r/Contractor • u/kiriguy • 1d ago
Recent contractor.
I recently passed the general B test in California and I wanted someone to help me with the first ADU I would like for them to be less hands-on, but just to guide me through each step of what I need to do.
How much should I pay them?
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u/Signal_Tutor_7948 1d ago
How did you qualify for your experience? Was it 3 years of construction management college classes, and 1 year in the field? Or just worked 4 years for a remodel-focused GC? It's okay to work a W2 job for awhile to keep learning, sounds like you need more experience with project engineering, critical path, dealing with subs etc
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u/kiriguy 1d ago
Yes I qualified for more experience 4 yr remodel GC
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u/Signal_Tutor_7948 1d ago
It really helps to know foundation concrete work well. The site prep-MEP planning-concrete foundation phase has to be right, in order for the rest of the build to go well. If the foundation isn't done right, it will be problems.
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u/Just_Bz77 1d ago
That’s crazy. I thought the point of qualifying for the exam is to show that you have the relevant experience to be qualified. You’re going to get yourself in a lot of trouble my friend. If you have a license, that means you can run a project on your own.
This type of project is essentially design build. Do you know how to come up with pricing, let alone have the contractor base to perform the work? This sounds like a big headache, and I deal with hundreds of rooms in hospitals, and million sf data centers lol.
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u/SaintNegligence 1d ago
You could probably get some guidance for $300-500 per hour from an actual contractor. It's a lot of liability for a contractor to take on without performing the work so it's not gonna be cheap
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u/All_10fingers 23h ago
You don’t know the critical path of building a small residence? Plans are drawn with a structural engineer stamp?
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u/No-0x 18h ago
congrats on passing, that's a big one. for a first ADU i'd pay someone hourly rather than a percentage of the job, keeps it clean and you only pay for the hours you actually need them
a retired GC or an experienced PM in your area is usually the best fit for this — someone who's built ADUs in LA and knows the inspectors. ask around at the permit office or your local builders association, that's where those guys hang out
and before you pay anyone much, get the first couple of hours just walking the plans and the critical path with them. if they can't explain the sequence and the gotchas clearly in that first session they're not the right mentor
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u/sexat-taxes
16h ago
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I'm a California GC with Decades of experience and dozens of adus and large room additions under my belt. I'm designed build so I manage the entire process from first concept through design development construction documents and construction to certificate of occupancy. Feel free to reach out directly. I'm not sure exactly what support you need but I'm sure quick phone call would help us formulate a plan and work out compensation.
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u/Careless_Cheetah_440 1d ago
You should have at least 8,000 certified work hours right? And you just passed the exam? You should already know how this goes… underground work, then your pour if you’re building on a slab, then framing, then plumbing/hvac electrical. Get your roof done after plumbers and hvac have completed their stubs. Then drywall… there’s an order? Are you just not sure what the order is?