A contractor working under a general contractor is called a:

• A. General Contractor
• B. Subcontractor
• C. Consultant
• D. Supervisor

Answer: (B)

Working under a general contractor describes a subcontractor. The general contractor acts as the lead on the project for the owner and brings in specialists to handle specific parts of the work. Subcontractors are hired through contracts with the general contractor and perform their scope according to the GC’s schedule, safety rules, and quality standards. In sheet metal, this means a sheet metal contractor might install ductwork and fit metal components as a defined portion of the project, coordinating with other trades to make everything fit together in the building. This setup is different from a consultant, who provides expert advice; a supervisor, who manages crews on-site but isn’t the contracting party; or the general contractor, who is the main contractor overseeing the whole project.