Why a Detailed Design Process is Important for your Home Remodel
February 17th, 2023 | 5 min read
By Brian Taylor
Home remodeling projects can be exciting and rewarding, but they can also be complex and challenging. A great design is not the only priority of a successful remodel. The whole design process needs to be detailed and thorough in order for you to have a positive remodeling experience.
Without a detailed design process, some aspects of the project may not be carefully considered and planned. Several problems and challenges may arise when potential issues are not accounted for in the design process before construction begins.
As a home remodeler with 15+ years of experience, we’ve worked with hundreds of clients to achieve their home remodeling dreams. We specialize not only in building beautiful finished products, but in providing you with a well-managed process as well.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn what a detailed design process looks like, what it accomplishes, and potential problems that can occur if you don’t have one.
What a thorough design process looks like
A detailed home remodeling design process typically includes several key elements:
1. Proposed conceptual range
2. An on-site detailed measure & assessment
3. Conceptual design development (3D renderings)
4. Material selection guidance
5. A detailed and thorough scope of work
6. Final construction plans
1. Conceptual Budget Range
“Know the price before moving forward.”
Receiving a proposed budget range for your remodel helps you understand if the contractor’s price will fit into your budget before you agree to move forward with the design phase.
Having an initial range is helpful because a realistic final price cannot be calculated until your design process has been completed. A good contractor and their team members will guide you through the design process so that your final price fits within the proposed conceptual budget range.
If you make changes or additions to your project’s design that bring your final price beyond your budget range, your project development advisor will bring this to your attention.
2. On-site measurement & assessment
“Let’s see what you have to see where we can go.”
Taking time to physically assess the space being remodeled is a crucial first step to having a successful project. This allows for a thorough examination of the existing conditions and constraints of your home.
Performing an on-site assessment helps to identify underlying problems with your home that a contractor would need to address outside the basic scope of remodeling. These can include rotten wood, mold, or water damage.
While not every potential problem can be identified until your home’s inner structure is visible, a detailed on-site assessment helps reveal problems that might otherwise come up only when demolition occurs.
The on-site assessment is also an important step for developing your conceptual design (see below). Precise measurements of your home’s pre-existing condition are necessary to develop this accurate and detailed 3D model.
3. Conceptual design development (3D renderings)
“We want you to see your finished product before we swing a hammer.”
Developing a conceptual design for your home remodel involves creating a 3D-modeled design and layout, showing you what the final product looks like before any construction begins.
The purpose of the conceptual design is to develop a detailed representation of your project that will be used to create accurate construction plans, which are in turn needed to acquire necessary permits.
Coming up with the final conceptual design is typically a collaborative process between yourself, your project development advisor, and your designer. Your input is essential during this process, and our goal is to digitally render your design in a practical and beautiful way so that your vision can be fine-tuned before construction.
4. Material selection guidance
“Helping you choose what’s beautiful and functional.”
When planning your home remodel, it's important to consider what materials will be used.
A detailed material selection process can make all the difference when it comes to the final outcome of your project. Professional guidance throughout your selection process makes sure the products you choose will work for you and your remodel.
By taking the time to select the right materials, you can ensure that your home remodel will be beautiful, functional, and long-lasting. Professional guidance will also help you stay within your budget.
5. Detailed scope of work
“The devil is in the details.”
A detailed scope of work is an essential document that outlines the specific tasks and activities that will be performed during your home remodel.
It serves as a blueprint for your entire project and includes information such as project tasks, materials, timelines, and conceptual designs. The scope of work also includes a detailed description of the work to be done.
Having a detailed scope of work is important for a number of reasons. First, it serves as a clear and concise communication tool for everyone involved in your project. As well, it helps ensure that everyone is on the same page during every phase of your project.
6. Final construction plans
“We’re in the home stretch. We have a clear future.”
Having detailed final construction plans are crucial to the success of your project. They are used to obtain building permits, provide workers with the details they need to construct your project, and clearly communicate your project’s plan to everyone involved.
These plans need to be as detailed as possible to ensure your project’s success.
What happens if the design process is not thorough or doesn't take all details into account
We commonly hear complaints from our clients about previous experiences with contractors who didn’t go through a detailed design process. In some of the worst cases, errors forced the project to stop or be redone because product selections weren’t completed before construction began.
Starting construction before finalizing product selection can lead to other issues as well. You may discover that the materials chosen are not functional for the intended use of your space.
You may experience incredible time delays while waiting for delivery of suitable replacements. All of this leads to undo stress and frustration as you are now spending longer in your home undergoing a major construction project.
Without a thorough and detailed design process before beginning construction, several problems are likely to occur:
- Plans and blueprints may be drawn up wrong because of incorrect measurements of your existing space.
- Structural components may be missed because a thorough site assessment wasn’t made.
- Building materials may be ordered incorrectly because your product selections are made without care and detail.
- Construction errors may be made because tradespeople have no clear scope of work.
These kinds of problems are unnecessary, costly, and can be avoided if a contractor prioritizes a detailed planning phase.
What a well-thought-out design process accomplishes
A thorough design process ensures that all aspects of your project are carefully considered and planned. It sets the foundation for the entire project so that the final outcome matches the vision that compelled you to remodel your home in the first place.
Additionally, a detailed design phase prevents misunderstandings and disagreements between you, your contractor, and trades workers by clearly outlining expectations and responsibilities for your project.
As well, a thorough design process helps to keep your project on schedule and within budget. Detailing your project’s materials and labor before construction begins helps to set these most accurately.
Next steps for finding a contractor with a detailed design process
Not prioritizing a detailed and thorough design process can lead you to hire an inexperienced contractor for your home remodel, resulting in a stressful, frustrating remodeling experience and a potentially poor final product.
A contractor who pays attention to detail ensures that all aspects of your project are carefully considered and accounted for. A thorough design process makes sure that potential issues are identified and addressed before construction begins.
As a home remodeler with 15+ years of experience working with clients to achieve their home remodeling dreams, we build beautiful home spaces on the foundation of a detailed and thorough design process. We value giving you a positive remodeling experience as well as a beautiful finished product.
Interested in our detailed design process? book a consultation with one of our project development advisors. They would be happy to discuss your project’s details with you and see if Custom Built is the right home remodeler for you.
To learn more about home remodeling you may be interested in reading the following:
Brian brings 20+ years of experience in the home remodeling industry to the table. He’s worked with families in all areas of whole home performance (science-backed solutions for home health, safety, comfort, and efficiency), residential renewable energy, conservation, foundation, and hydrostatic issues and solutions.
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