Get Quotes from Top General Contractor in Charlotte, NC

Are You Licensed to Practice as a General Contractor in Charlotte?

Licensing for general contractors in Charlotte is handled at the state level by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors (NCLBGC). Applicants must fully adhere to all standards set forth by the Board's laws and regulations. When requesting a license, applicants should provide the name they intend to use for bids, contracts, and operations. Although licenses can be given to both persons and businesses, they are only valid for the work carried out by the specific legal body to which they are granted.

Application for a general contractor license can be done online. The main prerequisites for licensing as a general contractor in Charlotte are:

• submitting an application,
• fulfilling the minimum age requirement of 18,
• having good moral character,
• paying the required minimum amount of money based on the type of license you're looking for, and;
• passing an exam based on the license type you want.

For general contracting specifically, the licensing Board may grant the applicant a general building contractor license, which covers private, public, commercial, industrial, and residential buildings of all types, or a residential contractor license, which includes any general contractor constructing only residences, and is subject to the residential building code adopted by the licensing Board.

The National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies is in charge of the examination the potential general contractor must pass to obtain a license. A National Accredited Building Examination is provided by this organisation. The NASCLA exam for the building classification is accepted by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Contact NASCLA at (866) 948-3363 or online for more information on how the examination is done. Note that before submitting an application for a general contractor's license in North Carolina, an applicant must have sat for and passed this examination.

General contractor licenses in Charlotte are further divided into limitation and classification categories. Limitation restricts the amount that can be paid to a contractor on that license. Contractors with a limited license are allowed to embark on one-off projects worth up to $500,000. Contractors are permitted to embark on one-off projects worth up to $1,000,000 each with an intermediate license. The size of the projects that may be performed with an unlimited license is not constrained financially. Note that the type of work that can be done with a license is determined by the license classification

Operating without a contracting license in Charlotte is a Class 2 misdemeanor, which carries a maximum sentence of 60 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000. Note that licenses are needed for projects costing $30,000 and above. To verify that your contractor is properly licensed by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors, use the NCLBGC's license search page.

If you need additional information on licensing in Charlotte, please contact the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors via email or at:

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other General Contractors in the City?

In Charlotte, general contractors use certain variables to set their prices. Some of the elements that significantly impact how much it will cost to employ a general contractor in Charlotte include the following:

• Labor charges
• Project type
• Site conditions and accessibility
• The caliber of the site plans and construction designs
• The location of the project within the city
• The cost of the project's licenses
• The price of the necessary materials
• The project's nature and scope
• The project's urgency

It makes perfect sense to obtain project estimates from at least three general contractors in the area and compare their pricing before making your final hiring decisions. Doing this could help you save yourself a lot of trouble once the project gets underway. The following pricing strategies are frequently used by general contractors when creating their estimates for services:

• Lump Sum Pricing: With this approach, the contractor generally provides a single cost for all of the agreed-upon services. The contractor increases the markup when utilizing this method of cost prediction to account for unanticipated events. Projects with a defined scope typically receive this kind of price. The main benefit of using the lump sum pricing approach is that you won't have to worry about racking up more expenses as the project develops.
• Cost Plus Pricing: In this approach, the contractor is paid a predetermined percentage of the project's total cost in addition to the client's full payment for the materials, labor, and support services. The general contractor is normally paid between 10% and 20% of the total project cost under this approach. This pricing technique is suitable for projects with an unclear total scope because the client stands to gain if the project's actual cost turns out to be less than expected. The client will need to pay more, though, if the job ends up costing more than expected.

Never choose the contractor with the lowest bid just because they are the cheapest. This is due to the fact that some dishonest contractors initially entice clients with low bids before raising prices once the job is started. This is another tactic used by con artists to attempt to obtain your money with no effort on their part. Always consider additional factors, such as the contractor's reputation and level of experience, as well as the types and degrees of services they intend to offer at the prices they are requesting.

General Contractors in Charlotte earn an estimated annual average wage of $65,640. The list below compares the average hourly wage of these contractors with those of general contractors in other parts of North Carolina and other locations across the United States:

What Kind of General Contractor Services Do You Offer?

Construction-related tasks are commonly contracted out to general contractors in Charlotte. Although this is the case, the particular contractor and the project for which they are employed tend to have a greater impact on the specific services that these contractors offer. However, a lot of trustworthy general contractors in the city routinely provide these key services:

• Carry out actual construction, repair, and renovation work when necessary.
• Check to see if the project conforms with all applicable safety and building codes.
• Deliver the materials required for the job.
• Keep an eye on how well the work is being completed.
• Make cost forecasts before the project even begins.
• Make sure every stage of the construction job is carefully and thoroughly documented.
• Make sure the required permits are available.
• Organize the project's administrative components, such as scheduling, cash flow, and labor payments.
• Organize with vendors and suppliers
• Use as many people as are required for the project.
• When necessary, use specialized subcontractors.

Prior to entering into any agreements with a general contractor, it is typically a good idea to ask about the services they will offer for your building project. Depending on the size of the project, the general contractor might be able to complete it with their own crew or might need to hire a subcontractor to handle particular duties. Remember that if a general contractor can't locate someone qualified to fill the position, they may occasionally need to hire these subcontractors from outside of their team. These agreements should be discussed prior to the contract being signed.

Subcontractors are often contracted to do construction-related tasks that the general contractor or workers may not be personally equipped to complete, such as plumbing, electrical work, HVAC installation, carpentry, and roofing. The following are some significant distinctions between general contractors and subcontractors who work on building projects:

Will You Get the Necessary Permits as Required per the City Code?

You will need to follow specific procedures to obtain the necessary permit, depending on whether you are applying for a residential or commercial building permit. Building permitting is handled by the Charlotte Department of Land Development, as well as the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement office, with the former handling plan and site approvals.

Applications for commercial site approval with the Charlotte Department of Land Development can be made concurrently with applications for building permits at Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement. Keep in mind that building permits cannot be issued by Code Enforcement until commercial plan approval has been granted by City Land Development Division and/or the necessary holds on the building permits have been released by Land Development.

Any new commercial building construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, relocation to another site, removal, or demolition of any building requires the proper permits. Additionally, permits are necessary for any residential work including new construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, relocation to a different location, removal, or demolition of any building on one- and two-family homes as well as townhomes. However, for any projects with work costs of $15,000 or less, permits might not be necessary unless the work involves:

• the augmentation, repair, or replacement of load-bearing structures
• the utilization of substances prohibited by the code
• the replacement of like-grade fire-resistant material but not the addition of roofing
• the current costs for materials, labor, and equipment

The general contractor or the homeowner acting as their own general contractor must group the necessary permits by the specific project and pay for them. Plan reviews are necessary for the majority of residential and commercial projects involving new buildings and additions. The following are the usual types of plan review:

• Commercial Plan Review
• Mega-Multifamily Plan Review
• Residential Plan Review
• Small Commercial Project Plan Review
• Special Projects Plan Review

To learn more about permitting in Charlotte, please contact Mecklenburg County at (980) 314-2633 or visit their office at:

Do You Work with Subcontractors?

When selecting your preferred general contractor for your building project, you should always find out whether any subcontractors will be hired. For the following reasons, general contractors in Charlotte frequently need to engage with subcontractors:

• Cost-effectiveness.
• Flexibility and productivity at work
• In cases where neither they nor their staff is authorized or trained to perform specific technical tasks.
• Securing funding for large-scale or diverse projects

For construction projects, general contractors frequently subcontract the following sectors:

• Appliance installation
• Carpentry
• Drywalling and insulation installation
• Electrical work
• HVAC installations
• Mason work
• Painting
• Plumbing
• Roofing
• Welding
• Window installation

These subcontractors are often chosen by the general contractor, but you should always take precautions to guarantee that you won't be held responsible if there are any issues between your primary contractor and any subcontractors working on the project. Delays in payments, poor or insufficient service, and harm to the subcontractor are the most frequent causes of these problems.

A general contractor in North Carolina is allowed to put a lien on real estate, following North Carolina law. The placement of a lien on the property may be used to help secure the payment of debts for services done in accordance with a contract agreement. Contractor lien rights are also available to subcontractors, but they differ from those of the general contractor. Within 15 days of the first furnishing of labor or supplies at the site, general contractors are obligated to notify clients of their contractor lien rights for projects costing more than $30,000.

Keep in mind that a lien claim must be filed with the superior court clerk's office in the county where the real property is situated. Within 120 days following the last labor or material supply at the improvement site, either the general contractor or the subcontractors must file any claim of liens. In accordance with contract provisions, lien laws do not permit recovery of lost profits, consequential damages, or attorney's fees. Take the following actions to stay out of difficulty with mechanic liens:

• When selecting a contractor, exercise caution. Make sure the general contractor you plan to hire is reliable and skilled by doing extensive research on them.
• Follow up on any subcontracting by finding out in advance from the general contractor if there will be any subcontractors working on your project.
• Demand lien waivers for all payments. By doing this, you make sure that the subcontractors cannot encumber your property with liens. Lien waivers are a clever additional tactic to ensure the general contractor's accountability.
• Only use bonded contractors. Make it a point to check the status of the payment bond for the general contractor. If the contractor fails to pay the subcontractor, the bond may be used to enforce payment.
• Never, under any circumstances, fail to make a payment on time to your general contractor. Prompt payment protects you from contractors who might otherwise use that as an excuse for not settling the bills acquired during your project.
• Always insist on getting the contract in writing. Any agreements you make with your general contractor should be documented in writing and in clear terms that you understand. Make no assumptions about the contract and seek clarification if the need arises.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for General Contractors in the City?

Given that 82 of the 375 injuries reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics in Charlotte and other North Carolina regions between 2012 and 2013 were construction-related, it is only reasonable to view construction as a dangerous occupation that necessitates caution and readiness for the worst-case scenario. Construction workers may experience serious safety dangers such as but not limited to:

• Accidents caused by flying and falling objects
• Being outside in inclement weather
• Electrocution
• Exposure to dangerous compounds like asbestos and silica dust
• Falls from a very high place
• Uncomfortable working environments
• Work-related cuts, rips, and lacerations brought on by tools and other sharp objects

Although obtaining a general contractor license in North Carolina is not insurance-required, make sure the general contractor you choose to work with is covered by at least general liability and workers' compensation insurance. You run a lot of financial risks if you work with a general contractor that isn't insured. Also bear in mind that depending on the type of license your general contractor has, be it limited, intermediate or unlimited, and whether or not you have enough capital for the project, they will also need to meet a minimum required bond amount.

You face the danger of being held accountable for any accidents the general contractor or any subcontractors working on the Charlotte project cause if you don't have the necessary insurance. In light of this, it is typically in your best interest to confirm these documents and obtain insurance confirmation from any general contractor in Charlotte you decide to hire before they start working on your project.

To find out if the contractor's insurance minimum is sufficient for the scope of your project and to make sure that any subcontractors they hire are covered by insurance, you should get in touch with the contractor's insurance provider. Additionally, find out if the contractor is covered by professional liability insurance to guard against their own errors.

For more information regarding the insurance requirements for general contractors in Charlotte, reach out to the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) at (855) 408-1212.

Do You Provide a Warranty for Works Completed?

To ensure that the goods and services customers buy will work as intended, warranties are provided. In the event that a product or service does not perform as promised or intended, warranties also come in handy as they refer to the terms and conditions under which repairs or exchanges will be made. Fundamentally, warranties provide customers with the confidence that the service they are buying is future-proof. General contractors often offer one of two warranties:

• Explicit Warranty: Also known as an Express Warranty, this is a written assurance that is frequently incorporated into a project proposal or contract. When a buyer receives information about a good or service and that knowledge influences their decision to buy the good or service, an express promise is made. In most cases, an explicit warranty covers flaws in the home's or building's structure. In other words, the contractor guarantees that the project will be completed as planned, meet all construction documents and be of high quality.
• Implied Warranty: Even though an implied warranty is not expressed in writing, it is nonetheless recognized by the law. Whether or not a written warranty is offered, implied warranties are frequently used in many different types of construction projects.

The following warranty kinds are typically offered:

• Warranty on Tools and Materials: This ensures that the construction-related tools and materials were brand-new, error-free, and will perform as intended.
• Workmanship Warranty: Under this warranty, the project team and its subcontractors are committed to performing their jobs to the highest standards.
• Assurance of Habitability: Under this warranty, the completed building or structure is guaranteed to be safe for habitation and suitable for its intended use. Usually, this warranty applies to residential constructions.
• Call-back Warranties: These warranties establish a time frame in which the homeowner may meet with the builder to discuss any problems with the building. Depending on the general contractor, it can take a year or longer.
• Vendor Warranty: The company that sold the fixtures and appliances in the building typically provides this kind of warranty, which typically covers those items.
• Design-Build Warranty: The services of project specialists like architects and engineers are often covered by the design-build warranty.

As a matter of law, North Carolina offers an implied warranty of decent workmanship in construction. North Carolina law also recognizes an implied warranty of habitability for residential construction, which covers the structural integrity of a residential structure. In addition to covering significant problems, such as structural problems that jeopardize the safety of the house, these implied warranties stand apart from any express warranties. The implied guarantee may coexist with a written, express warranty and is not dependent on any specific phrase in the contract to be valid.

Actions for negligence and breach of contract have a three-year statute of limitations in North Carolina. As a result, claims based on a contract with the builder must be filed within this window of time or else they will be forever banned. If a homeowner could not have reasonably known about the violation prior to the period, an exception can be made.

The Statute of Repose for improvements to real property is a distinctive aspect of construction defect lawsuits in North Carolina. According to this rule, homeowners have six years from the builder's final explicit act or omission or the significant completion to launch a lawsuit. A homeowner cannot file a lawsuit for an alleged construction flaw once the builder has left that specific project for six years, regardless of when the defect was or is found.

The homeowner must file a lawsuit for a breach of warranty claim in Charlotte within the four-year statute of limitations. However, where the parties are unable to agree on warranty duration, arbitration is usually used to settle disagreements. Arbitration may be a less expensive and time-consuming option than going to court to settle these conflicts.

Can You Provide References of Clients Served in Charlotte?

You can find recommendations for general contractors in Charlotte by asking friends and relatives who have finished similar jobs, conducting a web search, or contacting respectable trade associations and organizations like:

• The Carolinas Associated General Contractors
• The Associated Builders and Contractors Carolinas
• The Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte
• The National Association of Home Builders
• The Associated General Contractors of America

Regardless matter how you come in contact with them, you should make it a point to always ask for recommendations from local general contractors before signing any hiring contracts. If you want to assess a general contractor's professionalism, honesty, degree of expertise, and service performance, you should request references from past clients that they have worked with. If a general contractor refuses to give references or is unable to give you three local references, you shouldn't hire them. This is frequently a symptom of subpar service delivery and could even be an indicator of past fraud by the contractor.

It is imperative to always get in touch with the references provided to you to receive first-hand comments and feedback on the general contractor and how they conduct their services. Further research on the contractor should be done on unbiased review websites like Yelp, Google Reviews, your neighborhood Better Business Bureau, and others. Contact the North Carolina Attorney General's Office to learn more about any complaints filed against the general contractor and the specifics of those complaints.

What Is the Expected Timeline for This Project?

The best course of action when choosing a general contractor in Charlotte is to select one that is knowledgeable and experienced because these experts can typically provide you with an anticipated completion date. This is often in addition to helping you manage your building project efficiently. The following elements need to be taken into consideration as they typically affect how much a qualified general contractor will charge for a project:

• Alterations to the project's plan or scope
• Inspections and permits
• The accessibility of building materials, labor, and subcontractors
• The project's type and scope
• The project's type and scope

The success and efficient use of resources of any construction project depends on a precise time estimate that takes into account the project's high points. The advantages of making a schedule for a construction project include the following:

• It helps to avoid misunderstandings with your general contractor.
• It provides you with a window of time to make preparations for things like moving, having a child, retiring, and getting married.
• It provides the contractor with the freedom to come up with plans to minimize project delays and gives you the chance to get ready for any potential delays.
• It boosts the effectiveness of work assignments and completion.
• It is easier to keep an eye on the project's progress and make sure the contractor isn't intentionally causing delays.
• Costs are reduced while production rises.