Are All General Contractors Commercial Contractors?

If a general contractor holds a Class B license from the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), he or she is technically able to complete both residential and commercial projects. In other words, there is no special license needed to complete commercial building projects. However, in practice, many general contractors choose to specialize in either one or the other. Cal-Pacific Contracting is one of the few general contracting companies in the Temecula area that takes on large-scale commercial projects, such as new offices, warehouses, retail spaces, and hospitality facilities, in addition to residential projects like custom home builds and home remodels. We also complete tenant improvement projects, where we renovate a commercial space to make it suitable for the tenant’s specific needs.

When it comes to residential and commercial projects, many of the building processes are the same, but the materials used can vary quite a bit. For example, the cabinets in a custom home will almost always be different from the cabinets used in an office break room. Items like flooring and light fixtures will differ as well. When you work on both residential and commercial projects, you need to have vendors and suppliers in place to handle the needs of both types of clients.

Commercial projects also may have some special regulations that don’t apply to residences. Restaurants, or any other facilities that serve food, require inspections from the health department before they can operate. Commercial spaces must adhere to all the requirements in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Automatic sprinkler systems may need to be installed, depending on who will occupy the building. Then there are a whole host of energy efficiency standards that commercial buildings must meet. Some general contractors in Temecula don’t want to take on the complexity associated with commercial projects, so they focus on residential instead.

At Cal-Pacific Contracting, we have extensive experience working on commercial projects. We know how to navigate the requirements and the approval processes associated with them and deliver a finished product that meets all of our clients’ needs. Not only that, but we also have a great reputation for keeping projects on schedule and within the agreed-upon budget.