General Laborers
Your GC and the subs will use helpers, assistants, apprentices and other laborers for much of the less skilled tasks. Make sure they are properly supervised and not trusted with jobs beyond their abilities while remembering that many of these assistants are highly skilled. If you have questions about their work or behavior go to the general contractor for answers rather than trying to supervise them yourself.
All of the workers on your project are skilled people who like to do good work when given the opportunity. You, as homeowner, can help create or destroy the environment that makes a good job possible. Too much oversight, rudeness, looking down on the workers or criticizing them to their bosses is a sure way to get a lousy job. Treat everyone on the job with respect, get to know their names, keep a coffee pot or cold drinks handy and praise their work and you’ll have a good experience. You don’t have to pour it on, just treat them like normal, intelligent and sensitive human beings and the whole experience of having people working in your home will be a good one.
