Our Process

We believe in creating a positive, integrated experience for our clients from start to finish, whether you are considering a few minor home repairs, a remodeling project, or building a completely new home. Our goal is to make the construction process a smooth and enjoyable one. The following is an outline of how our team works to complete your project.

Pre-Construction Phase

Before our craftspeople bring their tools to your home, we need to prepare a clear plan so that we can provide you with the results that you expect. This phase must be completed before construction can begin and may cost 10-20% of your construction budget, depending on the complexity and scale of your project. The Pre-Construction phase includes the following steps:

Dream.
From big dreams to little ideas, we are here to help make it happen and guide you through the process. Once you have gathered your thoughts and goals, contact us to start a discussion about your project. We will set an appointment for our Project Manager to see your space and review your project dreams. We provide initial site visits for free!

Budget.
Your budget is the key factor that shapes your project and remodeling decisions. We will discuss your budget expectations during our first meeting. Most bathroom remodels cost between $20,000 and $60,000 depending on the size, extent of the remodel, finishes, and fixtures. Most kitchen remodels average around $60,000 depending on the size, extent, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, finishes, and fixtures. New construction averages around $300-600 per square foot, again depending on finishes and fixtures. We provide detailed budget revisions as we move through the Pre-Construction phase so that you can anticipate how much the work will cost and to arrive on a scope and budget that fits your needs.

Design.
Once we understand your project goals and the budget you are working with, we will design our project scope and plans. If your project requires a building permit, we will collaborate with our team of talented architects, drafters, and engineers to prepare a permit plan set. Any new construction, additions, and remodels involving changes/movement to walls, windows, electrical circuits, plumbing connections will require a building permit. If your project does not need a permit, we can provide sketches, photo renderings, and finish/fixture selection boards to help you design your project.

Refine.
The Design process may take many meetings to review your preferences and obtain your feedback. Whether it is reviewing tile samples and light fixture options, or the floor plan layout, we will continue to refine our designs until we arrive at a plan that you love and that fits your budget. Discussing the many details during this phase will make for a successful construction project, a smoother experience, and will help minimize construction costs. This phase also helps us plan our construction schedule and timelines so that you will be prepared for what will happen when.

Permit.
Once you approve our final design, project budget, and plans, we will submit the drawings to the appropriate building department for permit approval. We follow up with department staff regularly to make sure that your project moves through plan check efficiently. Our Project Managers respond to questions and change requests with the help of our design team. Once the building plans are approved and a permit is issued, we will prepare one final updated construction budget to incorporate any changes that may have occurred during the plan review process.

Contract.
Once we have a final budget and you are ready to move forward, we will provide you with a home improvement construction contract. With your signature and deposit ($1,000 or 10% of your budget, whichever is less), we can move into the Construction Phase!

Construction Phase

Prepare.
Our Construction team will meet to review your project plans, scope, and budget. They will coordinate all the tools and materials that they need to build your project. We will have a kick off meeting at your project site to introduce our team members that will be working on your project, review existing conditions, and begin protecting your worksite.

Construct.
Once our plans are designed, permits are in hand, and contracts are signed, it is our time to shine. Our skilled craftspeople include carpenters, plumbers, trained HVAC installers, drywall installers, tile setters, and painters. Having a skilled team enables our crew to manage the details of your construction project to a higher level than most general contractors that must hire multiple subcontractors. We will provide you with detailed progress reports with our weekly invoices that compare your actual construction costs to your budget. Your Construction Foreman will be your primary point of contact during the construction process, and your Project Manager is available to answer questions throughout the lifecycle of your project.

Accommodate.
As we move through the construction phase, and especially with remodels, it is inevitable that the unexpected will arise or that changes will need to be made. Many homes in Humboldt have experienced deferred maintenance and we often discover repairs that need to be made under the surface once we begin tearing into walls and exploring crawlspaces. Many clients change their minds throughout the construction phase, adding new scopes of work or changing fixtures. While we work to avoid these changes with our thorough Pre-Construction process, we know that change happens! We will provide detailed budgets for any work exceeding an 8-hr workday for your approval via email. Smaller changes can be accommodated on the fly – but they can add up!

Finish.
Our goal is to complete your project on schedule and on budget. The last few days of construction will involve a punch list of tasks to make sure we finish each little detail to leave you with a wonderful sparkling new living space.