Title: Residential building guides | Cercha

Description: Find residential building guides for choosing trades, showing work and coordinating jobs. Browse credentials, suppliers, paperwork and handoffs.

Canonical: https://cercha.pages.dev/guides/

# Residential building guides

Working references

Choose the topic that matches the conversation or decision in front of you.

If you need to fill a trade slot, show completed work or prepare a supplier inquiry, start with the relevant topic below. Each topic collects guides around a reader's task. Use the source links within a guide when you need the underlying rule or document.

## Prepare the next conversation

For a new crew, begin with [subcontractor vetting](/guides/vet-a-subcontractor/) and write down the scope you want checked. For an introduction to a builder, use the [construction networking guide](/guides/construction-networking/) to prepare context and a useful next step.

If your work needs a clearer presentation, review [construction portfolio structure](/guides/construction-portfolio/). Keep the project, your role and the work shown together. For coordination questions, start with the [home-building sequence](/guides/home-building-sequence/) and confirm the plan with the trades involved.

## Keep references with the job

Save the source, document revision and question you still need answered. Ask the named board, local office or project professional about current requirements. Put agreed scope, dates and corrections in your own project records.

## Where Cercha fits

Cercha Search, portfolios and endorsements give you context for a construction introduction. Use Messages to begin the discussion, then use these guides to prepare the checks that follow.

## Construction connections

[All 6 guides in Construction connections](</guides/topics/construction-connections/>)

- [Cercha vs BuildZoom for construction connections](</guides/cercha-vs-buildzoom/>)

  BuildZoom organizes owner-to-contractor project introductions. Cercha centers on relationships among residential builders, trades, and suppliers.
- [Cercha vs Facebook groups for contractors](</guides/cercha-vs-facebook-groups/>)

  Keep a useful builders group for peer discussion. Consider Cercha when you need trade, location, work examples, and endorsement context together.
- [Cercha vs Houzz Pro for residential builders](</guides/cercha-vs-houzz-pro/>)

  Use Houzz Pro when you need tools to manage projects or market to homeowners. Consider Cercha for residential trade and supplier relationships.
- [Cercha vs lead marketplaces for contractors](</guides/cercha-vs-lead-marketplaces/>)

  Use a lead marketplace when you want customer inquiries. Consider Cercha when your next useful relationship is a builder, sub, crew, or supplier.
- [Cercha vs LinkedIn for builders and trades](</guides/cercha-vs-linkedin/>)

  Use LinkedIn for broader professional relationships. Consider Cercha for local residential trade discovery in the Research Triangle.

## Find subcontractors

[All 12 guides in Find subcontractors](</guides/topics/find-subcontractors/>)

- [How to line up a backup sub before you need one](</guides/backup-subcontractor/>)

  You need a second option before a missing crew puts the next trade on hold. Build a backup bench around your exposed packages, and confirm each company fits without implying that unawarded work is reserved.
- [How to check a subcontractor's references](</guides/check-subcontractor-references/>)

  You have a name and a portfolio, but need to know how the sub performed on work like yours. Connect each reference to a specific project and ask about the part that person observed.
- [How to find good subcontractors: judge fit first](</guides/find-good-subcontractors/>)

  You need a sub whose work, crew, and follow-through suit your project. Define what good means for this package, then inspect comparable work and the proposed staffing before passing the candidate to award review.
- [How to find subcontractors for residential work](</guides/find-subcontractors/>)

  Start with the work you need covered. Use that scope to ask for referrals, screen comparable projects, and confirm who can take the job.
- [Hiring subcontractors: a step-by-step process](</guides/hiring-subcontractors/>)

  You have a candidate for the next residential package and need to turn the conversation into a controlled start. Confirm fit, check required evidence, agree the scope and terms, then release the site to the assigned crew.

## Getting work

[All 14 guides in Getting work](</guides/topics/getting-work/>)

- [How to approach a home builder as a new sub](</guides/approach-a-home-builder/>)

  Tell the builder which trade package you can cover, show comparable work, and ask who reviews new trade partners.
- [Can a subcontractor hire another subcontractor?](</guides/can-a-subcontractor-hire-a-subcontractor/>)

  Review permission, classification, authority, insurance, and the builder's process before adding another company to your package.
- [A subcontractor capability statement on one page](</guides/capability-sheet/>)

  Give a builder one readable page showing what you perform, where you work, who supervises, and which projects support the offer.
- [Custom vs production builder work for subs](</guides/custom-vs-production-builder-work/>)

  Compare the actual scope, release pattern, supervision, returns, and payment process before choosing a builder relationship.
- [How to find a general contractor for your home project](</guides/find-a-general-contractor/>)

  Define the project, ask for comparable references, check credentials, and compare written scopes before you choose a general contractor.

## NC licensing and insurance

[All 3 guides in NC licensing and insurance](</guides/topics/nc-licensing-and-insurance/>)

- [North Carolina general contractor license: the $40,000 rule](</guides/nc-general-contractor-license/>)

  You need to know whether the undertaking requires an NC GC license. Start at $40,000, then check the statutory role, exceptions, and licensed entity.
- [NC GC license classifications and limits](</guides/nc-license-classifications/>)

  You need a license that covers both this work and this project value. Check classification and limitation separately, then verify the contracting entity.
- [How to look up a contractor license in North Carolina](</guides/nc-license-lookup/>)

  You need to verify the business you will hire. Choose the right NC board, search the claimed license, compare the entity, and save the dated result.

## NC permits and inspections

[All 9 guides in NC permits and inspections](</guides/topics/nc-permits-and-inspections/>)

- [Certificate of occupancy in North Carolina](</guides/certificate-of-occupancy-nc/>)

  NC occupancy permission depends on an issued compliance certificate or an authorized temporary certificate. Coordinate the finals and remaining permit conditions.
- [Framing inspection: what the inspector expects](</guides/framing-inspection/>)

  Raleigh framing inspection follows approved rough-ins and dry-in. Keep required connections, flashing, bracing, and stopping visible for review.
- [Insulation inspection before drywall](</guides/insulation-inspection/>)

  Obtain framing approval, complete concealed insulation and air-barrier work, and secure the required inspection result before drywall starts.
- [Lead-safe renovation for pre-1978 homes](</guides/lead-safe-renovation-rrp/>)

  For covered pre-1978 renovation, verify the contracting firm and assigned renovator through North Carolina’s lead-safe program before work begins.
- [Demolition and asbestos rules in North Carolina](</guides/nc-demolition-asbestos/>)

  Resolve asbestos applicability and accredited work before disturbance. Local demolition approval, structural surveys, and utility control need separate checks.

## Networking

[All 12 guides in Networking](</guides/topics/networking/>)

- [Construction networking events worth your time](</guides/construction-networking-events/>)

  Choose an event by audience, access, location, and the conversation you need to have. Prepare a relevant example and agree on a useful next step.
- [Networking follow up after a builder event](</guides/follow-up-after-a-builder-event/>)

  Deliver what you promised after meeting a builder. Use recognizable context, a small next step, and a contact record that respects the builder's response.
- [What a home builders association does for trades](</guides/home-builders-association/>)

  Investigate local HBA membership through its audience, programs, dues, and time commitment. Ask how a trade business can participate and meet relevant builders.
- [International Builders' Show for trades](</guides/international-builders-show/>)

  Plan IBS around specific people, products, and questions. Compare the full travel commitment with local options before choosing the show.
- [LinkedIn for contractors: what works](</guides/linkedin-for-contractors/>)

  Make construction scope, work area, and project examples clear on LinkedIn. Use focused inquiries and assess the channel by useful conversations.

## Paperwork and pay

[All 20 guides in Paperwork and pay](</guides/topics/paperwork-and-pay/>)

- [1099 crews and W-2 crews: what changes for the builder](</guides/1099-crews/>)

  “1099 employee” is a warning to clarify the arrangement. Establish who employs each worker before deciding payroll, subcontract payments, and site direction.
- [Can a subcontractor put a lien on a property?](</guides/can-a-subcontractor-put-a-lien/>)

  An unpaid sub can have lien rights, but the route depends on the state, contracting tier, notices, and timing. North Carolina has separate funds and property rules.
- [Change orders: get extra work in writing](</guides/change-order/>)

  Before performing changed work, identify who can authorize it and how the subcontract requires scope, price, and time to be agreed.
- [What a sub can do when the GC does not pay](</guides/contractor-does-not-pay-subcontractor/>)

  Start with the invoice file, the contract, and a dated response from the GC. Preserve legal deadlines while you try to resolve payment.
- [Draw schedules on a residential build](</guides/draw-schedule/>)

  A draw schedule maps requests for project funds to agreed progress. Keep the lender draw, owner payment, and subcontract payment schedule distinct.

## Portfolio and profile

[All 11 guides in Portfolio and profile](</guides/topics/portfolio-and-profile/>)

- [Construction project portfolio: what to include](</guides/construction-portfolio/>)

  Show a builder comparable jobs, your exact role, and useful photo stages. Keep the supporting records and permissions with each project.
- [Construction portfolio examples by trade](</guides/construction-portfolio-examples/>)

  Choose portfolio shots for the trade scope you want to discuss. Use context, before-cover details, and completed views from identifiable projects.
- [What to look for in a contractor photo app](</guides/contractor-photo-app/>)

  Choose a photo tool around your capture, retrieval, sharing, and export tasks. Test private job documentation separately from professional presentation.
- [Build a general contractor portfolio around responsibility](</guides/contractor-portfolio/>)

  Show what your company managed, what it performed, and how the work reached closeout. Pair finished photos with an accurate project explanation.
- [Contractor endorsements from builders vs online reviews](</guides/endorsements-vs-reviews/>)

  Ask for an account of work completed together. Read builder endorsements and homeowner reviews through the author’s relationship and observations.

## Schedule and handoffs

[All 12 guides in Schedule and handoffs](</guides/topics/schedule-and-handoffs/>)

- [Callbacks: who comes back and who pays](</guides/callbacks-and-warranty-work/>)

  You need a repair plan before deciding who pays. Record the symptom, send the qualified trade to investigate, and review the cause against the written terms.
- [Closeout on a residential job](</guides/closeout/>)

  You need to hand over a usable house and its records. Coordinate approvals, remaining work, owner documents, and warranty contacts as separate closeout tasks.
- [The day-before confirmation call](</guides/day-before-confirmation/>)

  You need a firm answer before tomorrow’s crew travels. Confirm the people, work area, materials, approvals, and start conditions with the responsible trade lead.
- [What is dry-in?](</guides/dry-in/>)

  You need to release the interior crews. Treat dry-in as a checked weather-protection milestone, then confirm inspections and material conditions separately.
- [After a failed inspection: rescheduling the trades behind it](</guides/failed-inspection-rescheduling/>)

  You need to protect the next trades from a premature start. Identify the failed requirement, assign the correction, and release dependent work after approval.

## Subcontractor basics

[All 12 guides in Subcontractor basics](</guides/topics/subcontractor-basics/>)

- [Builder vs general contractor: overlapping labels](</guides/builder-vs-general-contractor/>)

  Builder describes a business in everyday use. General contractor describes a project role and, in North Carolina, a regulated undertaking.
- [What a construction superintendent does](</guides/construction-superintendent/>)

  A superintendent coordinates site activity across the project. Confirm the site contact, the crew’s own lead, and who authorizes changes before work starts.
- [What is a custom home builder?](</guides/custom-home-builder/>)

  A custom home builder coordinates a house around a particular project’s design and selections. For a trade, fit starts with the details and the approval process.
- [Do you need a license to be a subcontractor?](</guides/do-you-need-a-license-to-be-a-subcontractor/>)

  The answer depends on the work, jurisdiction, and contract role. North Carolina’s general-contractor threshold does not replace separate trade-license rules.
- [What is a production builder?](</guides/production-builder/>)

  A production builder builds homes for sale on land it owns or controls. For a trade, the next questions are the package, capacity, and buying process.

## Suppliers and reps

[All 11 guides in Suppliers and reps](</guides/topics/suppliers-and-reps/>)

- [How a building materials sales rep earns repeat accounts](</guides/building-materials-sales-rep/>)

  You are taking over a building-materials territory and need accounts that buy again. Start by learning the customer’s scope, then make each quote, order handoff, and follow-up clear enough for the next person to act.
- [How to choose a building supplier](</guides/choose-a-building-supplier/>)

  You need a supplier that can support the next job, not just return a low subtotal. Compare the same material scope and ask how the local branch handles quotes, order changes, deliveries, and problems. Start with one order and check whether the branch delivers the quoted materials on the agreed terms.
- [How to open a contractor account with a supplier](</guides/contractor-supply-account/>)

  You want the crew to collect materials without every purchase becoming an office scramble. Open the account around the business’s identity, agreed payment terms, and named purchasing authority. Confirm those details with the supplier before anyone charges an order.
- [Jobsite material deliveries: drop, staging, receiving](</guides/jobsite-material-delivery/>)

  Your crew needs the right material in a usable place before work starts. Plan the drop with the site lead and supplier, name a receiver, and compare the delivered package with the accepted order. Record shortages and damage through the supplier’s receiving process.
- [Distributor vs dealer: who supplies and installs the product](</guides/manufacturer-distributor-dealer-installer/>)

  You have a product in mind but need to know who can quote it, supply it, install it, and handle a problem. Follow the actual purchasing path. A manufacturer makes the product, a distributor moves supply through the channel, a dealer sells it, and an installer performs the installation.

## Support trades and crews

[All 11 guides in Support trades and crews](</guides/topics/support-trades-and-crews/>)

- [Bookkeeping for small contractors: in-house or outsourced](</guides/bookkeeping-for-contractors/>)

  You finish the site work and still have receipts, unpaid invoices, and job costs to sort. Choose bookkeeping help around the records and decisions you need every month. Keep payment authority, account ownership, and project approvals under your business’s control.
- [What a construction office manager handles](</guides/construction-office-manager/>)

  Give the office manager ownership of information and follow-through. Keep technical, contractual, and financial decisions with the people authorized to make them.
- [What a crew lead owns on a residential job](</guides/crew-lead/>)

  A crew lead organizes the crew's assigned work and reports blockers. Set the lead's decision limits before the first start, especially for changes and safety duties.
- [How a crew shows its work](</guides/crew-portfolio/>)

  Show the portion of the project your crew performed. Use permitted images, name your role, and connect a relevant detail with a person who observed the work.
- [Jobsite communication between supers, subs, and crews](</guides/jobsite-communication/>)

  Route the message to the person who can act on it. Separate site coordination from company commitments, and require acknowledgment when a start or instruction changes.

## Trade relationships

[All 12 guides in Trade relationships](</guides/topics/trade-relationships/>)

- [Insurance for cabinet installers](</guides/cabinet-installer-insurance/>)

  Ask for the builder’s written insurance requirements before pricing. Match them to current policies and endorsements with your licensed insurance agent.
- [Cabinets or flooring first?](</guides/cabinets-or-flooring-first/>)

  The floor’s installation instructions decide the order. Resolve fixed cabinets, expansion space, appliance access, and finished elevations before release.
- [Do contractor lead apps work for trades?](</guides/contractor-lead-apps/>)

  The best app for contractor leads is the one that reaches the right buyer at a cost your completed, paid work can support.
- [Check a contractor credential badge at the source](</guides/credential-badge-is-not-verification/>)

  Use a credential badge to identify what to check, then confirm the entity, authorization, coverage, and dates at the source.
- [Framers and truss suppliers: the handoff that sets the roof](</guides/framer-and-truss-supplier/>)

  Give the framing crew the reviewed truss package before delivery. Resolve bearings, bracing, handling, and field-change authority before setting trusses.

## Trade terms

[All 12 guides in Trade terms](</guides/topics/trade-terms/>)

- [AFCI vs GFCI: two different protections](</guides/afci-vs-gfci/>)

  AFCI addresses dangerous arcing and GFCI addresses ground-fault shock hazards. Confirm the required protection for each circuit with the electrician.
- [Blower door test: what builders need to know](</guides/blower-door-test/>)

  Plan enclosure testing early enough to locate and repair leaks, then keep the final result with the house and HVAC documentation.
- [Coped vs mitered inside corners](</guides/coped-vs-mitered-corners/>)

  For profiled interior trim, coping accommodates an imperfect inside corner. Choose the joint with the material, finish, and approved sample in view.
- [Countertop templating: what has to be ready](</guides/countertop-templating/>)

  Book the template when the installed cabinet layout and required fixtures are ready. Put a decision-maker on site and control every change afterward.
- [Drywall finish levels: what Level 5 means](</guides/drywall-finish-levels/>)

  Specify the finish level with the final paint and lighting, then approve a representative sample before the crew finishes the whole house.

## Triangle market

[All 9 guides in Triangle market](</guides/topics/triangle-market/>)

- [Chatham County building permits for builders](</guides/chatham-county-building-permits/>)

  Use Chatham County for building permitting, and confirm town zoning and final approvals separately for Pittsboro or Siler City projects.
- [Durham building permits and inspections](</guides/durham-building-permits/>)

  Durham uses a joint city-county building department, with Dplans for plan review and LDO for permit and inspection tasks.
- [How trades find builder work in the Triangle](</guides/find-builder-work-triangle/>)

  Choose the builders whose work matches your crew, prepare qualification evidence, and ask the responsible contact for a specific next step.
- [How to find subcontractors in Raleigh and the Triangle](</guides/find-subcontractors-raleigh/>)

  Combine local discovery with board and coverage checks, then confirm the crew can serve your actual project and start window.
- [Johnston County building permits for builders](</guides/johnston-county-building-permits/>)

  Johnston County issues building permits for most towns as well as county-served areas. Clayton and Four Oaks are listed exceptions.

## Trusses and structure

[All 11 guides in Trusses and structure](</guides/topics/trusses-and-structure/>)

- [Damaged or cut truss: who to call before you fix it](</guides/damaged-roof-truss/>)

  A damaged truss needs a project-specific response from the responsible design professionals before anyone attempts a field repair.
- [Floor trusses vs I-joists](</guides/floor-trusses-vs-i-joists/>)

  Compare the complete floor system with the plumbing and HVAC routes drawn in, rather than selecting a member by appearance or price alone.
- [How roof trusses are designed: who owns what](</guides/how-roof-trusses-are-designed/>)

  A roof truss package connects several design responsibilities. Establish who owns each decision before releasing fabrication.
- [What is an LVL beam?](</guides/lvl-beam/>)

  An LVL beam is a specified structural product. Its grade, dimensions, supports, connections, and installation details belong in one coordinated order.
- [Parts of a roof truss: chords, webs, and plates](</guides/parts-of-a-roof-truss/>)

  Name chords, webs, plates, panel points, bearings, and heel height using the actual component drawing when you report a field issue.

## Vetting and credentials

[All 12 guides in Vetting and credentials](</guides/topics/vetting-and-credentials/>)

- [Additional insured: what it means for a builder](</guides/additional-insured/>)

  Additional insured status comes from policy provisions or an endorsement. A certificate holder entry alone does not create it.
- [Certificate of insurance: what it shows and what it does not](</guides/certificate-of-insurance/>)

  A certificate summarizes listed insurance policies. Read the entity, dates, and limits, then check the policy language for the protection you require.
- [How to check a subcontractor's insurance](</guides/check-subcontractor-insurance/>)

  Get current evidence from the producer or insurer, match it to your subcontract, and ask about the policy terms your project requires.
- [What documents to collect from a subcontractor](</guides/documents-from-a-subcontractor/>)

  Collect the documents that answer identity, authorization, coverage, scope, and payment questions. Keep tax information in a restricted accounting file.
- [General liability insurance for subcontractors, explained](</guides/general-liability-for-subcontractors/>)

  General liability addresses specified business liability risks. Match the actual policy to your trade, work arrangement, and builder’s requirements.

## Build your connections

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