General contracting in Pictou County

What does a general contractor do?

A general contractor takes responsibility for the whole job: the schedule, the budget, the crews and the quality. Instead of you calling an excavator, a concrete company, framers, roofers and trades one by one, you have one contact who books them in the right order and answers for the result.

Because Langille started as a concrete and site-work company, the ground-up part of the job, the part that is hardest to fix later, is done by our own crew.

Can you build an addition or a garage?

Yes. Additions, attached and detached garages, cottages and outbuildings are the core of our contracting work. For an addition, the new foundation is tied to the existing one and the rooflines are planned so water runs off cleanly where old meets new.

Do you pour the foundation yourselves?

Yes. Excavation, footings, foundation walls and slabs are done by our own concrete crew. Footings go below the frost line, walls get steel and anchor bolts, and drain tile and damp-proofing go on before backfill.

Doing the foundation in-house means the elevations, anchor bolt layout and slab heights are right for the framing that comes next, because the same company is responsible for both.

Frost wall, crawlspace or full basement?

A full basement gives you the most usable space but is the deepest dig and the most concrete. A crawlspace keeps the house off the ground with a shorter wall. A frost wall with a slab on grade is common for garages, additions and cottages.

Your plans usually decide this. If you are still early, ask us to price two options side by side. Rock, groundwater and the slope of the lot can make one much easier than the others.

Who does the electrical and plumbing?

Licensed electricians, plumbers and heating contractors. We schedule them, coordinate the rough-in around the framing, and book the inspections so the walls are not closed before they are signed off.

How is a building project priced?

From your plans and a written scope. Items that are fully defined get a firm price. Items you have not chosen yet, like flooring or fixtures, are listed as allowances so you can see exactly what is included and what is still your call.

Changes during the job are priced in writing before the work is done, so the final bill does not surprise you.

What do I need before we start?

A set of plans or at least a clear sketch, a sense of your budget, and the lot location. If you do not have drawings yet, we can tell you what the permit office will ask for and who can draw them.