Q: “I keep seeing the phrase “Design-Build”. What are the advantages of this kind of service?” A: The design-build philosophy is so influential that virtually all commercial and public works projects are now done this way. This business model is now making its way into
There are five very important things to understand about waterproofing details: The city inspector does not inspect for them. They have plumbing inspections for health, electrical inspections for safety, insulation inspections for energy requirements, framing and concrete inspections for structural integrity, and even drywall nailing
In my 42 years in this industry, I’ve noticed quite a few things about the common experiences we all go through during the design process. Observing and understanding these human experiences, there seem to be four universal truths about nearly every project we do. By
So what constitutes a Viable Project? Simple. It looks and feels wonderful, it fulfills the more practical goals of the project, and most importantly, it fits the budget. You can easily have the first two, but without a sound financial plan, the whole thing just
In the 42 years I have been in this business, we have found very few clients that say to us, You know, we’ve just got more money than we know what to do with – you just go ahead and do whatever you think is
Before any construction takes place, paperwork comes first. This means that before any construction contracts are signed its important to start exploring the best structure for a Pre-Construction contract. To start with, it should reflect the following 4 Operating Assumptions: The client doesn’t want to
In 2005, before we became a Design Build firm, Building Solutions got a call from an architect we had previously worked with. He told us that he had a project for us to bid on. When I arrived at the modest 3 bedroom, 2 bath,
So you are considering a major remodel project for your home. You have a pretty good idea of what you want to do and how much you’d like to spend on Construction, but no idea about the costs for Pre Construction. The short answer is;
Q: “I have a deck attached to my house in Ross, California which is not in good condition and needs to be fixed or replaced. Would I need a building permit to rebuild it larger than it is now? What if I just replace it
Q: “Now that burning fires in a fireplace is frowned upon in California, do you recommend foregoing building a fireplace in a new home? If so, why? Also, any ideas of how to transform old fireplaces into something aesthetic” A: Does anyone not enjoy sitting
