“Turnkey” gets used a lot in Malta’s construction industry, but what does it actually mean in practice? At its core, a turnkey contractor takes full responsibility for a project from bare structure to finished, move-in-ready space — managing everything in between so the client doesn’t have to.
The Trades a Turnkey Contractor Coordinates
- Concrete screeding and floor preparation
- Waterproofing (roofs, terraces, wet areas)
- Gypsum ceilings and partitions
- Tiling and microcement finishes
- Plastering and painting
- Underfloor heating installation
- Coordination with electricians, plumbers and other specialist trades
Rather than a homeowner or business hiring and managing each of these trades separately, a turnkey contractor takes on that coordination directly.
What “Managing” Actually Involves
- Sequencing: making sure each trade starts at the right point — screed before tiling, waterproofing before microcement, first-fix electrics before plastering
- Scheduling: keeping the programme on track so one delayed trade doesn’t cascade into delaying everyone after it
- Quality control: checking each stage of work meets standard before the next trade builds on top of it
- Single point of contact: one team accountable for the whole job, rather than a client having to chase multiple separate contractors
- Site management: keeping the site organised, safe and clean throughout the build
Why This Matters
Managing a renovation or build yourself — hiring and scheduling separate trades — can save money on paper, but it shifts all the coordination risk onto you. If the tiler shows up before the screed has cured, or the painter arrives before plastering is finished, delays and rework costs add up fast. A turnkey contractor absorbs that risk and coordination as part of the service.
Who Turnkey Contracting Suits
- Homeowners renovating or finishing a shell property who don’t want to manage multiple trades themselves
- Commercial clients who need a fit-out completed on a fixed timeline with minimal disruption
- Anyone who values one accountable team over the lowest possible per-trade price
Why Choose Shaw Contractors
We manage every trade on site as one accountable team, from first block to final handover. See our full range of services for more.
Planning a project? Contact Shaw Contractors for a free consultation.
