When people see a completed project, they often admire the craftsmanship, the design, and the final touches. But what they don’t see is the intricate dance that happens behind the scenes to make it all possible. As a general contractor, coordinating the various trades to complete a project is like conducting an orchestra. Every piece needs to come in at the right time, in the right order, to create a harmonious outcome.
Every project starts with a vision, and our job is to bring that vision to life. But it’s not as simple as just getting a bunch of skilled workers together and saying, “Go!” Each trade—whether it’s designing floor plans, demolition, framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, or finish carpentry, has its own timeline, requirements, and dependencies. Each member of our Production Team has a hand in helping Calyx coordinate projects.
The first step in coordinating trades is developing a solid plan. This involves Bob breaking down the project into phases. From there Bob and Mustafa identify which trades are needed at each stage. For example, before the drywall goes up, we need to make sure the electrical and plumbing work is complete. It’s all about sequencing the work so that one trade doesn’t get in the way of another.
During the estimation process, Mustafa creates a tentative schedule, often working backwards from the desired completion date within reason. This schedule becomes our roadmap, guiding the entire project from start to finish. Bob then determines which Production Team is the best fit for the work scope.
Here at Calyx, we work on a three-man team. Bob is our Senior Project Manager overseeing all projects and keeping himself in the loop with daily progress updates. Dan and Steve are our Project Managers. (Fun-fact! They also happen to be father and son!) Dan works with Assistant Project Manager Jenna. Steve works with Assistant Project Manager Mustafa. Both teams work constantly to stay in touch with our subcontractors, checking in on their progress, addressing any issues that arise, and making sure they have everything they need to do their job efficiently.
Unexpected delays are inevitable. Whether it’s a shipment of materials that’s late or an issue uncovered during demolition, but with clear and constant communication, we can quickly adapt and adjust the schedule as needed. This ensures that delays in one area don’t cause a domino effect, pushing the entire project off track.
Over the years, we’ve built relationships with reliable, skilled tradespeople who we trust to deliver quality work. This trust is crucial because when everyone does their part and does it well, the project runs smoothly. We rely on our trades not just to do the job but to do it right the first time. This reduces the need for rework, which can be costly and time-consuming.
No matter how well we plan, challenges are bound to come up. Maybe a blueprint doesn’t match the reality of the site, or an unexpected issue pops up once work begins. This is where experience comes in handy. A good general contractor knows how to think on their feet, quickly assess the situation, and come up with a solution that keeps the project moving forward. Sometimes, it’s about finding a workaround; other times, it’s about bringing in an additional trade to solve the problem. Whatever the case, the goal is always to keep things on track and maintain the quality of the work.
At the end of the day, our job as general contractors are to take all these moving parts, the trades, the materials, the timeline, and bring them together into a beautiful, finished product. When you walk into a finished space and everything looks seamless, just know that behind every smooth surface, there was a lot of careful planning, coordination, and teamwork that went into making it happen. It’s not just about the finished product. It’s also about the process, the people, and the precise coordination that brought it all together.
If you are interested in learning more about our team and process, call - 401-334-9110 or email us at Inquire@CalyxBuilds.com
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