Designing a home and constructing it are two elements of building or renovating a house/building. Design build is an integrated process wherein you hand over the responsibility of designing your home and constructing it to a single source. Design build started way back in the Mesopotamian days and has continued to exist in the name of the "Master Builder' concept.
Design build is now emerging as the preferred method of construction/renovation for home owners and commercial builders aside. In this approach the designer and contractor work hand in hand to produce congruent results.
Benefits of using a Design Build Contractor
Cost cutting - Design build contractors can save you money on the overall project, however does not focus on the cost of construction alone. The cost of options in construction or remodeling and changes are decided upon during the phase of designing and does not act as an extra expense during the construction phase.
One source - If you choose a Design build process, you only have to deal with one source for all your requirements. This eliminates the need to run after contractors, designers and consultants individually, saving you time and energy. Payments, change in design, queries, permissions and construction related issues are routed through one channel.
Faster completion - Your project will be over well within time or even earlier since designing and construction happens simultaneously. In other typical design then construct cases, there is a time lapse between finalizing the design with your designer and then talking to your contractor about the project before beginning work on the same. A process called "fast-track' is possible here which involves the contractor beginning basic work such as foundation and grading while the final details are finalized.
- In the design-build process a reliable estimate of the cost and a precise budget plan is drawn before starting the project.
- In a typical case involving a contractor bidding for a project, precise details about the project need to be provided initially. This is eliminated in the design-build process and it offers more flexibility to the house owner.
The Process
The design-build process starts with an initial meeting between the client and the contractor to discuss the client requirement and the contractor's qualifications. An estimate of the project and its feasibility is also drawn out. The budget and the design as well as restrictions and permissions are then drawn out and discussed. The contractor then provides the client with an estimate based on the design specifications and also offers choices in terms of designs and construction. Once the final contract has been drawn, the next step is applying for permission. The construction and financing process then follows.
Posted by: TrustedPros