Design-build in one sentence
A design-build renovation company handles the design, the pricing and the construction of your project itself, so you deal with one team and sign one contract instead of hiring a designer and a builder separately.
The traditional way, and where it goes wrong
In the traditional approach, you hire a designer or architect first. They draw the project, then you take the drawings to two or three builders for prices. It works, and some homeowners prefer it.
The common problem is the gap between the two. A design is finished before anyone has priced it, so the quotes come back well over budget and the design has to be cut back or redrawn. When something on site does not match the drawings, the builder and the designer each point to the other, and the homeowner is left in the middle.
How design-build works at Kay2
- Consultation. A complimentary conversation about your home, how you want to live in it and what has to be included.
- Budget. An estimator shapes your wish list into a scope and budget before design starts, so the drawings are aimed at a number you are comfortable with.
- Design. Our designers draw the project and you choose finishes in person at the Kay2 Showroom and Design Centre, while estimators check that every choice fits the budget.
- Fixed price. Once the design is complete, the whole project is priced on a fixed-price contract before construction starts.
- Build. One project manager runs the site from start to handover, with a weekly status email so you always know what is next.
The advantages
- The design is priced while it is being drawn, so there are far fewer budget surprises.
- One contract and one point of contact, so nobody can blame someone else.
- Builders look at the design early, which catches problems on paper instead of on site.
- Design and ordering overlap, so long-lead items like cabinetry and windows can be ordered sooner.
- At Kay2, in-house design is included at no extra charge.
When separate design and build can make sense
Design-build is not the only good way to renovate. If you already have an architect you trust, or finished drawings in hand, a builder can price and build from those. And if you want several builders competing on an identical set of drawings, the traditional route gives you that. The trade-off is that pricing happens late and coordination falls more on you.
Questions to ask a design-build company
- Are the designers on staff, or is design subcontracted?
- When do I get a firm price, and is it a fixed price or an estimate?
- Who manages the site day to day, and will that person stay with my project?
- Can I see finished projects like mine, and talk to past clients?
- Where do I choose finishes, and can I see them in person?
Our guide to choosing a renovation contractor covers licences, insurance and contracts in more detail.
Why Kay2 works this way
Kay2 has been a design-build firm since it was founded in 2014. Our designers, estimators, project managers and crews work under one roof in SE Calgary, and both of our BILD Calgary Region Renovator of the Year titles were for projects designed and built by that one team. If you would like to see how it works for your home, book a consultation.
Talk it through with Kay2
Every project starts with a complimentary consultation with one of our estimators.
