Dive Brief:

• Designs vary from project to project, but most commercial jobs require the same pieces of the puzzle and the same people with the skills to do them right, whether that is masons or steel erectors, and many contractors have go-to subs with whom they've worked and whom they trust.
• When a successful bid brings something out of the ordinary, however, it is time to do in-depth research and talk to colleagues who have had similar projects and to manufacturers of specialized equipment about who they would trust to get their gear installed correctly.
• It also may be worth investing in some travel to see how a similar project is being done elsewhere – installing a large solar component, for example.

Dive Insight:

The most important steps in the project can come at the beginning, so it's worth investing time in research and in creating a good scope of the work at hand. It also behooves the general contractor to listen to advice from specialists about their piece of the job.