Design-build, explained
One team. One contract. No finger-pointing.
Since 2005, Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling has designed and built homes across San Diego County as one team. Our designers create the home, our contractors make it real, and you deal with one company from the first sketch to the final walkthrough.
What design-build means
The traditional way, and ours.
Design-build replaces the old method of hiring a designer and a contractor separately. Under that method, unforeseen changes lead the two to blame each other, and you pay for it in cost overruns, schedule changes and delays.
Design-bid-build
You hold three relationships, and the risk.
- Designer
- Contractor
- Subcontractors
- Separate contracts for design and construction
- You relay every change between the parties
- Unforeseen conditions become a dispute about whose fault it is
- Cost overruns, schedule changes and delays
Design-build at Kaminskiy
One relationship. One team that answers for all of it.
- One contract and a dedicated project manager
- Designers, contractors, subcontractors and you work as one unit
- Changes are addressed by the whole team, together
- A smoother build, on time and on budget
Why design-build
Five advantages of one team under one roof.
Fast build times
Construction and design overlap and are fast-tracked because the two teams work together. A design change is accounted for instead of creating a delay.
No middleman
Two parties, the owner and the firm. You are not the go-between for a designer and a contractor, and your concerns reach the people building.
One contract
A single contract covers everyone assigned to the job. No juggling two or three agreements for one project.
Cost efficient
Designers and contractors working together means fewer surprise changes, less chance of disputes, and fewer costly delays.
Owner involvement
You are engaged in the design, schedule and budget from the start, with one relationship to manage and an easy way to adjust.
Why homeowners choose us
Our customers come to us for one of five reasons.
- They valued accountability in the contractors they hired
- They were working within a strict timeframe
- They preferred fixed guidelines, written down
- They needed professional guidance on their plans
- They wanted to be more involved in the process
If any of those sounds like you, we should talk. One point of contact with your project's team means you can raise a change or a concern before and during the process. Unlike some companies, we do not mind if you are involved. We believe it helps us finish the job to your satisfaction.
We offer: a complimentary consultation, complete design for your space or the entire home, a detailed work description and contract with no hidden fees, permit processing, and a start-to-finish remodel or build.
The design-build process
Five phases that overlap.
The whole point of design-build is that the phases do not wait on each other. Here is how they stack.
Phase lengths are illustrative. Your designer and project manager give you the real schedule at the bid presentation.
Vet the candidates and choose the team that fits your vision, needs and budget. Cost matters, but the lowest price does not guarantee the best result.
Often overlaps with the first phase. The budget is set and the site in your home is analyzed, so the work is efficient from day one.
With the timeline, budget and location set, the team designs the best possible home that meets your wants and needs, finds the cost savings, and finalizes a budget for you to approve.
Begins right after the design phase, sometimes during it. Specialty subcontractors and vendors are still involved, but the job finishes sooner at the same quality.
Walk-throughs, documentation for you, a final inspection to make sure everything is in order, and a request for your feedback.
Common myths
Five things people believe about design-build, and the truth.
There is more than one way to design-build. Over the years the term became a catch-all for many delivery methods. Our staff explains exactly the method we use for your home.
The opposite. You work directly with a dedicated team of designers and contractors, which makes it easier to accommodate changes or concerns during construction.
It can be more cost-efficient in the long run. The budget is outlined early, from services to materials, and the designers and contractors work together to avoid costly miscommunication.
The timeframe is shorter because parts of the work happen at the same time, like designing and ordering materials. Grouping activities shortens the project, not the standard.
Instead of the years it can take to source an architect, a designer and individual contractors, a team that is already in place saves you that time and that money.
Our design-build services
Whatever your ultimate home goal, one team gets you there.
Transform your kitchen, create a spa-like retreat in your bathroom, add a room, build an ADU or remodel the entire home.
Frequently asked
Design-build FAQ: four straight answers.
What a design-build firm is, what it costs, and how to choose one.
Read all FAQsA design-build firm operates under one contract for both design and construction. Traditionally a homeowner had to contract separate design and construction companies, which made a smooth renovation harder. A design-build firm takes care of the design and the construction phase, and you have one point of contact for both.
Compared to the design-bid-build method, or to buying an existing home, employing a design-build contractor is not necessarily more expensive. In many cases, having the entire process under one contracted firm is less costly: the budget is set early, with everything accounted for, and the designers and contractors avoid the miscommunication that creates change orders.
An architectural firm provides the drawings and plays no part in the construction, leaving you to find a contractor or contractors to carry out the design. A design-build firm works directly with its architectural team and oversees both the drafting and the building itself.
Ask friends and family who recently remodeled, read honest reviews online, then ask the companies on your short list specific questions: the average timeline for completing projects, examples of past work, and how involved you will be throughout the process.
Keep reading
More about Kaminskiy.
Start here
Schedule your complimentary in-home design consultation anywhere in San Diego County.
- A designer comes to you, measures, listens and shares first ideas.
- No pressure and no obligation. We tell you if we are not the right fit.
- Our Client Care team calls back during the time slot you choose.