FAQs

Not necessarily. While an architect may bring valuable knowledge to a project, architectural fees typically account for 8-15% of a construction budget which may be cost prohibitive and unnecessary.

Architects may not be in tune with how much it costs to build. If the result is over budget, redesign may be necessary — at the your expense. That’s why it’s crucial to have an experienced builder, who understands the cost of construction, involved from the start.

A design + build firm brings a variety of design-related skills to your project. Depending on the scope of work, they will assemble a team which may include an architect, residential designer, structural or soil engineer, and specialty designers for components including cabinetry and interior details.

While some firms charge a flat fee for design and project development, others base their fees on a percentage of the proposed construction budget or they simply charge hourly. For most projects, we have a hybrid fee structure which includes a flat fee to design and develop a project plus hourly fees for a designer to guide you through material selections.

We start with a feasibility study, and basic conceptual drawings which gives us the information we need to produce a rough estimate of the cost to construct. At this point we are providing you with a solid price range. The choices you make going forward will determine whether you end up on the low or high end of the range.

This is also the time we will decide whether it makes sense to add one of our architects, residential designers or specialists like cabinetry and millwork designers to help develop the project and what those additional costs will be. The beauty of our design + build process is that our master builder will be involved from the start, value engineering the plans to help you get the most out of the investment you're making in your home.

Design + build firms vary widely in how they deliver a one-stop solution for their clients. For some, both the “design” and “build” hats are worn by the company owner who, armed with a CAD program and hands-on remodeling experience, personally handles the project from concept through completion. Other companies rely on a staff of designers and architects to provide the creative solution, while the production department is responsible for construction. Then, there are firms that outsource some or all of the design work, managing the design process much like they manage construction — with trade partners.

We produce some designs in house and outsource other portions because we believe it is the most efficient and cost-effective solution for our clients. Conversely, in a company where the owner is responsible for everything, the risk of miscommunication or conflict between design and production is eliminated. As a result, it would seem to be the most efficient approach. But the most efficient solution does not always produce the best results.

A design + build company with extensive internal design resources offers its clients the benefit of trained professionals working full-time in their area of expertise. For those who desire creativity over efficiency, this may be the best option. However, an in-house design staff is limited to the skills and talents of the employees, and there is a cost associated with keeping designers on the payroll.

That’s one of the reasons we outsource some of our design work. While we have the resources in house to tackle many aspects of design including space planning, product selections, and material cost / benefit analysis, we rely on a trusted circle of professionals who specialize in things like cabinetry design and structural engineering. This collaborative approach means we can put the right players on the field at the right time — and help you win the game!

In Charlotte, you can add on to your house if there is enough room in your yard and the addition meets the current NC building codes. You can call Mecklenburg County zoning at 704-336-3819 for information regarding the setbacks and space requirements for the addition you’re contemplating. Or, we can help you with this during the feasibility phase of our project development services.

If you are in Belmont, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mooresville, Weddington or Waxhaw, all building projects in these towns must first be approved by the local zoning departments. The building permit application must be signed off locally before the permit can be processed by the county. We recommend you get a survey of your property if you haven't done so recently. We can put you in touch with a surveyor if you need one.

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), requiring a down payment when the construction contract is signed is standard practice in the industry and signals a customer’s sincere intent to do the project. Typical down payments are 25% to 35% and sometimes higher depending on the type of work being done. We use a sliding scale to determine our down payments.

Larger projects require a smaller down payment with several additional payments, also known as “draw requests,” tied to milestones in the construction process such as when a foundation is complete, the plumbing and electrical is “roughed in” or when cabinetry is delivered. Smaller jobs require 50% down and the balance is due upon substantial completion. Your down payment will secure a spot on our schedule and is used to pay for the costs of starting up your job including pulling permits and ordering materials.

Remodeling involves protection of adjacent finishes, demolition, unknown conditions and significantly more cleanup and coordination. Also, if your home is found to have any hazardous materials such as lead paint or asbestos, this can increase the cost of a remodel. Remodeling is like performing surgery on your home and is significantly more challenging then building a new home. Remodeling and renovating are jobs for specialists.

If you live in a home built before 1978, there is a good chance it has lead-based paint. Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead.

In 1978, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint, and some states banned it even earlier. Lead from paint, including lead-contaminated dust, is one of the most common causes of lead poisoning. If your home was built before 1978, and you want to remodel your home, you are required to hire a Lead-Safe Certified Renovation firm. Our certification number is: RRP2183.

This varies widely based on how many square feet we’re talking about, what you are building, and your job site conditions. We recommend people start with $350 / square foot as a good starting budget for basic home remodeling. But you need to get to about 250 square feet before you can even talk in square foot terms. That’s because spaces like bathrooms can easily end up at double this cost per square foot because there are so many expensive components packed into a small space. Nevertheless, this rule of thumb separates a lot of wishful thinking from remodeling reality.