What is Design Build Remodeling?

Design Build Remodeling

A Streamlined Approach to Remodeling Your Home

McManus Kitchen and Bath is the only licensed contractor in Tallahassee with an in-house design team and showroom. 

If you're planning a major home remodel, doing it with a design-build firm could save you headaches and heartache. Here's what you need to know about the advantages of design-build remodeling.

This process brings design, product selection, and construction under one roof. That means better communication, less confusion, and a smoother experience for you. Design-build firms also have experts in both design and construction/installation. So you get a beautifully designed remodel that's also well-built and functions properly.

With unbiased guidance on products from their in-house designers, daily project management, and quality control, design-build firms deliver a less stressful, higher quality remodel.

Design Build Remodeling Has Many Benefits:

Instead of trying to coordinate separate designers, showrooms and remodeling contractors design build remodeling by McManus Kitchen and Bath  provides a single place where you can meet 1 on 1 with your whole project team.

higher Quality Workmanship

The best installers want to work with companies that make it easier for them to perform their craft

Better Designs & Material Selections

Unbiased advice from experienced designers & a top notch showroom

a more enjoyable Remodeling Experience

Great Communication & Professional Project Management

Schedule a Consult

There Are 6 Critical Elements For a Successful Remodel

Save time, money and hassle!

The 6 Elements are: 

1. Accurate Initial Estimates: So you can budget and plan properly and avoid surprise costs.

2. Design, Material Selection and Planning: Detailed design work, materail specs and plans are cheap insurance against mistakes, delays and regrets.  Your project schedule should also be created in design.

3. Ordering & Material Management: To avoid delays, check for damage or defects and keep your home clutter free.

4. Quality Construction: Relationships with qualified installers and trade partners to build the project is very important. Too many contractors simply hire a handyman or shop for the low bidder.

5. Project Management: So you know who to expect in your home and when. Project managers handle permits and inspections, do quality control, and generally make sure things are built on time and on budget

6. Follow Up and Warranty: To provide service and trust

Comparing Options

In order to really understand the benefits of design build remodeling its helpful to first understand the other options.

Draftsman

They are used mostly for additions and exterior improvements. They do not provide estimates or material selection services.

Interior Designer

Interior designers need to have a 4 year degree in Interior Design and be certified. They lack construction training/knowledge and generally do not provide estimates. They are also not trained in kitchen/bath design unless they are also NKBA certified.

Decorator

A decorator does not have a degree, formal traininig or certification. They are just someone who says they do design. Great for home staging, picking paint colors or furniture but not qualified for remodeling design unless they have years of expereince and NKBA certification.

Kitchen and Bath Designer

A designer or interior designer that is also trained and certified in kitchen and bath design. K&B designers are certified by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

Great for simple kitchen or bath design but for larger projects someone with a combination of interior design and Kitchen/bath design skills is ideal.

They can provide pricing for cabinets and counters but not construction.

Architects

Architects also have a 4 year degree like interior designers. They get a lot of training in form, layout and home design. They a do not get training in kitchen and bath design. Architects do not provide pricing, they rely on contractors for that.

Alternatives to Design Build Remodeling

The alternative is to hire a contractor and designer separately, visit various showroom all over town to select materials and work to coordinate all these elements into a final project plan.

Hire a designer

Who will create a design and refer you to a contactor for pricing.

Hire a contractor

Who will provide you pricing and refer you to a designer to do the design

Work with a showroom

Some cabinet showrooms will create a design and then refer you to a designer to complete the details and a contractor to price things.

DIY the design and selections

And find a contractor on your own.

None of these approaches is ideal for a complex project like a kitchen or bath remodel. Compared to design build remodeling they all can lead to more confusion, missed opportunies and mistakes.

How it works if you: 

Start By Hiring a Designer

There are different kinds of designers as you can see from the chart above. Kitchen and bath design is a unique subset of Interior design and requires specialized training and experience to do well.

Pro's

• A qualified interior designer can help you clarify ideas and choose materials
• They can do intial drawings to help you visualize the project
• They may know some contractors who can help

Challenges

• They don't know much about building code or installation details
• They don't create estimates, they refer you to a contractor for that.
• They are not product experts, they rely on partner showrooms
• Many designers make money from marking up materials they find for you in addition to their hourly fee
• Coordinating design and selections with the contractor can be challenging and lead to miscommunication and delays

Start B y Hiring a Contractor

There are many different types of contractors. A new construction contractor for example is very different from a kitchen remodeling contractor.

Pro's

• Contractors can create an initial estimate for you, though they know more about labor costs than they do material costs
• Qualified contractors do know a great deal about installation and building code

Challenges

• Most contractors do not provide design services
• They do not help with product selection.
• You will usually be responsible ordering materials
• Coordinating design and selections with the designer/showroom can be challenging and lead to miscommunication and delays

Start By Visiting A Showroom

For a remodeling project you most likely will need to visit a cabinet showrom, countertop showroom, plumbing showroom, and lighting showroom.

Some cabinet and countertop showrooms try to act as 'contractors' as well. That can lead to some problems as not only do they lack experience to do this but they are not licensed to do it either

Pro's

• They have product expertise in the materials they carry. 

Challenges

• Conflicting Advice - As an example when you visit one flooring store they want to sell you their products. When you visit another you get different advice that favors their products. This can get confusing.
• Limited Understanding of the Complete Design - When you visit separate showrooms the sales staff don't know your complete design so they advice they offer is also hampered a bit.
• Time consuming - visiting 4 or 5 showrooms takes time
• Coordination - who orders the material, where will it be stored etc...

The Best Approach: Hire A Design Build Remodeling Company

Design Build Firms are perfect for kitchen and bathroom remodels because they combine design expertise with knowledge of proper installaiton and buidling code.

They also manage the entire project from start to finsih which can take a lot of stress off of the homeowner.

• One stop shopping saves time and effort, plus they pass on vendor discounts
• Design work is done in house by a certified designer.
• A design build contractor with a showroom will also help with all your product selections and ordering
• Expertise in installation and building code.
• Everything is managed by one person which makes scheduling and project coordination much easier
• The contractor will help you with all design decisions and place all orders
• Warranty covers labor and materails.