Flexibility, Cost Savings Lead to Rise in Design-Build Remodeling Projects

In the construction industry, the traditional way of
completing a project means getting a design from an
architect, soliciting bids for the work, and selecting a
general contractor to complete the work. Known as
"design-bid-build," this method is still very much the norm
in home construction.

But another approach - the Design-Build method - has seen a
resurgence in recent years, thanks to a skyrocketing
remodeling industry and the unique challenges presented by
remodeling work.

"There's a big difference between new building compared
with tie-ins to existing homes," says Ed Campbell,
Operations Manager for G.M. Roth, a Nashua, NH-based home
remodeling firm. "That's why about 70% of remodeling
designs created by architects never make it to the actual
construction phase."

Design-Build dates back as far as ancient Greece, where
great works like the Parthenon rose under the watchful eye
of a "Master Builder," responsible for both the design and
the construction.

Today, such master builders are known by many different
terms - "project managers," "production managers," even
"lead carpenters." No matter what you call them, the two
prominent reasons why they're gaining in popularity today
are:

1. Flexibility. In a "design-bid-build" situation, the
designer is removed from the process once a project is sent
out for bids. If changes need to be made in the middle of
construction, they often require time-consuming redesigns -
and can often involve a lot of finger-pointing between
architects and builders.

Not so with Design-Build. "Designers are involved
throughout the process," Campbell says, "so they can make
changes on the fly based on what the installers encounter
at the job site."

2. Cost savings. When changes have to be made during
construction, bringing the designer back into the process
often involves spending more money to get a redesign.which
can mean more money on the construction side.which can make
life increasingly difficult for the owner caught in the
middle.

With Design-Build, Campbell says there's a significant cost
savings. "Designers learn up front what the budget
requirements are, so they can recommend the appropriate
materials for the project. They won't design an SUV remodel
on an economy budget."

And as the remodeling industry exploded (reaching $280
billion in 2005, nearly double that of 1995's performance,
according to the National Association of Home Builders),
the Design-Build approach grew with it. According to a 2004
survey by ZweigWhite, integrated design-build firms will
see 80% of their revenues come from design-build projects
through 2014.

There's an even simpler reason to like the Design-Build
approach, however. "It's one-stop responsibility for
everything that happens with your remodeling project," says
Campbell. "How can you beat that?"


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About G.M. Roth
Since 1986, G.M. Roth has been designing and building
award-winning projects. From kitchen and bath remodeling to
in-law suites, porches and decks, clients get their "Dreams
Delivered" by G.M. Roth. To find out more about G.M. Roth,
and how their commitment to the Design/Build philosophy
provides flexibility for your project while preventing time
delays and cost overruns, go to http://www.GMRoth.com .