Design-Build continues to be a very effective and popular contract type for owners seeking to minimize their management and risk on project.  This contract format has been used for a number of years in the commercial and public construction industries and is becoming increasingly more popular in the residential construction and remodeling industries.  In this type of contract, the contractor provides the kitchen design services, as well as the contractor services.  In may cases, the contractor will have a number of architects, engineers and interior designers on staff to handle the design process.  Throughout the process the builder’s construction department will work with the designers to make sure that the design is cost effective and can be built as designed.  In a traditional construction, the owner hires the architect directly and the contractor is not involved in the design process. 

The amount of time is saved in the overall process is the biggest advantage most homeowners realize in a design build relationship with a builder.  The management of designers is time consuming and takes up lots of time.  In most cases, homeowners have work and family obligations, which reduce the amount of available time to manage the design process.  In addition, the overall time line of a project can be compressed with the contractor managing the architect and owner throughout the design and driving decisions. 

Another benefit that homeowners realize is the reduced financial risk associated with turnkey design build relationships with builders.  In this relationship, the builder is completely responsible for delivering a turnkey project at a set price and assume all responsibility of the accuracy of the plans and specifications, which there price is based upon.  In a traditional builder owner relationship, if the designer makes a mistake on the design or does not show something on the plans, the builder is in most cases the builder is entitled to charge the owner additional money.  No wonder design build is becoming more popular!

Posted on behalf of J Christopher Design and Construction Services