There’s never been a better time to work in skilled labor. With so many companies seeking to hire the most skilled, hard-working craftsmen available, you’ve got a lot of opportunities. So, why should you work as a remodel superintendent for Lamont Bros?
Finding work these days isn’t difficult for experienced carpenters with an eye for detail and strong leadership abilities. Rather, the real challenge lies in choosing the right employer who will equip and empower you to further develop your skills and advance your career.
At Lamont Bros., our build teams are led by driven, capable superintendents who manage daily operations on the jobsite. As a company that believes in providing employees with the opportunities and means to succeed, we take an active role in the professional development of our staff.
In this article, you can learn about what to expect as a remodel superintendent for Lamont Bros. We’ll walk you through the responsibilities, benefits, and opportunities you’ll experience in this position.
What are my responsibilities as a remodel superintendent?
As an RS at Lamont Bros., your job is to lead a remodel from the start of construction through completion. You’ll be provided with detailed plans, building materials, and any support you may need along the way.
Follow the design plans
If you’ve ever worked as a handyman or general contractor, then you know how frustrating it can be to have to design a remodel project before building it.
As a design-build firm, we have our own in-house design staff. All of the building plans are provided to you. Throughout the design process, we consult and collaborate with our superintendents and carpenters to ensure that the design is buildable.
Working for a design & build firm means that you have a direct line to our in-house design team. That way, you can contact them if you have any questions or need clarification on a remodel’s plans.
Install provided materials
Most of the materials you’ll need for installation will be provided to the jobsite for you. We also have an in-house purchasing specialist who handles all of the material needs of our build teams. Cabinets, trim, lumber, and finish materials are all delivered to the jobsite. That way, you can be present and focus on managing the remodel.
Once the materials arrive, it’s your job to make sure they get put where they need to go. It is important that our remodeling superintendents be well versed in:
- Framing
- Drywall repair
- Cabinet installation
- Flooring & Tile work
- Finish carpentry
Coordinate with the team
Our goal at Lamont Bros. is to set you up for success as a superintendent. As such, we have a team of personnel who will work with you throughout the build process.
Most of our build teams have 1-2 remodel carpenters. Superintendents are expected to lead the remodel team, providing direction and assigning tasks based on the strengths and experience level of the carpenters.
The production coordinator oversees the superintendents and ensures that they have the resources and training they need to do a job well. As an RS, the production coordinator serves as your supervisor and advocate. When needs or issues arise, this is who can help you solve them.
You will also work closely with a project manager. will perform cost analyses of remodel jobs and coordinate between you and the homeowners to schedule and plan the job’s progress.
We also subcontract out any specialized trade works. Electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians will also be among those you will work with on a jobsite.
Five benefits of being a Remodel Superintendent with Lamont Bros.
Pay, company vehicles & tool stipend
We pay our remodel superintendents anywhere from $32-$38 per hour depending on their experience level and skill. There is also an opportunity for bonus pay, which typically adds $4-$9k on
On top of that, we offer company-subsidized health plans, supplemental insurance, health savings accounts, and an employer-matched 401k program.
Company Rig
One of the most envied benefits of working for Lamont Bros is a company-provided Mercedes Sprinter utility van. And they’re not just company vehicles. They’re nice company vehicles.
Equipped with all the bells and whistles including storage shelves, rack rails, and Bluetooth speakers, the company rig is one of the most popular work benefits among our remodel superintendents.
Tool stipend
We also provide $90 per month to each RS for the purpose of continuously building and improving their tool setup. You can spend it every month on small purchases, or save your stipend up to buy a larger tool on your wish-list.
Autonomy
At Lamont Bros., we trust each remodel superintendent to set a work schedule that makes the most sense for them. Of course, we expect you to put in your hours and respect our client’s schedules.
While we do expect you to work at least 40 hours per week, we don’t require our superintendents to clock in and clock out at set times. If you decide you’d like to work a few extra hours one day so you can get home early the next, that’s well within your right to do so.
Good mix of hard work and smart work
One of the unique elements of this position is that it blends manual labor with administrative and supervisorial work. So, on some days, you might spend the entire day swinging a hammer at a jobsite. On others, you might help your carpenters set up in the morning, then be home by lunch to answer emails and organize a job schedule.
It’s usually about an 80/20 split. 80% of the job involves being out in the field working on a remodel. The other 20% is spent on planning, communication, and coordinating with the larger Lamont Bros. team on the ancillary tasks that make the job function.
Most of our RS employees enjoy the balance between getting to work with their hands and the occasional break from physical labor.
Company culture
One benefit we offer as a small business is an opportunity for our employees to shape the company’s culture. We don’t fit the bill for a typical construction company – Lamont Bros is built on family values, and we want our employees to be able to provide for their families, while also getting time to spend with them.
Our policy is to set realistic work hours and encourage our employees to seek a healthy work-life balance.
Our goal as a business is to equip our employees to be great individual workers. Part of that means promoting collaboration and comradery within our team. We try to accomplish this in fun, engaging ways with company-sponsored events like happy hours, barbecue picnics, and even a trap shoot night.
Opportunity for career development and internal mobility
Oftentimes, it can feel that working in the construction field is a dead-end job. Once you reach a foreman-level position, there isn’t really anywhere else to go.
As a company, we want to help our employees recognize their true potential, whether that be in the field or as part of our office staff. Because of this commitment, we provide opportunities for both vertical and horizontal career development.
Several of our current remodel superintendents started out on our team as carpenters. A handful of our office staff used to work in the field as carpenters and superintendents. We’ve even had employees request a transfer from project manager to remodel superintendent, simply because they missed working with their hands.
One of our values as a company is to “never stop learning.” So, when one of our employees signals that they want to learn a different skill or position, we are eager to provide them with the opportunity to do so.
Five expectations we have for our Remodel Superintendents at Lamont Bros
Communicate clearly, effectively, and efficiently
When working on a remodel job, the superintendent fields communication between the homeowner, project manager, designers, and the build team. Needless to say, strong communication skills are essential to succeeding in this position.
You’ll need to be prepared to answer questions and provide regular updates for the homeowner. They will want to know about the progress of their remodel, and keeping them informed is one way we make sure the remodel is done the way they want.
Internal communications are also very important. As the leader on the jobsite, it’s your responsibility to make sure your team has everything they need to do their job. This means coordinating with your carpenters, production coordinator, project manager, and purchasing specialist to make sure your team remains productive.
Organize and structure your process
When you get handed the plans for a remodel, it becomes your job to get the plans off the paper and into the client’s home. This requires quite a bit of planning and foresight.
For every remodel you work on, you will be expected to plan out each phase of the project and ensure that personnel, resources, and time are used as efficiently as possible. You’ll need to know when and where tools and materials will need to be on the jobsite so everything comes together smoothly as the build progresses.
Lead the team to a successful build
It goes without saying that you’ll need to be a good supervisor for any carpenters working under you on a given project. However, that’s not where your leadership role ends as a remodel superintendent.
Once the build begins, the RS leads the entire Lamont Bros. team and the homeowner to the end of a successful remodel. The project manager, producing coordinator and designers will look to you for guidance and insight when challenges arise on a project.
Superintendents are the ones who are on-site every day making sure the project is on track. As a result, their perspective and understanding of the project take precedence when making decisions that can affect the final build quality.
The Lamont Bros. team is here to support you in your role, but ultimately, you’re the one who gets to lead the charge.
Act with integrity and discipline
As a company practice, Lamont Bros puts a lot of trust in a remodel superintendent. We want you to have the support and encouragement you need to succeed, but we also want you to have the space and freedom to play to your own strengths.
We provide take-home company vehicles, company credit cards, and the freedom to set your own schedule. In return, we expect you to use these freedoms with great discretion.
Of course, we provide oversight to all of our RS employees. However, we’re not here to hold your hand or put you on a leash. As long as you get your work done on time, within budget, and in a way that adheres to our company’s core values, you’ll have the freedom to spend company resources, time, and money as you see fit.
Exercise and continue to develop technical skills
We expect every remodel superintendent to not only exhibit exceptional skills in construction and finish carpentry work but also to continue developing these skills.
Our clients pay anywhere from several thousand to over a million dollars for their home remodels, and we strive to provide quality work that justifies the price. That’s why we hire best-in-class workers who take pride in their work and produce top-quality remodels.
To ensure that our superintendents and carpenters are continually developing their workmanship, Lamont Bros. provides regular technical training sessions. These company-wide events not only help to standardize the quality of work we produce but also serve as a fun team-building tool where we share our skills with one another.
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a remodel superintendent for Lamont Bros?
If all of this sounds like a career opportunity that will both interest and challenge you, we want to meet you. Read more about the job description, requirements, and benefits on our careers page. When you’re ready, fill out an application, attach your resume, and send it in. We’ll review it and get back to you to discuss the next steps.