Contractor Hierarchy: Who Does What in Construction Projects
When you start a renovation or build, you’re not just hiring one person—you’re stepping into a contractor hierarchy, a structured chain of professionals who each handle specific parts of a construction project, from planning to final finish. Also known as construction management structure, this system keeps work organized, legal, and on budget. Without it, projects get messy. Delays happen. Costs blow up. And you end up with a half-finished bathroom and no one to call.
The top of the chain is usually the general contractor, the lead person who manages the whole project, hires subs, pulls permits, and coordinates schedules. They don’t do the nailing or tiling themselves—they make sure the electrician, plumber, and framer show up when they’re supposed to. Below them are the subcontractors, specialized tradespeople hired by the general contractor to handle specific tasks like roofing, drywall, or HVAC. These are the hands-on experts—people who’ve spent years mastering one craft. Then come the building trade workers—carpenters, electricians, plumbers, tilers—who actually install the materials. Each one answers to a sub, who answers to the general contractor. This isn’t just paperwork. It’s how you avoid liability, get insurance coverage, and ensure every part of the job meets code.
You’ll see this hierarchy in every post here—from why you should install walls before floors in a bathroom remodel, to how commercial licenses affect who can legally work on a school building. The person who tells you where to put the fridge? They’re probably a subcontractor hired by the general contractor managing your kitchen renovation. The one who explains why building a house in 2025 costs so much? They’re likely a general contractor who’s seen the supply chain break down ten times over.
Knowing this structure helps you ask the right questions. If someone says they’ll do everything themselves, ask: do you have a license for electrical work? Are you insured as a general contractor? Or are you just a handyman with a truck? The difference matters. A good hierarchy means accountability. Bad hierarchy means you’re stuck holding the bag when the tiles crack or the wiring fails.
Below, you’ll find real-world examples of how this system plays out—whether you’re comparing residential and commercial construction, figuring out who handles permits in New Zealand, or trying to understand why a $30,000 kitchen remodel still needs five different specialists. This isn’t theory. It’s the real backbone of every project that gets done right.
Lower Tier Contractors Explained: What They Do and Why They Matter in Construction
Learn what a lower tier contractor is, how they fit into the construction industry, common roles they play, and what you should watch for when managing them.
