definition
strict definition
main contractor
Related terms: builder · construction company · contractor
The leading construction firm on a project, either its only contractor or the foremost among several.
A main contractor is the leading firm involved in a construction project. On smaller projects it may be the only firm; otherwise it is the foremost among all contractors.
When the main contractor is responsible for hiring subcontractors and delivering the completed project to the client, it is classified in the more specific role of general contractor.
The defining condition is the firm's leading position in the construction project. It does not by itself establish that the firm hires all specialist subcontractors; that additional responsibility is part of the more specific general-contractor distinction above.
Related definitions
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concrete cutting
A company specializing in cutting, drilling, sawing, or otherwise adapting concrete for construction. -
construction association
An organization to promote common causes among various enrolled construction firms. -
construction auditing
A company hired to supervise or check the work of contractors on a construction site. -
construction fence rental
A company that rents, leases, or sells fences for use in securing construction sites. -
construction logistics
A company that coordinates movement of machines, material, and people at a construction site. -
construction machinery rental
A company which owns machines used in construction and leases them for use at building sites. -
construction management
A company which manages the construction process from a position as owner's representative. -
construction security
A company that monitors a construction site to prevent damage, theft, and unauthorized access. -
cooling installation
A company which installs air conditioning and other cooling systems in a building. -
crane rental
A company that rents or leases construction cranes to general contractors for significant site use. -
deconstruction consultant
A firm specializing in the engineering and logistics of structural and interior building demolition. -
demolition company
A contractor responsible for dismantling a building, identified with the structure it actually demolishes. -
door installation
A contractor responsible for installing interior doors, exterior doors, or both on a building. -
electrical contractor
A company which installs electric wires, switches, and systems in a structure. -
elevator installation
A contractor that installs elevators during construction, replacement, or additions to an existing building. -
escalator installation
A contractor that installs escalators in new buildings or as replacements or additions in existing buildings. -
excavation company
A contractor that performs earth moving, underground demolition, and preparatory drilling at a building site. -
explosives clearance
A company that clears any explosive material from a construction site in preparation for building. -
facade installation
A contractor which assembles and attaches cladding elements (other than windows) to a building's exterior. -
facade maintenance system installation
A contractor which installs machinery for cleaning and maintaining facades on a building. -
fence installation
A company that assembles, erects, and installs fencing for permanent use at a site or built object. -
fire alarm system installation
A company responsible for installing the fire alarm system in a building or other built object. -
fire protection contractor
A contractor which installs equipment for preventing and controlling fires in a building. -
floor installation
A contractor which installs usable coverings over the floorplates throughout a building. -
floor plate contractor
A company which specializes in the construction of floor slabs on a building frame. -
foundation company
A contractor that builds a building's foundation system, including piles, caissons, or a mat. -
general contractor
The company which hires and supervises all specialized subcontractors on a construction site. -
heating installation
A contractor which installs heating systems in a building, exclusive of other mechanical systems. -
height safety
A company that supplies equipment, technology, and/or processes to keep construction workers safe on high projects. -
interior fit-out
A contractor that constructs interior rooms and walls through floor, ceiling, and partition systems. -
landscape building
A contractor that builds groundforms, plantings, and landscape features inside or around a building. -
lighting installation
A contractor that installs building lighting systems and fixtures for illumination, highlighting, or display. -
mechanical systems installation
A contractor that installs combinations of mechanical systems, including heating, plumbing, and electrical systems. -
millwork contractor
A contractor that installs interior woodwork, including moldings and often doors and windows. -
occupational safety and health
A firm that checks and improves building safety and health conditions and compliance with government standards. -
painting contractor
A contractor that paints a structure's exterior, its entire interior, or its interior common areas. -
photovoltaics installation
A contractor that installs photovoltaic solar cells as panels or arrays on a building or its grounds. -
plumbing contractor
A contractor responsible for assembling and installing the plumbing systems within a structure. -
project management
A developer's agent who coordinates the activities of construction contractors and design teams. -
roof installation
The company which specializes in the construction or installation of a structure's roof. -
safety consultant
A company which provides expertise on creating a safe environment for a structure's users. -
scaffolding
A company which owns and leases scaffolding used in the construction of a structure. -
shell construction
A contractor that builds a building's structural framework, whether of concrete, steel, or another material. -
shoring contractor
A company which builds retention walls and shoring systems to prevent inflow of water, earth, or rock into a construction site. -
site remediation
A contractor that performs environmental cleanup of a building site, especially contaminated ground. -
trailer rental
A company which owns trailers or cabins and leases them for use at construction sites. -
window frame installation
A contractor that installs window frames in a building's facade or interior without installing the glass. -
window installation
A company which installs windows in a building, separately from general facade installation.