General Contracting
General Contracting Built on Nine Decades of Accountability
Our Mainstay Since 1931
General contracting is what Van Winkle Construction has done since the company was founded in 1931, and it's still the backbone of the business today. We deliver most of these projects at risk, with a Guaranteed Maximum Price set during preconstruction, so the number the client agreed to is the number that holds through completion. The remainder runs as traditional design-bid-build, depending on what the project and the Owner need.
What Full-Scope Delivery Actually Covers
Acting as the general Contractor means we carry responsibility for the entire construction phase: managing subcontractors and vendors, coordinating schedules across trades, controlling quality, and keeping the Owner informed as the job moves forward. That responsibility doesn't get handed off partway through. The same team that priced the project during preconstruction stays engaged through construction and into closeout, which keeps the assumptions made early from getting lost along the way.
Accountability From Groundbreaking to Closeout
A general Contractor's job is to absorb complexity so the Owner doesn't have to manage it directly. That means we're the ones fielding subcontractor issues, tracking budget against the GMP, managing site logistics, and making the daily calls that keep a project on schedule. When something goes sideways, and on a large project, something eventually will, the Owner should hear about it from us before they hear about it from anyone else.
General Contracting Across Every Market We Serve
We've delivered general contracting work for churches, multifamily developments, senior living communities, student housing, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities across the Southeast. The scope of work changes by market; a church renovation has different constraints than a ground-up apartment community, but the standard for how we manage the job as general Contractor doesn't change.
What Falls Under General Contracting
- Construction Manager: Cost certainty with transparent oversight.
- Budget Management: Tracking every dollar from groundbreaking to closeout.
- Schedule & Logistics: Keeping active job sites moving and on time.
- Quality: Inspections and standards that protect the finished product.
- Closeout: A clean handover, warranties, and documentation included.
One Team, From Groundbreaking to Closeout
General contracting at Van Winkle means the same team that shaped the budget during preconstruction carries it through construction, so nothing gets lost in a handoff.
- Continuity from preconstruction through closeout
- Direct accountability for schedule and budget
- Trade partners vetted for quality and reliability
How We Run a General Contracting Project
Preconstruction Handoff
We carry forward the budget, schedule, and design assumptions built during preconstruction.
Subcontractor Selection
We bring in trade partners we trust, vetted for quality and reliability on projects like this one.
Active Construction Management
We manage schedule, budget, and quality daily, flagging issues before they become expensive.
Owner Communication
We keep the client informed on progress, budget, and any changes as they happen, not after the fact.
Closeout and Handover
We resolve the punch list, deliver warranties and documentation, and hand over a finished project the client is proud of.
Answers to Common General Contracting Questions
What does a general Contractor do on a commercial construction project?
A general Contractor manages the entire construction phase of a project, coordinating subcontractors, controlling schedule and budget, ensuring quality, and serving as the Owner's main point of accountability from groundbreaking through closeout.
What is included in general contracting services?
Subcontractor management, schedule coordination, budget tracking against the agreed price, quality control, safety oversight, and closeout, including punch list resolution and warranty documentation.
How do I choose the right commercial general Contractor?
Look for a track record on projects similar in scope and market to yours, a clear approach to budget accountability, and a team that stays engaged from preconstruction through the final walkthrough rather than handing the project off partway through.
What is the difference between a general Contractor and a construction manager?
A general Contractor typically holds the construction contract directly and carries the risk of a Guaranteed Maximum Price, while a construction manager at risk is brought in earlier as an advisor during design before converting to a similar risk-based contract.
How does a general Contractor manage subcontractors and vendors?
By selecting trade partners with a track record of quality and reliability, coordinating their schedules to keep the project moving, and holding them accountable to the same standard the Owner expects from us.
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