When you hire a general contractor, you’re not just hiring them — you’re hiring everyone they hire. On most renovation projects, the GC coordinates a network of subcontractors: electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, tile setters, drywall crews, painters. The quality of your finished project depends as much on those subcontractors as it does on the GC themselves.

Most homeowners never ask a single question about the subs. Here’s why that’s a mistake, and what to ask instead.

“Your contract is with the GC, but your walls are built by the subs. I’ve seen projects where the GC was excellent but a subcontractor caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage — and the homeowner had no idea who the sub was, whether they were insured, or whether they’d ever worked with that GC before. Those questions take five minutes to ask and can save you a significant amount of grief.”

— Raj Patel, licensed general contractor and construction educator with 20 years of experience in residential renovation across the Greater Toronto Area

Questions to Ask Your GC About Their Subcontractors

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Questions to Ask About Subcontractors Your GC Is Using 1

Which parts of this project will be subcontracted, and to whom?

Start with a clear picture of the project’s structure. Ask your GC to identify every trade that will be brought in — electrical, plumbing, HVAC, framing, insulation, drywall, tile, painting, and any others relevant to your project. For each one, ask who specifically they plan to use.

What a good answer looks like: A named subcontractor or subcontracting company for each trade, with enough specificity that you can look them up independently.

How long have you been working with these subcontractors?

A GC who has a long-standing relationship with their subs — years, not weeks — has a working dynamic that tends to produce better results. The trades know each other’s standards, the sequencing runs smoothly, and accountability is higher. A GC who is scrambling to fill trades with whoever is available is a different situation.

What a good answer looks like: Established relationships, ideally multiple years, with the key trades on your project.

Are your subcontractors licensed for their trade?

Each licensed trade — electrical, plumbing, HVAC — requires its own separate licence, distinct from the GC’s licence. A general contractor’s licence does not cover the work of their subcontractors. Ask to see proof of licensing for each trade where licensing is required.

For more on licensing requirements, see: Questions to Ask a General Contractor About Licensing and Insurance

What a good answer looks like: A specific trade licence number for each regulated trade, offered without hesitation.

Do your subcontractors carry their own insurance?

There are two possibilities here: the subs are covered under the GC’s general liability policy, or each sub carries their own. Either can be acceptable — but you need to know which applies, and you need documentation confirming it. If a subcontractor is neither covered under the GC’s policy nor carrying their own, you have a gap in coverage that could cost you.

What a good answer looks like: Written documentation — either confirmation from the GC’s insurer that subs are covered, or individual certificates of insurance for each major subcontractor.

Will your subcontractors pull their own permits for regulated trades?

For electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work, permits must be pulled by the licensed trade performing the work — not the GC, and not the homeowner. Ask whether each regulated trade is pulling their own permits, who is responsible for scheduling the related inspections, and whether those permit fees are included in the overall quote.

For more on this, see: Questions to Ask a Contractor About Permits and Inspections

Questions to Ask If a New Subcontractor Is Introduced Mid-Project

It’s not uncommon for a subcontractor to change mid-project — the original electrician becomes unavailable, a scheduling conflict arises, a trade relationship breaks down. If your GC wants to bring in a sub you haven’t vetted, ask the same questions you would have asked at the start:

  • Are they licensed for this trade?
  • Do they carry insurance?
  • Has your GC worked with them before?
  • Will they be pulling the required permits?

You have the right to ask these questions about any trade working in your home, at any point in the project.

Questions to Ask the Subcontractors Themselves

For significant trades — particularly electrical, plumbing, and structural work — it’s worth having a brief direct conversation with the subcontractor before work begins.

Can I see your trade licence?

Ask directly. A licensed electrician or plumber carries their licence and can show it on request. Any reluctance to do so is a red flag.

Have you worked on this type of project before?

Just as you’d ask the GC about relevant experience, it’s reasonable to ask a subcontractor whether they’ve done similar work before. An electrician who primarily does commercial work may approach a residential renovation differently than one who specializes in homes.

Who do I contact if there’s an issue with your work after you’re done?

Get a direct contact — name and phone number — for the subcontractor, separate from the GC. This matters if a problem surfaces after the project is complete and the GC is no longer actively engaged.

What to Do If a Subcontractor Files a Lien Against Your Property

One risk most homeowners aren’t aware of: if your GC fails to pay a subcontractor or supplier, that sub or supplier may have the right to file a construction lien against your property — even though you’ve already paid the GC in full.

To protect yourself:

Hold back a percentage of each payment as required by regional lien legislation (in many regions, the Construction Act requires a 10% holdback on each payment, retained until the lien period expires).

Request statutory declarations from your GC confirming that all subcontractors and suppliers have been paid before releasing final payment.

Ask your lawyer to review your contract if the project is large or complex. Understanding your obligations and protections under construction lien legislation before you start is significantly easier than untangling a lien claim after the fact.

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