CUSTOM DESIGN Quality work, by designIf you want to reach a certain goal, a precise plan – put to paper – is an essential step in the process. The same is true in remodeling. Years ago, home improvement projects typically involved a change in cabinet styles (but not sizes), subtle shifts in the colors and maybe new materials on the walls. (Remember dark, wood-grained paneling?) Today, homeowners are adding windows, expanding the size of rooms and giving their houses the hammer-and-nail equivalent of some of the best facelifts in Hollywood. As the work has become more complex, most quality remodelers have inserted an important component into the process: design.
In the last 10-15 years, the detail going into most projects has become much more important. There are so many more choices and possibilities now. This is why design is critical. It’s figuratively the hole you dig into which you pour the concrete. You don’t wisely proceed with a project without a well-thought-out design.
When Sweeney Construction is called about a remodeling job, one of three company estimators meets with the homeowner. Shortly thereafter, the design team gets involved. These initial casual conversations focus on the client’s desires and their past experiences in the space they are looking to change. How do they live in the house? What is important to them? Assembling the answers to those questions is the basis for the whole project, the springboard that really gets it going.
Through the concept and draft stages, the design squad drives the project as more and more details are discussed. It collects the data, and works on draft-level drawings and basic layouts. In situations where walls expand past the basic footprint and structural components are an issue, a staff architect plays a significant role. The in-house Sweeney team also consults with partnering experts in such things as lumber, HVAC and specific room (like kitchen) design. Sometimes, a landscape architect is involved. It’s a team effort that allows for some real creativity.
“What’s interesting? What’s current? What fits the property? The beauty of the design phase is that you can really explore all possibilities easily. You can dream a little bit, put the lead to paper and say ‘What if…?’”
Remodeling dreams take root in this kind of creative environment.
They’re actually crafted, however, in the real world that is often constrained by available footage and funding. The biggest advantage in working with a design/remodeling firm like Sweeney Construction is that a company with expertise in both components knows the specific costs of remodeling and keeps the budget in check while the design is developed.
As more questions arise during the refinement of remodeling plans, estimators may step back into the picture to help answer new questions. Sometimes, the issues are fairly simple, such as the layout of new cabinets, or which specialty tile or floor-finish to use. Other times, the process gets more complicated. On a number of occasions, Sweeney Construction has been asked to duplicate the historical characteristics of a home. The design document, therefore, is used by more than building inspectors and zoning officials. It’s also perused by landmark commissions and other municipal committees who have the authority to be show-stoppers if the project doesn’t fit within their guidelines.
That single sheet of paper is basically a communication device that they whole team can look at. It insures that everyone is literally on the same page before the construction actually begins. That reduces the likelihood of expensive change orders later on. In truth, adding a design component to a remodeling project can actually make the process more cost efficient. It’s also a relationship builder. Design discussions give Sweeney Construction experts a chance to get acquainted with a client, to understand their pressure points. At the same time, new customers learn a lot, as well. Sweeney Construction knows that people want quality work. By the time design leads to remodeling, homeowners understand that that’s what the award-winning, Madison-based company can do for them!