Budget validation, constructability review, value engineering, and schedule planning — before the first shovel. The phase that determines whether commercial projects deliver on commitment.
Most GCs subcontract every trade and manage from a distance. We self-perform the trades that most often drive schedule and cost risk — then coordinate the rest.
General contracting means contractual accountability for delivering the project. The GC signs a contract with the owner, takes responsibility for scope, schedule, and cost, and either self-performs or subcontracts every trade needed to build it.
Pillars of Seven delivers general contracting under lump-sum, guaranteed maximum price (GMP), and cost-plus with fee structures. Which contract type is right depends on the project — defined scope and complete documents favor lump-sum; evolving scope and owner-side flexibility favor GMP; genuinely undefined scope or emergency work favors cost-plus.
Our self-perform capability changes how we execute general contracting. When the schedule gets tight, we deploy our own roofing, electrical, or demolition crews — we don't wait for a subcontractor to show up. That optionality is real value on commercial projects where schedule slippage has real cost.
General contracting isn't one activity. It's coordinated management across the full lifecycle of a construction project — contract, people, schedule, money, and risk.
Lump-sum, GMP, and cost-plus contracting. Clear scope definition. Change-order procedures documented at the start, not negotiated when the first change happens.
Master schedule with critical path. Weekly look-ahead meetings. Milestone tracking against contract commitments and owner's underwriting timeline.
Monthly cost reports. GMP open-book accounting where applicable. Contingency management. Transparent reporting tuned to owner decision-making needs.
Procurement, prequalification, and management of subcontracted trades. Integration with our self-perform roofing, electrical, and demolition where scope warrants.
Superintendent-led quality discipline. Punch-list management. Owner walkthroughs at key milestones. Standards that don't drop as the schedule pressure builds.
OSHA-compliant safety program. Site-specific safety planning. Regular toolbox talks. Insurance documentation current for every subcontractor on site.
Pre-priced change-order procedures. Scope clarification before disputes escalate. Time-and-materials alternatives for genuinely undefined scope.
As-built drawings. Owner training. Warranty documentation. Commissioning support. Punch-list completion before substantial completion declared.
Four phases tied to design milestones. Each phase delivers specific outputs that let the owner make informed decisions about go/no-go, budget, and structure.
Program validation, preliminary budget ranges, site due diligence, and entitlement feasibility. Before design begins, owner gets realistic cost and schedule envelopes.
First detailed estimate tied to schematic drawings. Value engineering round one. Early trade engagement for long-lead items. Preliminary schedule built out.
Refined estimate with tightened contingency. Constructability comments integrated. Value engineering round two. Permit strategy locked. Trade prequalification complete.
Final budget, GMP structure or bid-ready pricing, master CPM schedule, trade RFPs issued. Owner ready to execute or go to market with confidence.
For anything specific, call (832) 548-0660. One business day response.
Multi-family, medical, retail, industrial, hospitality, office. Lump-sum, GMP, or cost-plus. Scope clarity and contract discipline from day one.