A residential general contractor (residential GC) is the single accountable professional who plans, coordinates, and delivers a multi-trade home renovation, addition, or major remodel. Distinct from a specialist trade (plumber, electrician, tile setter) and from a handyman, the residential GC's job is project management: scope definition, design coordination, permit handling, scheduling, trade hire and supervision, quality control, financial management, and homeowner communication. This page covers what to expect from a quality residential GC in Ottawa, 2026 fee structures and pricing, the con...
A residential GC owns the project from contract signing through final inspection. Core responsibilities: (1) Scope definition — turning your wish list into a detailed scope of work with quantities, allowances, exclusions, and assumptions. (2) Design coordination — working with the designer or architect, or providing in-house design service, to produce buildable drawings. (3) Permit application — filing with the City of Ottawa, coordinating ESA electrical permits, plumbing permits, and any herita...
Hire a residential GC when: your project involves 3+ trades, requires a building permit, runs longer than 2 weeks, involves structural work, or has a budget over $40K. Hire trades directly when: project is single-trade (just painting, just flooring, just window replacement), runs under 2 weeks, doesn't require a permit, and you have time and skill to coordinate. The GC's 15-20% management markup pays for itself on multi-trade projects through: better trade pricing (volume relationships), reduced...
Three common fee structures: (1) Fixed-price contract — GC quotes a complete price including all labour, materials, and management. Best for: well-defined scopes, smaller projects, risk-averse homeowners. Premium: typically 5-10% above cost-plus because GC bears all risk. (2) Cost-plus contract — GC bills actual cost of materials and labour, plus a fixed fee or percentage (typically 12-20%) for management. Best for: open-ended scopes (heritage homes, gut renovations with unknown conditions), tru...
Whole-home renovation (gut and rebuild interior, keep envelope): $250K-$750K depending on home size and finish tier. Whole-home with addition: $400K-$1.2M+. Major addition (500-1,200 sq ft) including structural and envelope: $200K-$750K. Second-storey addition over bungalow: $300K-$750K. Kitchen + bathroom + flooring + paint bundle: $80K-$200K. Basement gut and finish with bathroom: $35K-$100K. Heritage home renovation (Centretown, Glebe, Lower Town, Sandy Hill): typical 25-50% premium over comp...
Eleven contract clauses that should not be negotiable: (1) Detailed scope of work with quantities and finish specifications. (2) Total contract price with line-item breakdown OR cost-plus terms with capped fee. (3) Milestone payment schedule tied to verifiable progress (not arbitrary dates). (4) 10% statutory holdback per Ontario Construction Act, released after 60-day lien period. (5) Permitted-trade obligations (ESA-licensed electrician, licensed plumber, licensed HVAC). (6) Change-order proce...
Six vetting questions: (1) Show me 5 completed projects in the last 18 months in Ottawa with addresses, photos, and willing references. (2) Walk me through your project management workflow — software, weekly reporting, deficiency tracking. (3) Who are your named licensed plumber and ESA-licensed electrician? (4) How do you handle hidden conditions discovered during demolition in pre-1980 Ottawa homes? (5) What's your warranty on workmanship, and what's the process if I find an issue 8 months aft...
A residential GC plans and delivers multi-trade home renovations end-to-end: scope definition, design coordination, permit application, scheduling, trade hire and supervision, material procurement, quality control, financial management, homeowner communication, and inspection coordination. They're the single accountable professional for projects involving 3+ trades or requiring permits.
Management fee is typically 15-20% of total project cost, or $15K-$20K on a $100K renovation. Fixed-price contracts run 5-10% premium over cost-plus because the GC bears all risk. Total project cost for whole-home renovations: $250K-$750K, additions $200K-$750K, kitchen+bath+flooring bundles $80K-$200K.
Hire a GC when: 3+ trades involved, permit required, project longer than 2 weeks, structural work, or budget over $40K. Hire trades directly for single-trade work under 2 weeks. The GC's 15-20% markup pays for itself on multi-trade projects through coordination, scheduling, and accountability.
Fixed-price: GC quotes complete price, bears all overrun risk, premium of 5-10%. Best for well-defined scopes. Cost-plus: actual cost plus 12-20% management fee, open-book transparency, more flexibility for unknown conditions. Best for heritage homes and gut renovations.
Required for structural changes, additions, basement finishing, new bathrooms, plumbing relocations, new electrical circuits, decks over 24" above grade, and window opening changes. Your residential GC handles the permit application and inspection coordination as part of their service.