Commercial General Contractor: What Is Covered
Facility First manages commercial general contractor at every location in a program, including the work below, with the same request, approval and record for each job.
- Tenant improvements
- Renovations and remodels
- Build-outs
- Permit coordination
- Multi-trade project management
- Closeout documentation
Commercial General Contractor
Repair requests are submitted through the platform or by phone, triaged for priority and dispatched to a vetted construction provider in the location’s market. Common requests include:
- Storefront damage after a vehicle strike. A vehicle into a storefront can damage the glazing frame, structure, walls and finishes at once. The provider secures the opening, has the structure checked where needed and coordinates the glass, framing, electrical and finish trades under one scope.
- Rebuilding after water or fire damage. Once drying or cleanup is complete, walls, ceilings, floors and fixtures have to be put back to the store standard. The provider sequences the trades and documents the scope with photos for the insurance claim.
- Structural concerns. Cracks in walls or slabs, a sagging lintel or a damaged column can signal a problem beyond the finish. The provider reviews the condition and brings in a structural engineer where it calls for one.
- Multi-trade repairs at one location. A leak that damages a ceiling, a wall and a floor needs several trades in the right order. One contractor runs the job so each trade arrives when the area is ready for it.
- Wall and partition changes. Moving a stockroom wall, adding an office or closing an opening can affect wiring, fire-rated walls, sprinklers and exit routes. The provider confirms whether the change needs a permit and which other trades are involved.
- Damaged accessible features. A broken ramp, a damaged accessible entrance or a blocked accessible route affects the customers and staff who rely on it. The provider repairs the feature and coordinates any related concrete, door or plumbing work.
- Store refresh work. Paint, flooring, lighting and fixture updates across a sales floor are run as one project with a set start and finish, usually overnight or while the store is closed.
Every job is closed out with photos and notes, so the repair history for each location is kept in one place.
Preventive Maintenance Schedule for General Contractors and Construction
Construction work is mostly project based, but the building elements a general contractor builds and alters, such as fire-rated walls, exit routes and accessible features, need planned checks between projects. Planned work (sometimes called preventative maintenance, or planned preventive maintenance outside the U.S.) catches damage early, feeds the capital plan for each location and produces the inspection records that fire officials and insurers ask for. Where the International Fire Code applies, the owner must also keep records of inspections and repairs to fire-rated construction.
| Task | Recommended frequency | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Building condition walk-through of each location (structure, interior finishes, exterior and accessible features), with photos | Annually | Facility First default |
| Update the multi-year capital project plan from condition findings across locations | Annually | Facility First default |
| Visually inspect fire-resistance-rated walls, floors and joint systems and repair any damage, breach or penetration, with a written record | Annually | International Fire Code (2018), Section 701.6, where adopted |
| Restore fire-rated construction after any trade cuts a new penetration | After each penetration | International Fire Code (2018), Section 701.6, where adopted |
| Confirm exit routes are available and free of materials and equipment, and that existing fire protections are maintained, while repairs or alterations are under way | Before each project and at every visit while work is under way | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.37(a)(3) and (d)(2) (requirement applies at all times); check interval is a Facility First default |
| Inspect floors, stairs, ramps and platforms and correct hazards | Monthlyand as necessary (OSHA requires inspection regularly and as necessary) | OSHA 29 CFR 1910.22(d)(1); monthly interval is a Facility First default |
| Check that accessible entrances, ramps, routes and restroom features are in operable working condition | Quarterly | Facility First default (maintenance duty under 28 CFR 36.211) |
| Confirm a thorough asbestos inspection of the work area before renovation or demolition | Before each renovation or demolition | U.S. EPA, Asbestos NESHAP (United States; other countries set their own rules) |
| Punch-list and warranty walk-through after a completed project | Before the contractor’s warranty period ends | Facility First default |
| File as-built drawings, permits, inspection sign-offs and warranties to the location record | At the close of each project | Facility First default |
Facility First default is the starting interval in each program, adjusted for each site.
The authority having jurisdiction, the manufacturer and the property’s insurer can require more frequent service, and each location’s schedule is set in its program and recorded on every visit.
Urgent Construction Requests
Urgent requests are flagged at intake and dispatched first. Where a failure leaves a location unsecured, McCray can post an officer until the work is complete. Facility First does not publish response-time guarantees; dispatch priorities are agreed in each client’s program.
Most construction work is planned, but damage to the structure or the storefront can leave a location unsafe or open, and that work is handled as urgent. Requests typically treated as urgent include:
- A vehicle strike that has damaged the storefront, walls or columns
- Structural damage after a storm, fire or impact
- An opening in a wall or storefront that leaves the store unsecured
- An exit route blocked by damage or construction materials
- Temporary shoring, barricades or protection needed to keep people away from a hazard
Renovations and Build-Outs
Renovations, remodels and tenant improvements are scoped before they are priced. The scope covers the layout or drawings, finishes, the trades involved, permits, landlord approvals and the hours the contractor can work. In shopping centers and office buildings, the landlord often sets rules for contractor insurance, working hours, deliveries and fire alarm or sprinkler shutdowns, and those rules are part of the scope from the start.
Work in an open store is phased so the store can keep trading, with dust barriers, protected walkways and noisy work set outside trading hours. At the end of the project, the contractor walks the site against a punch list, and permits, inspection sign-offs, as-built drawings and warranties are filed to the location record so the next project starts with accurate information.
How Construction Requests Are Handled
- Request. Submitted through the platform or by phone, with photos where available.
- Triage. Facility First confirms the scope, priority and any warranty.
- Dispatch. A vetted provider for this trade in the location’s market receives the work order.
- Completion. The provider checks in, documents the work with photos and closes out.
- Verification and invoice. The work is checked against the request and invoiced in one format.
What Affects the Cost of Construction Work
- Scope and finishes. The size of the area and the level of finish specified set most of the labor and material.
- Permits and inspections. Permitted work adds drawings, filing, inspection visits and time on the schedule.
- Working hours. Night, weekend and phased work in an open store affects crew size and how long the project runs.
- Landlord requirements. Building rules on insurance, working hours, deliveries and system shutdowns add steps and coordination.
- Existing conditions. Hidden damage, outdated wiring or materials that must be tested before demolition can change the scope once work starts.
- Specialty materials. Storefront systems, custom doors and specialty finishes made to size cost more and take longer to arrive than standard materials.
Approval limits set by the client decide what proceeds automatically and what is quoted first.
General Contractors and Construction for Retail Stores, Restaurants and Offices
Construction work is planned around how each property operates and who sets the rules for contractors on site.
- Retail Facility Maintenance. Store remodels and refreshes are phased around trading hours and seasonal peaks so the store can stay open while work is under way.
- Shopping Centers and Malls. Landlords set contractor rules for insurance, working hours, deliveries and fire system shutdowns, and those rules are built into the schedule.
- Restaurant Facility Maintenance. Kitchen and dining room projects involve gas, plumbing, ventilation and grease equipment, so trades are sequenced around inspections and the reopening date.
- Corporate Offices. Office renovations and tenant improvements are done floor by floor or after hours so staff can keep working.
- Commercial Real Estate. Property managers use one contractor process across buildings for tenant improvements, common-area upgrades and vacant suite work.
One Standard in Every Market
Facility First manages construction work the same way in New York, London, Dubai or Sydney. Outside the United States, the same work is often searched for as fit-out, refurbishment or capital works. Each market is served by vetted local providers who hold the licenses and insurance the work requires, and every location follows the same request process, approval limits and reporting.
Why Multi-Site Businesses Use Facility First for Construction Work
- One request process for every location
- Vetted providers with the licenses and insurance the work requires
- Photos and notes on every job
- Approval limits set by the client
- One invoice format across markets
- Security through McCray when a site needs protection during or after the work
For Construction Providers
Licensed and insured construction providers can apply to join the Facility First network for commercial work at multi-site retail and corporate locations. Apply to join the network
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Facility First Manage Permitted Projects?
Yes. Permit needs are identified during scoping, projects are assigned to contractors licensed for the work, and permits and inspections are part of the contractor scope where required.
Can Projects Run in Several Cities at Once?
Yes. Projects are coordinated across markets with one schedule and one reporting format.
Does Facility First Manage Construction Work Outside the United States?
Yes. Facility First runs construction work as a managed service in the same markets McCray serves worldwide, through vetted local providers, with the same request, approval and reporting process at every location.
How Is Construction Work Priced?
Pricing depends on the scope, the location, the time of day and the materials required. Routine work proceeds within the approval limits set for the program, and anything above a limit is quoted for approval before it starts.
Can Construction Work Be Combined with Other Trades Under One Program?
Yes. Most clients put every trade under one program, with one request process, one invoice format and one record for each location.
How Often Should General Contractor and Construction Maintenance Be Scheduled at a Commercial Site?
Facility First programs start with an annual building condition walk-through and capital plan update for each location, a monthly check of floors, stairs and ramps, and a quarterly check of accessible features. Where the International Fire Code applies, fire-rated construction is visually inspected annually, and in the United States a thorough asbestos inspection is required before renovation or demolition at commercial buildings.
Can Construction Work Be Done While a Store Stays Open?
Yes. Work can be phased by area, with dust barriers, protected walkways and noisy work set outside trading hours. Where a store must close, the closure dates are agreed with the client in advance.
Who Coordinates with the Landlord on a Construction Project?
Landlord requirements, such as insurance certificates, working hours, delivery access and fire system shutdowns, are collected during scoping and made part of the contractor’s scope. This puts approvals in place before work starts.
Sources
- Firestop Contractors International Association: Fire Resistance Inventory and Firestopping (2018 International Fire Code, Section 701.6)
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.37, Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes
- OSHA: 29 CFR 1910.22, Walking-working surfaces, general requirements
- Cornell Law School LII: 28 CFR 36.211, Maintenance of accessible features
- U.S. EPA: Overview of the Asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP)