Gone are the days of remodeling horror stories when you choose the right delivery method for your kitchen, bathroom, or whole home remodel. Your remodel can be smooth, stress-free, within your budget, reach your design goals, and finish on time. How? By hiring a design-build firm to take your project from concept to construction. Read on to find out why.
What You Need to Know About Design-Build vs Design-Bid-Build?
The two main construction delivery methods for completing any remodeling project are design-build and design-bid-build. Let's explore the differences and what you can expect during the design-build process.
What is the Design-Bid-Build Process?
Most are familiar with the traditional or old remodeling method where an architect and builder are hired separately. This process, the design-bid-build method, is unnecessarily complicated and full of opportunities for errors.
Here's how the design-bid-build method will typically go: hire an architect, get drawings made, look for builders, get bids, accept a bid, sign contracts, then leap through hoop after hoop to overcome miscommunication, bad professional relationships, going over budget, and not being satisfied with the job in the end.
A lot of the remodeling horror stories you'll hear from friends and family are due to this older method.
What is the Design-Build Process?
What does "design-build" mean? The design-build definition is a delivery method with a single professional team working under one roof, providing unified design decision-making, cost savings, a shorter timeline, and a single point of contact.
As the homeowner, you benefit from established communication, shared knowledge, and design know-how. The design-build construction delivery method provides all the services you need—including project design, architectural drawings, product selection, and construction. You'll have your entire team working together from the start, making for a streamlined process.
When your priority is to have a remodel that is easy, efficient, and creates the rooms of your dreams, then opting for a reliable design-build firm is the best possible decision.
Why is Design-Build Worth It?
Design-build companies provide everything under one roof, from design to design-build custom construction. The best part? You get the best of both worlds! With your design-build architect and your design-build contractor working together from the start, you're reaping the benefits. What are all of the advantages of working with a design-build firm?
1. One Point of Contact
With a design-build remodel, you will have one point of contact. But if, instead, you choose to work with multiple professionals, you may have a contact for their designer, then possibly several for construction. In most cases, you would have to contact the individual contractors working in your homes.
Imagine if you were designing a garden. Would you want one worker to plant the radishes, another the carrots, a third to plant the potatoes, and a fourth to plow and fertilize? Obviously, without effective communication with each worker, that garden could become a field of weeds, instead of dreams.
When you have to communicate with numerous workers, that increases the possibility of issues, like miscommunication and conflicts. Things tend to slip through the cracks and can add unnecessary stress to you and your family throughout the project.
2. A Simplified Building Process
Design-build companies are there every step of the way during the process. They have experience in designing and ordering materials as well as the specialists to complete the construction phase.
In addition, a great design-build company will involve you, the homeowner, throughout the process. If there is a design issue, you can point it out, and the designer and construction manager will work together to devise a cost-effective solution. Being involved in every facet of your project means you control everything without having to be the messenger between two separate professionals. A holistic approach to your remodel helps eliminate many of the common concerns associated with the remodeling process.
3. Accurate Prices and Cost-Effectiveness
When you opt for a design-build company for your remodel, you are given a more accurate price and control over your budget. Honesty and transparency are built right into the design-build process so you'll have real prices as well as cost-saving alternatives so there are no surprises down the road.
If you were to do your remodel the traditional way, you might find your designer ends up charging more, or perhaps your construction crew members claim that they must add thousands to your budget. Design-build companies eliminate these types of surprises by controlling costs and passing along the potential savings to their customers.
Does that mean there will not be unforeseen issues arising in the budget? Not necessarily. After all, any remodel can be derailed if a wall is removed only to discover mold or old termite damage. However, these are drastic situations that are often unpredictable, and most issues are mitigated by a design-build approach.
4. A Specialist Takes Care of Everything
Years ago, some professionals were termed “master builders.” These master builders would be able to handle any part of the building process, whether it was laying the floor or installing new plumbing. The design-bid-build process did away with master builders and instead out-sourcing these jobs.
Design-build companies are rekindling the master builder era by employing top-notch craftsmen for every piece of the remodeling project, which is great news for you and your remodel!
A design-build company will have all the masters needed to complete your remodel. For example, if your kitchen remodel requires new plumbing, there will be a professional on staff to handle everything. And, if your bathroom remodel requires a professional to install new tile or a special light fixture, there will be a seasoned pro available for the work.
No matter the job, their expertise can minimize issues and produce beautiful, finished results. Whether it’s new cabinets, an updated countertop, or energy-efficient lighting systems, a seasoned and vetted professional helps make the job run smoothly.
5. Unique Designs are Guaranteed
When working with a design-build company, the designers on staff help guide you through the design process and materials selections based on your wants and needs. By pinpointing the precise details of your dream space, a skilled designer helps make the process more efficient with results that meet or often exceed your expectations. Employing a design-build firm is appealing to so many homeowners because, ultimately, the end result reflects their vision—every time.
6. The Design-Build Timeline is Shorter
When remodeling your home, working with one company shortens the time frame for a completed project. If you are on a tight schedule, design-build companies can almost always fit a remodel within your time frame. By skipping unnecessary steps that are included in the design-bid-build method, like the bid process and endless redesigns, your remodel can be completed in a shorter timeline.
7. Minimized Risks
One of the design-build advantages is the ability to minimize risks. A significant remodeling headache for many homeowners is that problem-solving becomes their responsibility. The main problem with that is, chances are, you're not an architect or professional builder! A design-build firm will guide the process of finding an answer to any issue and mitigate the fallout and stress.
Thanks to a design-build process, contingency plans are often in place, budgets are set and the risk for homeowners is minimal.
8. Cohesion and Collaboration
The same expert team that creates your architectural designs will also bring them to life. The traditional design-bid-build approach often leads to inconsistencies and varying bids for the same project. The designers and builders collaborate closely from the outset in the design-build method, guaranteeing that your vision is achievable, with all materials and labor accurately accounted for within your budget.
This way, your quote is the price you pay, safeguarding you from the all-too-common scenario of escalating costs. Should you opt to change materials after the design-build agreement is signed, a change order would be the only reason for a price adjustment, with no steps taken without your explicit approval. You're a vital partner throughout the entire process, ensuring your involvement and satisfaction from conception to completion.
9. Open Communication
In any remodeling project, open communication is a must-have. Design-build firms function based on open communication, with the homeowner and across the entire team, guaranteeing a successful remodeling result.
Effective open communication reduces stress due to being thoroughly informed throughout the process, mitigating shocking surprises along the way.
Schedule a Consultation for Your Suncoast Remodel
We’ve explained the value of choosing a design-build team for your bathroom, kitchen, or whole home remodeling project.
If you are ready to remodel your home, it's time to schedule a consultation with Gilbert Design Build. The term “design-build” is proudly included in our name as we offer a streamlined process to give you the remodel you have always wanted!
Contact us today or call us at 941-757-3395 to get started!
