accurate budget estimates for the materials and labor needed to bring designs to life. Having this expertise allows a self-performing contractor to be a valuable resource for ideas that save time and money.
Quality control
According to Deloitte, the U.S. construction market is facing skilled labor shortages coupled with increasing demand. To meet the full demands of a project, self-perform construction companies supply the skilled labor needed. This keeps project timelines on track by eliminating the need to search for additional labor.
At Griffin Construction, we only self-perform work on our projects where we’re also the general contractor, and we never overcommit our resources. This ensures you get a quality project on time and within budget. For example, with an in-house team dedicated to concrete work, you can expect the highest quality because the team not only has trade experience—they also have experience working together on the job.
Increase safety
An overlooked advantage of working with self-performing contractors is improved on-site safety. With a self-perform crew following the same set of safety procedures set by the general contractor, you get more eyes making sure protocols are met.
Self-perform companies call on true builders
Self-perform contractors rely on highly-skilled workers and true builders to get the job done right. When choosing the right self-perform general contractor for your job, review their past work to get an idea of how they perform.
To illustrate the benefits of self-perform capabilities, take a look at our Griffin Construction’s work on the 135-unit Prineville Apartment Complex. To ensure optimal safety and productivity, we leveraged our self-perform capabilities to construct the roofs for the 12-building complex on the ground. Once the roofs were finished, we used cranes to hoist them onto the buildings. This approach allowed us to work more efficiently without the risk of building off the ground.
Ready to build? Since 2000, we’ve completed over 150 projects across 21 different cities with a proven track record of meeting deadlines, budgets, and expectations—and we’d love to bring your building project to life. Get in touch.