What does a general contractor actually do?

Holds the contract for the whole job and answers for the result: scope, sequence, permits, ordering, the trades who come in and out, inspections, and the punch list. The homeowner makes the selections and decisions; the contractor makes them happen in the right order.

Who pulls the permit?

The contractor normally does, with the city where the house is. Greenfield issues its own building permits, and other western-metro cities run their own departments. Requirements differ between them, so it is confirmed with that building department before work starts.

Which trades are subcontracted?

Licensed plumbing and electrical work is performed by licensed trades. Riley performs the carpentry core himself — demolition, framing, millwork and cabinets, tile, flooring, drywall and paint — and brings his own trusted trades for the rest, doors and windows among them, under his lead.

Is Frasch Construction licensed?

Yes. Frasch Construction Corporation holds Minnesota Residential Building Contractor license BC721559, and Riley Frasch holds Qualifying Builder license QB719285. Both can be looked up in the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's public license records.

General Contracting

Running the whole job: scope, sequence, permits, trades, inspections, and one point of contact.

Newly built single-level house with gray lap siding and a dark shingled roof on freshly graded ground — New single-level home, excavation to exterior from the portfolio →

General contracting is the work of running a project rather than performing one trade. It covers scope and sequence, permits and inspections, ordering and delivery, the trades that come in and out, and the punch list at the end. On a remodel the sequencing is the hard part, because trades stack up inside occupied space and one late decision stalls everything behind it.

What the work involves

Defining scope and putting it in writing before work starts
Sequencing trades so rough-in, inspection, and cover-up happen in the right order
Pulling permits with the city and scheduling inspections
Coordinating licensed plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and other specialty trades
Ordering long-lead items — cabinets, windows, tile, fixtures — against the sequence
Site protection and containment, keeping the occupied part of the house usable
Handling changes in writing when something unexpected is found
Punch list, final inspection, and closeout

From the portfolio

Frasch Construction's portfolio includes excavation for a foundation and a completed single-level house exterior.

Questions

What does a general contractor actually do?: Holds the contract for the whole job and answers for the result: scope, sequence, permits, ordering, the trades who come in and out, inspections, and the punch list. The homeowner makes the selections and decisions; the contractor makes them happen in the right order.
Who pulls the permit?: The contractor normally does, with the city where the house is. Greenfield issues its own building permits, and other western-metro cities run their own departments. Requirements differ between them, so it is confirmed with that building department before work starts.
Which trades are subcontracted?: Licensed plumbing and electrical work is performed by licensed trades. Riley performs the carpentry core himself — demolition, framing, millwork and cabinets, tile, flooring, drywall and paint — and brings his own trusted trades for the rest, doors and windows among them, under his lead.
Is Frasch Construction licensed?: Yes. Frasch Construction Corporation holds Minnesota Residential Building Contractor license BC721559, and Riley Frasch holds Qualifying Builder license QB719285. Both can be looked up in the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry's public license records.