General Contractors in Hamilton

Properties near the escarpment or watercourses may require conservation authority permission before excavation or construction, independently of the municipal building permit.

Older lower-city housing stock

Knob-and-tube, undersized service, original plumbing and rubble foundations are common. Budget contingency accordingly.

More about hiring in Hamilton

What general contracting work costs in Ontario

GC compensation comes in three shapes and they behave very differently when things change. Fixed price puts the risk on the contractor and is the simplest for you. Cost plus a percentage rewards the contractor for spending more, which is worth being aware of. Cost plus a fixed fee removes that incentive and is often the fairest structure on projects where the scope genuinely cannot be pinned down in advance.

Job	Typical range
GC fee as a percentage of project costLower on large projects, higher on small or complex ones.	10% – 20%
Cost plus a fixed management feeCommon on renovations where the scope is uncertain at the outset.	$5,000 – $30,000
Project management only, no trades suppliedYou hold the trade contracts; the GC coordinates them.	6% – 12%
Design-build, including drawingsBundles design and construction under one contract and one point of accountability.	15% – 25%

Planning estimates for Ontario, not quotes. Always get written quotes against the same written specification.

Questions to ask before you hire

Is this fixed price, cost plus percentage, or cost plus fixed fee - and what is the fee calculated on?

Will you pull the permits in your company name?

Which trades are your own crews and which are subcontracted?

Do you collect WSIB clearance certificates from your subcontractors?

How many active projects will you be running while mine is open, and who is my day-to-day contact?

What is your change order process, and will nothing proceed without my written approval?

What happens to my deposit and my project if you become insolvent mid-job?

Can I see a project of similar size and speak to that homeowner?

Warning signs

Reluctance to explain the fee structure plainly.

Cost plus percentage with no cap and no budget.

A GC who wants the permit in your name.

No named site supervisor.