Core terms

Subcontractor

Core terms · definition

A specialized trade (electrician, plumber, tile setter) hired by the general contractor to perform a portion of the work. You contract with the GC, not the subs.

Source: Cornell Law LII — Subcontractor

  • Contract

    The legally binding agreement between owner and contractor that defines scope, price, schedule, and responsibilities. A remodel should ne…

  • Electrician

    A licensed tradesperson who installs and maintains wiring, panels, circuits, and devices to code. Remodels that add circuits or move pane…

  • General Contractor (GC)

    The party responsible for the overall project — scheduling, hiring and managing subcontractors, pulling permits, and delivering the finis…

  • Plumber

    A licensed tradesperson who installs and repairs water supply, drain-waste-vent, and gas piping to code. Relocating fixtures or running n…

  • Subfloor

    The structural sheet material (plywood or OSB) fastened over floor joists that everything else — underlayment and finish flooring — is bu…

  • Stud

    A vertical framing member in a wall (typically 2x4 or 2x6) spaced 16 or 24 inches on center, forming the structure to which sheathing and…

  • Submittal

    Product data, samples, or shop drawings the contractor submits for approval before ordering or installing, confirming what will actually…

  • Stop-Work Order

    An official order halting construction, usually for working without a permit or a code/safety violation. Work cannot resume until the iss…

Where this term fits in a remodel

The pillar guides set terms like this one in context — what the work involves, what drives its cost, and where it sits in the sequence of a project. Pricing a specific house takes a defined scope and an on-site assessment.

Remodeling guides → Contact the publisher →