10 Types of Subcontractors in Construction

Every construction project is a team effort. While a single company may be running operations, a project requires several specialized contractors to work on various aspects. Their collective expertise and experience are how a blueprint becomes a physical reality. Whether you are a project or business owner, understanding the different types of subcontractors is necessary to create a comfortable or professional space.

Who’s a Subcontractor in a Construction Project?

The term “contractor” can be applied to a lot of people in the construction business. They are all hired under contracts to perform work for ongoing projects. The difference lies in the hiring hierarchy and their involvement in the projects.

When a project owner contracts a person/company for any type of construction, the person/company running and managing the project is known as a general contractor. They are responsible for overseeing construction and delivering the project as agreed with the owner. 

The general contractor then hires specialty contractors as subcontractors who specialize in specific areas of work such as plumbing or electrical. Depending on what job the general contractor needs to get done at different stages of construction, a subcontractor can be contracted based on their line of work. 

On large-scale or complex projects, subcontractors can further hire sub-subcontractors to complete specialized tasks. Hence, subcontractors can be hired by both general and other subcontractors. However, the contractor hired by the owner is the only general contractor.

Main Types of Subcontractors in Construction

Subcontractors come in several types in the construction industry. They are not limited to any specific type of construction project. Plumbers, for example, can be contracted for both residential and commercial projects. Their experience and work-related knowledge determine whether they are a good fit for complicated projects. The following are some common subcontractor examples in no specific order that one can come across today. 

01. Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)

HVAC subcontractors are responsible for installing (and maintaining) climate control of a building to ensure comfort for its occupants. This includes boilers, furnaces, ducts, air conditioners, and other heating/cooling equipment to help keep the building comfortable. 

02. Plumbing

Plumbers are one of the most important subcontractors in construction. They install waste lines and drains to safely channel sewage to the outside. They are also responsible for laying out water pipes and connections throughout the building, including water pumps and filters. Note that faulty plumbing can cause leakages, which lead to costly repairs down the line.

03. Painting and Paper Hanging

Once a building project is finished, a painting subcontractor can start painting the interiors and exteriors for finish and protection. Do note that roof painting is considered a separate trade. While a painting subcontractor can do the job, a general contractor can choose to hire another subcontractor who specializes in roofs alone. Paper-hanging contractors are also responsible for adding finish. They decorate the interior walls with wallpaper.

04. Electrical Work

Every building project requires a good electrician. These subcontractors install electrical wires, panels, generators, fixtures, alarms, and other electrical materials or equipment. Faulty electrical work can prove disastrous. General contractors should always hire an electrician with a valid license. 

05. Masonry, Stonework, Tile Setting, and Plastering

While classified under a single umbrella, the jobs can be divided further down to be more manageable. It can include bricklaying, concrete block laying, chimney construction, marble work, retaining wall construction, plastering, drywalls, insulation, and more.

Plastering, drywall, and insulation are important to most building types since most buildings have a layer between the exterior walls of the building and internal sections. These types of subcontractors in construction build a lot of the projects from foundations to finishing touches.

06. Carpentry and Floor Work

Carpenters work with wood and laminated sheets to build (and install) doors, frames, cabinets, wardrobes, etc. They are usually hired during the final stages of construction and are responsible for aesthetics such as trimming and molding. 

Flooring subcontractors, as the name suggests, prepare floor surfaces before cutting and installing materials such as tiles and marble. Similar to carpenters, they are also responsible for applying finishes. 

07. Roofing, Siding, and Sheet Metal Work

These types of subcontractors specialize in enclosing buildings and protecting their interiors from external weather conditions. They work with prefabricated materials that are brought to the site for installation. This includes roof sections, windows, skylights, gutters, ducts, etc. 

08. Concrete Work

This is one of the biggest examples of subcontractors in construction. Concrete contractors work on a variety of projects involving cement and asphalt. They are pivotal in ensuring the structural integrity of a building. 

In addition to laying the groundwork by pouring the foundation, footings, beams, columns, and walls, they also pour driveways, ramps, walkways, patios, and parking areas. 

09. Landscaping

Landscaping improves the look of a building, and can potentially increase its value. Such subcontractors focus on outdoor work such as designing (and maintaining) gardens and walkways, planting, adding accents, and improving curb appeal to enhance the aesthetic value of the outdoor space.

10. Water Well Drilling

Many residential and commercial projects may require an alternate water supply to meet their requirements. Industrial and State-backed projects particularly require large amounts of water for their equipment. In such cases, special trade contractors can be hired to drill the ground for water wells. They can also be assigned to drill larger well diameters or work on geothermal drilling locations with high temperatures. 

List of Other Subcontractors

There are a lot more types of subcontractors in addition to the common ones mentioned above. OSHA classifies all of these specialty subcontractors as part of a standard list. Some examples are excavation, demolition, glass and glazing work, structural steel erection, etc. Do note that some special trade contractors make more and have greater growth in the construction industry. However, with the construction boom, many of their fields are growing larger with each year.