When in the process of getting acquainted with an architect or design professional you may hear the term design build thrown into the conversation at some point. Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design-build for explanation. Design Build is a process where the designing of the project and the actual building of the project overlap to some degree. This is to say that in an effort to save time the project will proceed while the planning is being completed, hopefully keeping ahead of the construction crew so as to not have any down time due to late planning. This can work well on larger projects such as hotels or shopping malls where the long duration of the project provides ample time to complete the subsequent planning. However, smaller jobs such as residential remodel jobs do not span such a time to allow for planning as you go. These projects are often very fast track in nature and move along much too quickly and are often brought to a halt due to the lack of some planning. Unfortunately, the term design build has been misused and contorted to the extent that many people- and some contractors- believe it to mean "design it on the fly", or "design it this morning and build it this afternoon". The logistics of building and remodeling simply do not allow for this unless you enjoy frustration and many additional costs. This is why we suggest that for all construction and remodel jobs, residential or commercial, the planning should be as detailed and complete as can be prior to commencing. This opinion comes from years of experience.
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REMODELING 101
