If you want to see what a nice gambrel-roof addition looks like on an 85-year old gambrel-roof house, check out my brother’s blog at
http://banburylane.blogspot.com
Mark is a commercial GC in Pittsburgh, and his firm does things like Targets and WalMarts, among other things.
He let the contract to a residential remodeler, who is doing the weathertight shell scope, plus outside finish. Mark is subbing mechanicals and inside finish directly, to firms he knows from his commercial work.
How many of you remodeling contractors would feel comfy doing a job for someone that is a GC himself? It looks like Mark and Jim are getting along just fine.
BTW, Blogger is a free way to do a weblog, with all the photos and running commentary. Some may find it useful as a way of documenting progress, and showing clients how things are going, if they are having you do work on a vacation or retirement home, and live elsewhere.
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I'm framing an addition for a painting contractor. First class guy and he knows the perils of the business, and has been very easy to contract with and work for. I'm sure there are plenty of GCs out there who would be unethical nightmares to work for, but I've done this a few times previously and it's been fine. The conversation usually starts when they want to hire me as an employee, but later agree to a contract.