Often our customers  come to us with sketches of ideas, floor plans, and photos of their dream home. We help them incorporate those diverse ideas into a cohesive design to achieve their goals while keeping within their budget.

Design

we begin with an introductory meeting or two to give the customer an opportunity to meet our team.  If they consider us a good fit,   we get started with design. 

It’s necessary for us to know where the house is going to be built.  We design a house to complement its site  and to take best advantage of views, energy savings gained through solar orientation, shading, trees etc. 

(right)  site photo, 4/1/2010

The site is particularly important if the customer wants heating and cooling bills to be as low as possible.  If we minimize heat gain through windows in the summer we sizably reduce our cooling costs.  If we welcome heat gain through windows in the winter, we likewise reduce our heating costs.  Both can be achieved by something as simple as which direction the windows face, and how wide the roof overhang is. 

(right) sun path as it relates to building orientation; Illustrates passive solar design 

After considering optimal placement of the house on the site we follow through with the design.  We arrange the interior space at the customer’s direction with an eye for optimal flow, comfort, and beauty. 

The first milestone in the design process is the assembly of a Conceptual Design.  To get to that point we will have usually put together several draft versions of floor plans and drawings of the exterior to indicate what the house is to look like.  After each draft we meet with the customer, get their feedback, and incorporate their changes into the next version. 

With our routine, the last step in the design process is bidding.  While we put the design together we stay focused on keeping project costs within the customer’s budget.  To make sure we hit that budget target  we  include bidding as part of the Design Phase.  Then, if bid costs exceed the customers budget we can go back to the drawing board. 

Financing

Most of our customers need to borrow funds to pay for the construction of their new home.  Lenders will evaluate a loan application for a custom home both on the basis of the borrower’s ability to repay, and on the characteristics of the proposed project as they relate to other homes in the neighborhood.  For that reason it’s wise for people to visit a lender early  to determine how large a loan they’d be eligible for.  Likewise, it is prudent for local market conditions to inform the design of a house every step of the way. That is how a bank is going to look at the project.

Our design phase culminates with a set of plans and specs describing how the house is to be built, and a bid from us to build it that way.  That is the information a lender will need to evaluate.

Construction

Once financing is arranged it’s time to start building!  Throughout construction we employ the best practices to result in a sturdy, well built home to stand the test of time.  For example, we make sure to flash properly at windows, wall and roof penetrations, and roof to wall junctions – basically anywhere water can get in. No leaks = no rotting wood = durable, long lasting assemblies.

Throughout construction, we communicate frequently with the customer. Especially focusing on the schedule and special features, and how costs are running.  We also make sure that key players on the construction team each understand their special parts.  Clear understanding among talented subcontractors results in well coordinated work done right the first time.