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🏗️ Construction Crash Course

Construction
Crash Course

Everything you need to speak the language on day one — job site roles, who reports to who, what each trade actually does, a full glossary of terms you'll hear daily, and a quiz to earn your completion certificate.

Section 01

Roles & Hierarchy

Every construction project has a chain of command. Understanding who does what — and who answers to who — is critical for communicating professionally with clients and property managers.

Top of Chain
Owner / Developer
The person or company funding and commissioning the project. They set the budget, timeline, and ultimate vision. On commercial jobs, this is often a property management company, HOA board, or facilities director — our target clients.
General Contractor (GC) — That's Us
The GC manages the entire project — hiring and coordinating subcontractors, pulling permits, maintaining the schedule, and being the owner's single point of contact. A Class B GC license (like B A Construction's CA GC #1021495) covers general building construction. When you tell clients we're a licensed GC, this is what it means: we're the ones responsible for the whole job.
Project Manager (PM)
Works under the GC to handle day-to-day coordination — scheduling inspections, ordering materials, tracking costs, communicating with the owner. On smaller jobs the GC and PM are the same person.
Superintendent / Site Supervisor ("Super")
The GC's eyes and ears on the job site every day. Manages flow of work, enforces safety, resolves problems in real time. They're usually the most experienced field person on site.
Subcontractors ("Subs")
Specialty trade companies hired by the GC — electricians, plumbers, HVAC, concrete crews, etc. They do the actual trade work. They answer to the GC, not directly to the owner. On our jobs, subs must be licensed and insured or we don't use them.
Foreman
Leads a crew of workers for a specific trade or task. Reports to the superintendent. Responsible for their crew's productivity and quality. On small jobs, the foreman is also a working crew member.
Journey Worker / Journeyman
A fully trained, licensed tradesperson in their field (plumber, electrician, etc.). Has completed apprenticeship. Can work independently.
Apprentice / Laborer
Entry-level field workers. Apprentices are learning a specific trade under supervision. Laborers handle general site work — moving materials, cleanup, prep. Supervised at all times on job sites.

OTHER KEY CONTACTS YOU'LL DEAL WITH:

Property Manager
Manages a commercial or residential property on behalf of the owner. Handles vendor relationships, maintenance budgets, and contractor hiring. This is our #1 target client for trip hazard work.
Reports to: Property Owner or Management Company
Facilities Director / Manager
Common in schools, hospitals, and large commercial buildings. Oversees all building systems, maintenance vendors, and capital improvements. Decision-maker for our services.
Reports to: Building Owner or Executive Team
HOA Board Member
Elected resident who governs a homeowners association. Votes on vendor contracts and maintenance decisions. Often the person who authorizes sidewalk and common area work.
Reports to: HOA Members / Community
Architect
Designs the building and produces the construction drawings (plans). The GC builds from the architect's plans. Architects are licensed by the state. On complex jobs, the GC and architect work together closely.
Reports to: Owner (hired separately from GC)
Building Inspector
City or county employee who inspects work at key milestones to ensure it meets code. Can stop a job if work doesn't pass. The GC must schedule inspections and be present.
Reports to: City / County Building Department
Estimator
Calculates the projected cost of a job — labor, materials, equipment, overhead, profit. Produces the bid. On small GC operations the owner or PM does estimating. Accurate estimating is how companies stay profitable.
Reports to: GC / PM
Section 02

The Trades

Construction is divided into specialty trades. Each trade requires its own license in California. As a GC, B A Construction coordinates all of these — and self-performs several.

Concrete (We Do This)
Forming, pouring, finishing, and repairing concrete surfaces — foundations, slabs, sidewalks, curbs, driveways. Concrete grinding and trip hazard removal is our specialty. Requires C-8 (Concrete) license in CA.
Framing (We Do This)
Building the structural skeleton of a building using wood or steel studs, beams, and joists. Walls, floors, roofs. Framing defines the shape and structure of everything that comes after.
Drywall / Finish Carpentry (We Do This)
Installing and finishing gypsum board walls, ceilings, trim, molding, cabinets, and millwork. Finish carpentry is the detail work visible in the final product — doors, baseboards, shelving.
Epoxy Flooring (We Do This)
Applying industrial-grade epoxy coatings to concrete floors in warehouses, garages, commercial kitchens, and facilities. Durable, cleanable, professional-looking. Big demand in industrial and commercial properties.
Electrical
All wiring, panels, outlets, lighting, and electrical systems. Requires a C-10 (Electrical) license in CA. Electricians are some of the most in-demand and highest-paid tradespeople.
Plumbing
Water supply, drainage, gas lines, and fixtures. Requires a C-36 (Plumbing) license in CA. Licensed plumbers must be on-site for all rough-in and finish work.
HVAC
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning — ductwork, units, and controls. Requires a C-20 (HVAC) license. Commercial HVAC is a large, specialized field.
Roofing
Installing and repairing all types of roofing systems — shingle, flat, tile, TPO membrane. Requires a C-39 (Roofing) license. One of the most physically demanding trades.
Painting
Interior and exterior paint and coatings. Includes surface prep, priming, and finish coats. Requires a C-33 (Painting) license in CA for contracts over $500.
Masonry
Block, brick, stone, and tile work. Structural masonry (walls and foundations) vs. decorative masonry (patios, facades). Requires a C-29 (Masonry) license.
Section 03

Build Phases

Every construction project follows roughly the same sequence of phases. Knowing these helps you understand where a client's property is in its lifecycle and what services are relevant.

01
Pre-Construction / Planning
Design, permitting, budgeting, and contractor selection. The architect produces drawings, the GC bids the job, permits are pulled from the city. Nothing physical happens yet. Can take weeks to months.
02
Site Prep & Demo
Clearing the site, demolishing existing structures, grading (leveling) the land, setting up temporary power and fencing. Excavation for foundations begins.
03
Foundation
Forming and pouring the concrete foundation — footings, slab, or basement walls depending on the structure type. Must be inspected and approved before framing begins. This is our territory.
04
Framing ("Rough Structure")
Building the structural skeleton — floors, walls, roof. After framing, the building has shape but no walls, wiring, or plumbing yet. Framing inspection required.
05
Mechanical / Rough-In (MEP)
Installing the "rough" plumbing, electrical, and HVAC inside the walls before they're covered up. All pipes, wires, and ducts are run. Inspected before drywall goes up.
06
Insulation & Drywall
Installing insulation in walls and ceilings, then hanging, taping, mudding, and sanding drywall. The interior starts to look like a real room. Drywall finish is graded 1–5, with 5 being the smoothest.
07
Finishes
Everything that makes a space look finished — flooring, paint, cabinets, trim, fixtures, doors, hardware. This is where the most visible quality decisions are made. Our finish carpentry and epoxy flooring work happens here.
08
Punch List & Certificate of Occupancy
Final walkthrough with the owner to document everything that still needs fixing (the "punch list"). After corrections, the city does a final inspection and issues the Certificate of Occupancy — the building is officially legal to use.
Section 04

Field Glossary

Terms you'll hear on calls, in emails, and on job sites. Search below to find any term fast.

Business
Bid / Proposal
A written offer to complete a scope of work for a set price. GCs submit bids to owners; subs submit bids to GCs. Winning the bid means you got the contract.
Business
Change Order (CO)
A written agreement to modify the original contract — usually adding scope, time, or cost. All changes should be documented in a CO before work begins. Verbal agreements don't count.
Business
Scope of Work (SOW)
Detailed written description of exactly what work will be performed, what's included, and what's excluded. The SOW is the foundation of any contract.
Business
Lien Waiver
A document signed by a contractor or supplier giving up the right to file a mechanic's lien against a property. Owners require these before releasing payment.
Business
Retainage / Retention
A percentage (usually 5–10%) of each payment the owner holds back until the job is complete and accepted. Protects the owner if work is unsatisfactory. Released at final completion.
Business
Draw Schedule
A payment schedule tied to project milestones. E.g., 10% at contract signing, 20% after foundation, 30% after framing, etc. Keeps cash flowing through the project.
Business
Prevailing Wage
State-mandated minimum wage rate for workers on public works projects (government contracts). Higher than standard wages. Compliance required on all city, county, and school district jobs.
Business
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Proof that a contractor carries required insurance (general liability + workers' comp). Property managers and GCs require COIs before allowing anyone to work on a property.
Business
General Liability Insurance
Insurance that covers property damage and bodily injury caused by your company's operations. Required to work commercially. B A Construction carries this — it's part of what makes us a credible vendor.
Business
NTP (Notice to Proceed)
Official written notice from the owner authorizing the GC to begin work. Establishes the official start date for the contract schedule. Don't mobilize without one on a commercial job.
Permits
Building Permit
Government authorization to begin construction. Required for most structural, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. The GC pulls the permit. Working without permits is illegal and can force demolition of completed work.
Permits
Inspection
A city or county inspector's review of work at designated stages. Must pass each inspection before proceeding. Common inspections: foundation, framing, rough MEP, insulation, final.
Permits
Certificate of Occupancy (C of O)
Official document issued after final inspection confirming a building is safe and legal to occupy. No one can legally move in or operate a business without a C of O.
Permits
ADA Compliance
Americans with Disabilities Act requirements for accessibility — ramps, door widths, signage, restroom specs, and sidewalk specifications. Non-compliant properties face fines and lawsuits. This is a major selling point for our trip hazard work.
Permits
Mechanic's Lien
A legal claim filed against a property by an unpaid contractor or supplier. Can cloud the title and prevent the owner from selling until resolved. Major leverage tool and major risk — avoid disputes that lead here.
Field
Trip Hazard
Any sidewalk or pavement displacement of 1/2 inch or more that creates a tripping risk. The legal threshold in most California municipalities. Property owners are liable for injuries. We eliminate them by grinding the raised edge flush — no replacement needed.
Field
Concrete Grinding
Using a specialized diamond-tipped grinder to shave down raised concrete edges and uneven surfaces. Faster and cheaper than full concrete replacement. Our scarifiers and grinders can remove up to 1/2" in one pass.
Field
Scarifier
A heavy-duty machine with rotating cutters used to profile (roughen) or remove material from concrete surfaces. Used for surface prep before epoxy coating or for aggressive material removal.
Field
Epoxy Coating
A two-part resin system applied to concrete floors. Bonds chemically to the concrete for a durable, seamless, cleanable surface. Common in warehouses, garages, commercial kitchens, and facilities. Requires proper surface prep — moisture testing, profiling, primer, base coat, top coat.
Field
Substrate
The base material that something is applied to or built on. For epoxy — the concrete is the substrate. For tile — the backer board is the substrate. Surface prep means preparing the substrate properly.
Field
Grade / Slope
Grade = the level of the ground or a surface. "Finish grade" is the final elevation. Slope is the angle of a surface — important for drainage (water must flow away from buildings, not toward them).
Field
Rebar (Reinforcing Bar)
Steel bars embedded in concrete to add tensile strength. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension — rebar handles the tension. Required in most structural concrete.
Field
Forms / Formwork
Temporary molds — usually wood or metal — that hold wet concrete in place while it cures. Stripped (removed) after the concrete sets. The shape of the forms determines the shape of the finished concrete.
Field
Curing
The chemical hardening process of concrete after it's poured. Takes 28 days to reach full strength, though it's strong enough to walk on in 24–48 hours. Keeping concrete moist during early curing improves strength.
Field
PSI (Concrete Strength)
Pounds per square inch — the compressive strength rating of concrete. Standard sidewalk concrete is 3,000–4,000 PSI. Structural concrete can be 5,000+ PSI. Higher PSI = stronger but more expensive mix.
Field
Control Joint
An intentional groove cut into concrete to control where cracks form as the slab expands and contracts. Without them, cracks happen randomly. The main cause of trip hazards is tree roots or poor drainage lifting concrete at these joints.
Field
MEP
Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing — the three main building systems. MEP work happens "rough-in" (inside walls before drywall) and "finish" (visible fixtures after). MEP trades require separate licenses from the GC license.
Field
Rough-In
The phase where pipes, wires, and ducts are installed inside walls and floors before they're covered. "Rough plumbing" means all pipes are in but no fixtures yet. Inspected before covering up.
Field
Demo (Demolition)
Tearing out existing materials — walls, flooring, concrete, ceilings — before new work begins. Can be "selective demo" (specific areas only) or full demo. Requires proper disposal of materials, especially hazardous ones.
Field
Punch List
A final checklist of items that need to be completed or corrected before the project is considered done and final payment is released. Walking the punch list with the owner is standard at project closeout.
Field
As-Built Drawings
Updated construction drawings showing how the project was actually built — including any deviations from the original plans. Required for many commercial and government jobs. Critical for future maintenance and renovations.
Field
Submittal / Shop Drawing
Documents submitted by subs or suppliers to the GC/architect for approval before materials are ordered or fabricated. Ensures what gets built matches what was designed.
Field
RFI (Request for Information)
A formal written question from the GC or sub to the architect or owner asking for clarification on the plans or specs. Creates a paper trail. Important for protecting against disputes and change orders.
Field
Footing
Concrete poured below grade (underground) that spreads the load of a wall or column to the soil. The footing is wider than the wall and sits on undisturbed soil. The most critical element — if the footing fails, everything above fails.
Field
Stud
A vertical framing member in a wall, typically a 2x4 or 2x6 piece of lumber or metal. Studs are spaced 16" or 24" on center. Walls are framed with studs, top plates, and bottom plates.
Field
Header / Beam
A horizontal structural member that spans an opening (door, window) or carries loads across a space. Must be sized properly for the load it carries — this is engineering, not guesswork.
Field
On Center (O.C.)
Measurement from the center of one framing member to the center of the next. "16" O.C." means studs are placed every 16 inches from center to center — standard for most residential walls.
Section 05

About B A Construction

When you're on the phone or at a door, you represent this company. Know what we do and why it matters.

Who We Are
B A Construction is a Class B licensed California General Contractor (CA GC #1021495) with 25+ years of experience. Founded and operated by Eli Anderson. We self-perform concrete, framing, drywall, painting, and epoxy work, and manage full construction projects in San Diego County.
Our Core Specialty
Trip hazard removal and concrete grinding for commercial properties, HOAs, and property managers. We assess sidewalks and common areas, identify ADA and liability issues, and eliminate them — usually at far less cost than full concrete replacement.
Why Property Managers Call Us
One slip-and-fall claim against a property can cost more than everything we charge in a year. We remove the liability proactively. We're fast, we're licensed and insured, and we work around their tenants and schedules.
Our Other Services
Epoxy flooring and coatings, framing and structural work, drywall and finish carpentry, painting, general contracting for remodels and additions, roadside assistance and trailer hauling.
Our License
CA Contractor's License #1021495. A Class B General Building Contractor license means we can manage and perform any construction project involving multiple trades. It's one of the highest-level contractor licenses in California. Always mention it.
What Interns Do
You generate leads by calling property managers, emailing targets, distributing flyers, and researching bids. Every contact you make is a potential contract. Your work directly keeps crews employed and phones ringing.
Section 06

Knowledge Quiz

20 questions covering roles, trades, phases, and key terms. You need 80% (16/20) to pass and earn your certificate. Review the sections above first — everything on the quiz comes from this page.

Before You Start
Enter your name — it will appear on your certificate if you pass.