A good general rule of thumb for the San Francisco Bay Area is to assume at least $300 per square foot for all new homes and additions built on the ground level. An additional story above an existing house raises the square foot cost to about $400 per square foot because the structure below the addition will require strengthening. Markets outside of the Bay Area will vary, but are typically less expensive. Give us a call if you'd like to discuss costs in your particular market.
The design of a small addition or renovation can be completed in as little as 4 weeks. Constructing it can take 8 to 16 weeks, depending on the complexity of the project and ability of the contractor. A new house is a bit more involved. The design phase often lasts 6 months or more, and construction takes a minimum of four months. And don't forget to take the seasons into account, which can affect construction scheduling. With more specifics about your particular project, we can help you plan a schedule. With more specifics about your project, we can help you plan your schedule.
Making your home eco-friendly is a great investment. You'll be creating a healthier living environment for your family and minimizing your impact on the environment. We can begin incorporating basic green design without incurring any increased construction costs. If you decide to go further down the sustainable route, we suggest you budget a five to ten percent increase in your construction costs.
There are four sequential phases of design of your home or addition. In pre-design, we define the project's scope and gather all relevant information. Schematic design is when we tackle the overall layout of the space, and in design development we focus on the details, including the finishes and fixtures. The final product is the construction documents, which is essentially the instruction book for building your home. It also contains the documentation necessary for acquiring the building and planning permits, and describes any another special instructions to the contractor.
Start smart. Making your decisions during the design phase - and sticking with them - will help make construction go smoothly.
Do it all at once. While phasing a single project into multiple smaller projects is sometimes necessary, we've found that phasing can add costs and cause unnecessary delays.
Order in advance. Projects often get delayed because of specialty material or fixture delays. Put in your order as soon as possible for items that demand a long lead-time.
Hire well. A good contractor is key to a successful construction project. Thoroughly vet the contractor, and get all members of the team to buy-in to clearly stated schedule and budget objectives.
Contingency, contingency, contingency. Plan for surprises, they always occur. Keep a healthy construction contingency - we typically recommend about 10% of your construction budget. Also maintain a schedule contingency - 10% and at least 2 weeks.
It's simple - give us a call. We're eager to hear about your project. We can discuss interior design, building design, permitting, construction budget and schedule. If it seems as though it would be helpful, we can schedule a 1 hour, no obligation site visit for a flat fee of $150 to discuss the project in greater depth.
