Integrated Exterior Renovation
One contract, one project manager, one warranty — for commercial exterior renovations that bundle façade, paver and hardscape, landscape, sod, and grading scope under unified GC delivery.
Most commercial exterior renovations get bid as four separate trade contracts: façade, parking, landscape, and site work. The fragmentation tax — paid in coordination overhead, mobilization redundancy, schedule slip, and accountability gaps — typically runs 10–20% of total project cost on mid-tier commercial scope ($100K–$1M total exterior). RCG's Site Works division was structured specifically to eliminate that tax by pulling commercial landscape installation, paver and hardscape, sod, and grading under the same GC contract that handles the building's exterior cladding and tenant improvement work.
What integration covers under one contract
- Façade and exterior cladding: Wall systems, ACM panels, EIFS, masonry, storefront systems, and exterior architectural elements.
- Commercial paver and hardscape: Pedestrian and light-vehicular paver work to CMHA Tech Spec — plazas, walkways, and entry approaches.
- Commercial landscape installation: Plant material, soil prep, mulch, and bed work — install only, no maintenance contracts.
- Commercial sod: One-time sod installation tied to renovation completion.
- Site grading at landscape-supporting scale: Finish and fine grading coordinated with the design contours, not civil-scale earthwork.
- Interior tenant improvement and healthcare renovation — when the exterior project is part of a larger building scope, the GC side handles it directly.
When integration is the right model
Integration shines for the mid-tier commercial renovation: $100K–$1M total exterior scope, multiple trade categories, occupied or partially occupied facility, and a property owner who values single-point accountability over the (often illusory) savings from fragmenting bids.
Integration is not the right model for:
- Major civil-scale earthwork or deep utility work — that goes to dedicated civil contractors regardless of GC integration.
- Highly specialized façade systems (curtain wall, complex glazing) that warrant direct contracts with specialty subcontractors.
- Very small scopes — single-trade work under $25K doesn't need GC integration overhead.
Outside those edge cases, ask for an integrated bid alongside whatever fragmented bids you're already collecting. The cost gap is usually meaningful enough to change the approach.
Why peers can't deliver this
Most commercial landscape companies don't carry the GC license, insurance capacity, or project management depth to manage building scope. Most commercial GCs sub out the landscape, paver, and hardscape work to landscape companies — recreating fragmentation under one contract. RCG self-performs both.
Project size & scope
$100K–$1M total exterior scope is the sweet spot. Below that range, the integration overhead doesn't pay back. Above it, civil-scale work usually requires dedicated civil contractors.
Three takeaways for facility managers
- Get an integrated bid alongside the fragmented bid. The cost gap is usually meaningful enough to change the approach.
- Budget 5–10% for coordination if fragmenting. Failing to do this creates the schedule slip and accountability gaps that hurt the project.
- Align warranty structures across scopes. Gaps between contractors are where post-completion problems live.
Integrated Exterior Renovation FAQs
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