Design / Build with Blackdog
| Over the last 10 years the design/build concept within the remodeling
industry has become very popular. To that end many companies are
attaching the words "design/build” to their name and jumping on the band
wagon. Not all design/build is created equal so let us tell you about
our process which we have been using and refining since 1989. Blackdog's design/build system reduces risk, uncertainty, and other hidden costs of remodeling as your project design and budget are developed together. You will work together with one of Blackdog's in-house Design Consultants to develop a preliminary design, scope of work and budget. You will find that this is a collaborative effort that focuses on delivering the most value for your remodeling dollars. If you opt not to use design/build, you will typically hire an architect or professional designer to draft the proposed project and write a detailed set of specifications. You will then need to find a list of qualified builders to bid on the work. Architects and professional designers focus on the project design, usually without an in-depth knowledge or familiarity in the area of current remodeling construction costs – which are much different from traditional square-footage pricing for new construction. This often leads to a significant disconnect between what a client anticipates a project will cost and what builders deliver for prices. In this scenario you will typically do one of three things…
For instance, let's say you want to add a family room on to your house, and you want a cathedral ceiling. The design consultant can give you an accurate idea of how much more or less the project may cost with the cathedral ceiling. If it's out of budget, your designer can suggest an alternative that may achieve both your vision and budgetary goals. This collaborative process arrives at a scope of work you choose while fully understanding the costs involved. Let’s use this same example to highlight how Blackdog’s process ensures you not only get what you want but also what you need. In the previous addition example we will not make any assumptions. We will audit your home and look at all the major components and mechanical systems. If your boiler will be too small to heat the existing home and the new addition then a new upgraded boiler will be included in the scope and price. You will not find out mid-way through the work that no one considered the possibility your heating system may not be adequate. At the close of the design phase you will sign a construction agreement and your project will smoothly transition into our Production Department where we get to take your project from paper and bring it into reality. Before the remodeling process gets underway, you'll attend a pre-construction meeting with your Designer, Project Manager, and Lead Carpenter to discuss the nuances of the project, receive the schedule for the remodeling, and any special needs that the you may have in order to ensure a semblance of normalcy during the tear-down and construction phases. The Lead Carpenter assigned to your project is on the job throughout its entirety, and will also act as your point-person. While the Lead Carpenter supervises the job site, the Project Manager supervises the project. The Project Manager will coordinate all the long lead-time items as well as our pool of talented trade contractors to ensure the right materials and people show up on time. This all happens under one roof with one team that shares a common goal of making our clients Raving Fans. For more information on our process please click here. |
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