When planning a home improvement project that involves concrete, many homeowners aren’t sure who to call. Should you hire a general contractor, or is a concrete contractor the better choice? While both professionals play important roles in construction, they are not interchangeable. Understanding the difference can help you avoid costly mistakes, delays, and disappointing results.
What Does a General Contractor Do?
A general contractor manages an entire construction or renovation project. Their primary responsibility is coordination. They schedule timelines, hire subcontractors, obtain permits, and oversee the overall progress of the job. General contractors are often the right choice for large, multi-trade projects such as home additions, full renovations, or commercial builds that involve framing, electrical, plumbing, and multiple inspections.
However, general contractors rarely perform specialized work themselves. When concrete is involved, they typically subcontract that portion of the job to a concrete company. This adds an extra layer between you and the professionals actually doing the work.
What Does a Concrete Contractor Do?
A concrete contractor focuses exclusively on concrete work. This includes pouring driveways, patios, sidewalks, walkways, slabs, and foundations, as well as tearing out and replacing old or damaged concrete. Because this is their core specialty, concrete contractors bring a higher level of technical knowledge, hands-on experience, and attention to detail to every pour.
From proper grading and formwork to reinforcement placement and finishing techniques, concrete work requires precision. A dedicated concrete contractor understands how soil conditions, drainage, weather, and curing time all affect the final result.
Why Hiring a Concrete Specialist Often Makes More Sense
For projects that are primarily concrete, hiring a concrete contractor directly is usually the smarter move. You eliminate the middleman, which often reduces costs and miscommunication. You also get direct access to the professionals responsible for the quality of the work.
Concrete is unforgiving. Mistakes made during preparation or pouring can lead to cracking, uneven surfaces, drainage problems, or premature failure. A specialist who pours concrete every day is far better equipped to avoid these issues than someone who manages many different trades.
When a General Contractor Is the Right Choice
There are situations where a general contractor makes sense. If your concrete work is part of a larger project involving multiple phases and trades, a general contractor can help keep everything organized. In these cases, the concrete work is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.
Even then, the quality of the concrete portion still depends on the concrete subcontractor chosen. That’s why it’s important to ask who will actually be performing the work.
Choosing the Right Professional for Your Concrete Project
If your project centers on a driveway, patio, sidewalk, or foundation, working directly with an experienced concrete contractor often leads to better results, clearer communication, and fewer surprises. You’re hiring the experts who specialize in concrete—not just someone coordinating it.
Before hiring anyone, ask about experience, warranties, licensing, and insurance. Concrete work is a long-term investment, and choosing the right professional from the start can save you time, money, and stress.