DIY Versus Hiring a Professional Columbus Area Remodeler

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At the end of the day, how long a remodel will take depends on the manpower and design expertise of those undertaking the project. While it may seem exciting to undertake a minor household repair and make choices on the fly, there are definitely times to consider turning the project over to a reputable Ohio design build company.

 

Local and State Building Codes

Many remodeling projects to your home require permitting from local municipalities. This process was created to keep homeowners safe from performing dangerous modifications to their home. Failure to comply with your local building department could result in fines. Homeowners performing their own structural, plumbing, or electrical work may also bring their homeowners insurance out of compliance. If the work results in a plumbing disaster or a fire, the homeowner may not be covered by their insurance company to help resolve the damages.

 

Proper Planning is Key

It may seem like choosing a design-build firm will end up limiting your freedom of design choices. However, keep in mind that the design build team will always keep your budget in mind, as well as the various limitations of your space. Making sure a remodel goes smoothly involves proper, in-depth planning that a design build firm will make sure that you have. If you jump into a project with just ideas, you may end up changing your mind and having to spend extra money to re-do parts that have already been partially completed. That not only wastes money, but plenty of time, as well.

 

With almost any project, there are bound to be some changes made during the building process. This is completely normal to want to change things while you’re at it. Using a design-build firm actually makes change orders much easier, and since it’s drawn out in the scope of work when certain products are to arrive and certain work is to be done, it’s more clear when certain changes can still be made without much hassle. If you’re doing it on the fly, the project can stall for days, weeks, or even months because of seemingly simple changes, especially when new product is involved.

 

Staying On Time and On Budget

Remodeling can be an exciting adventure. Why let budget get in your way? Well, unfortunately budget is a very real thing. If not properly planned around can lead to projects being stalled indefinitely. Also, some parts of a project can take longer than you might expect. By working with a design build firm, you can prevent some project delays by not having to wait on trades such as electrical and plumbing. Especially with one-stop shop companies that have some or all of the trades working directly for them, you can get the services you need more reliably without having to put the entire project on hold while the electrician or plumber clears their calendars.

 

The problem with remodeling on the fly is that you’re really at the whim of not only contractor and tradespeople schedules, but your own as well. With a design build company, you’ll have a project manager all the way through. If you’re going on the fly, sure, you may have a project manager. But if the project hits a snag, you may end up having to switch contractors and involve a brand new project manager to bring up to speed. This costs everyone involved time and money. So it might be an adventure, but it’s not going to be a fun one.

 

Getting Dedication All the Way Through

If you’re undertaking any sort of major project, it’s best to involve a dedicated design build firm who will offer a full scope of work. This way, you have some guarantee when things will be completed and when. You’ll also have a good idea of where the budget will stand and when certain aspects of the project will be worked on, allowing you to plan accordingly. Because of how complicated remodeling projects can become, having guidance and assistance is extremely important. Don’t feel bad hiring a design build firm. Feel good that you’ve saved yourself so much frustration, time, and money.

 

Overall Quality

Each phase of the remodel requires foresight and planning in order to make the finished product look complete. Your Ohio Design Build Company will have experience in both design and quality craftsmanship. Knowing what will work, and what “just won’t look right” is a huge factor in how your remodel comes out. There is nothing worse than completing an expensive remodel and you are unhappy with the quality and finish of the end product. Consider all of these factors before you consider your next DIY project.

Why Renovating Without a Budget is Bad

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If you’re getting ready to do a home renovation, don’t just haphazardly start making purchases. Hire a contractor and figure out a budget together to make it worth your while. There are many reasons why renovating without a budget is bad for you, as well as your home. Here are some of the main things to consider. Read more

Why You Should Pull a Remodeling Permit

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Applying for a permit can be a hassle, but it is a very important step when doing many types of remodeling projects. You can encounter a number of problems if you don’t go through this process. Read more

Five Things to Consider Before Remodeling your Columbus Kitchen

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Remodeling the kitchen can give the home a fresh new feel and gives the owners a chance to entertain friends and family in a modern and comfortable space. Remodeling a kitchen is a “project”, but gathering some initial information and following a proven process will make the project be smooth and successful.

While a great Design/Build Contractor may have their own internal process for Planning, Designing, and Building a Kitchen, the Homeowner also has some internal housekeeping to consider. Here are five things that should be done before calling your Columbus Design/Build Kitchen Contractor:

Get everyone involved.

Consult with your significant other regarding changes that you may like to make. Consulting with a spouse can make the remodeling process less stressful and it gives a fair chance of feedback. The couple should agree on a price to avoid spending too much money on the project.

Select a “main point of contact”.

One person should be in charge of all communication with your Design Build Contractor. This makes flow of information more reliable. Establish a single phone number and email at which your Contractor will communicate with. Establish backup persons in case of an emergency.

Establish a Comfortable Budget

Determining a budget can decrease the chances of overspending. It’s very important to meet the requirements of your dream and your spending limit. Do not choose to remodel something that’s not required over something that needs attention immediately. Prioritizing can help reduce stress and spending. Before you enter a design arrangement, relay your budget in order to avoid “over designing” your dream and being disappointed. Your contractor should be able to give you facts and figures using the “Cost Versus Value Report”, a Nationally recognized resource for establish base project budgets.

Discuss Budget with your Design Build Contractor

If you feel your contractor is not trustworthy to share your budget with, it’s time to find a new contractor. You need to have an open and honest business relationship if you’re going to make it through the project happily. Selecting a trustworthy contractor is important when allowing them into your home. Selecting a company that screens all employees essential.  While selecting a trustworthy contractor it’s very important to be detailed about your expectations. A contractor who can agree on the negotiated price, project and time frame is the one to select.

Select a time that’s best for the remodeling process to begin

A typical kitchen project can take anywhere from 8-12 weeks. This time could be longer if you are involving other projects in the home. Timing is everything especially when it comes to important projects. The best time to begin a remodeling process is when the space is unoccupied. Using the space while under construction can cause interruption and possibly accidents. Do you have pets, kids, or grumpy neighbors? Think about these things and relay them to your contractor before your project is scheduled.

 

Take these 5 points into consideration,  share them with your contractor, and you will be on your way to beginning the Design / Build process of building your dream kitchen!

Design Build Done Right – General Guidelines & Best Practices

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Design Build is a popular process for homeowners that undertaking major remodels. But how do you know that you are getting the most out of the design-build process? To help you set some expectations, the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) suggests four best practices DesignBuildwhen it comes to executing design build projects. We promise to deliver on these promises and more.

Our whole construction firm, from inception, is founded on the goal of delivering a superior remodeling experience, and delivering projects that stand the test of time.

#1 All design-build team members should be educated and trained in the design-build process, and be knowledgeable of the differences between design-build and other delivery systems.

Design-build teams should always have members that are well-educated and experienced in the process, but also must be well suited to the necessarily collaborative nature of the design-build process. In design-build, the design and construction teams work closely at each stage of the project. It’s not design then build, but rather an ongoing collaboration. Also, the best design-build teams will either have experienced tradespersons on hand or have access to tradespersons that are used to working on design-build projects.

#2 The project team should establish logistics and infrastructure to support integrated project delivery.

A project’s success is always going to depend on the collaborative abilities of the team, but communication is paramount in design-build projects. It’s recommended that design-build teams should always try to have their design and construction teams both working on location whenever possible to streamline communication so that unnecessary delays don’t occur. The process should be well-understood by all and any changes that need to be made should be expedited as soon as possible.

#3 The project team, at the outset of the project, should establish processes to facilitate timely and effective communication, collaboration, and issue resolution.

One of the best things about the design-build process is that there should be regular monitoring of the project’s progress and clear communication with the homeowners. These open lines of communication are paramount during the design-build process so that all parties involved understand where everything stands at any given point.

As a homeowner, however, it’s important to be prepared to make timely decisions when they are needed. You should have the expertise and experience of the design-build staff to help you, though, and should quickly and completely explain any issues that may impact the overall project cost or schedule as outlined in the original scope of work/contract. If you need to make a decision, it should be a very well-informed decision.

#4 The project team should focus on the design management and commissioning/turnover processes and ensure that there is alignment among the team as to how to execute these processes.

Essentially, this means that both parties, homeowner and contractor, should understand the level of involvement and effort required depending on the scope of the project. The DBIA suggests that the contractor should also dedicate sufficient resources to foster the most collaborative environment for the work. Also, per the DBIA, it is our responsibility to develop a design plan that keeps you as the homeowner engaged in the entire process. It’s our job to make sure that you get to meet regularly with key members of our design-build team to know exactly where things stand.

Both homeowner and design-builder should be in agreement on how the design and construction processes will go.  There should be a realistic plan which does everything possible to be in harmony with both parties’ schedule and other project-specific goals.

It is up to us to ensure that advances in design and any changes to the project and related documents are completely tracked. There should be a clear understanding as to when the homeowners are integrated into the decision-making process and be notified of any design changes.

Design-build teams also establish what is called a “trend system” towards the beginning of the design process. Using a trend system helps identify, track and evaluate any potential changes before they can adversely impact the project’s cost or schedule. It is also our responsibility to clearly and immediately communicate any potential issues that would be found using the trend system to the homeowners.

Using these best practices, you can be sure that your design-build project will be done right. Peace of mind and a fantastic end result are two of the greatest benefits of using such a collaborative system. After considering these points,  we hope you will choose us as your design-build partner for your next project.

 

Should You Move Out During Your Whole House Remodel?

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This is a big question, and it is one that you need to think about carefully. If you have never stayed in your home while it is being remodelled, you will have no idea of what it is like or whether you need to get out of the way. There are a lot of things to consider, and there is no single right answer – it will be a different case for every individual. However, we have gathered a few things here that you can consider before making the decision, to help you go in the right direction for you.

Think about costs

movedThis is the first thing on the minds of most homeowners, but it is not as straightforward an answer as you might think. If you stay home, instead of renting or going to a hotel, then you will save money, right? Well, maybe not. Some contractors charge more when they know that you will be staying on. This is because it makes the work more complicated for them. It is worth asking them for a quote in each situation so that you can weigh up the costs and benefits of either side.

Consider the scale

If you are just having the end of one room done, then maybe you will be alright to stay home. But if more than half of the property is affected, or all of the bathrooms, or the kitchen, you will have big problems if you stay. The same is true if work would involve taking off all or part of the roof temporarily. Consider the noise, too, and the amount of workmen involved. This may influence your decision, as there is only so much that you can put up with for an extended period of time.

Kids and pets

If you have either of the two above family members staying in your home, and then moving out might be a better option. Both children and pets need to be kept safe and away from construction work. Will their ears be too sensitive to be around machine work? Will they be easily injured if they stray too close to the work? You can put in temporary child gates or plastic sheeting, but you cannot guarantee that nothing will happen. It may also make them cranky – crying kids and howling dogs are no fun when you already have to contend with the construction noise.

Consider cleaning requirements

It can get very old, very fast to try and clean up the house when it is undergoing a remodel. Dust and dirt will get everywhere, especially if you have a wall coming down at any point. If you have part of your home inaccessible for a time, this may also cause other complications. You might have to clean dishes in the bath or sink, take clothes to a dry cleaner, or head to a neighbour’s house for a shower. How long can you put up with that for?