WHERE DO YOU START?
The typical client calls us and says, 'I want to remodel my home or build a new custom home and I don't know where to start.'
The other question most often asked is 'How much will this job cost?'
Just how much a remodeling project costs depends on so many factors that the first step we suggest is almost always an initial site visit. This first visit usually involves performing an informal inspection of critical components, such as wiring and plumbing, to find out how well your existing structure can handle your planned alterations. Consider this the equivalent of a wellness exam you might get the first time you meet a new physician.
Old wiring may be inadequate. Deferred maintenance may have resulted in the need for some plumbing repairs. Are there conducive conditions visible – conditions that promote wood-destroying organisms (bugs) and dry rot? How leaky is your home, potentially wasting a lot of energy? Or, instead, does the air in your home feel stagnant, indicating a home that may be too tight, thereby trapping air and hampering healthy indoor air quality?
Sometimes this first visit will result in our giving you a rough guesstimate of the cost of the project. Perhaps we'll then recommend that you go to a bank and pre-qualify for a loan if you're going to need one.
Another fabulous guideline regarding your approximate project cost is to study REMODELING MAGAZINE's "Cost Versus Value Report" at http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2009/costvsvalue/national.aspx
The second step is typically the design stage of the job. Who will be your designer.... an independent designer or a design/build firm?
Armed with a design, you can get competitive bids for the job or negotiate a contract with the contractor of your choice. About 90% of our work is secured through a negotiated contract, approximating the national average in the professional remodeling industry. One of the many significant differences between competitive bidding and a negotiated contract is that if you go out and get numerous bids, you need to have very detailed drawings and specifications so you can make sure your bids are comparing apples to apples…. the apples need to be described well!Step three is to get the permits and financing necessary for the project, and here lies one of A-1's strengths. The quality relationships that we have developed over the years with the regulatory and banking communities allows us to work with the system better than most. Since there are so many gray areas in the regulatory and financing fields, this mutually respectful relationship with these important organizations in Whatcom County can smooth out many of the rough edges.
Step four, finally, is the actual construction.
“Our remodel with A-1 Builders was a very positive experience, which is saying quite a lot given the stresses of remodels. We found Rick’s estimates to be fair, extremely detailed and most important - accurate. In fact several times costs were less then estimated.Furthermore, their estimates with respect to the length of time the project would take were right on. The crew that worked on our house was unobtrusive, respectful, and always cleaned up before leaving for the day. They were wonderful with my kids and answered many probing questions from our inquisitive 5 year old. We have had several people in the trades let us know what precise, exceptional carpentry work was done on our basement. Finally, from an environmental standpoint, A-1 makes an effort to be as eco-friendly as possible which we very much appreciated.” – Teresa ThornbergTHE DESIGN PROCESS
In 1990 we opened Adaptations, our design division and showroom. A-1 Builders was already 35 years old. The time was ripe. Our high-dream was to create a design service that was client-driven, as opposed to the designer-driven services which seem to dominate the industry……firms which so often result in over-budget designs which represent the thoughts and dreams of the client’s designer and not that of the client!
We saw the need to offer our clients more than just an interior design and building design service. Without a showroom, our clients were asked to go elsewhere in order to select products and decide upon certain assemblies and systems. How will our client heat the space? Should the windows have Low-E glass and argon gas? Why use Marmoleum instead of sheet vinyl?
Clients would often return weary and confused, far from our vision of a client-friendly, one-stop shop.
So, in 1999, we expanded into the rest of our office building and completed the third leg of our seamless design/build concept - our showroom. Many of our favorite products are a living part of the showroom..... not just samples, but actual building materials or assemblies used to create the showroom space itself.
Our showroom is a small box, not a 100,000 square foot big box with overwhelming space and inexperienced droids in uniforms. Instead you'll find a small, knowledgeable, friendly staff within a cozy, human-scale, and healthy space with plenty to choose from.
"Adaptations ….. literally changed our lives. We know this seems like an overstatement, but it is true. We began thinking about a minor remodel of our kitchen. As we got into the project, your designers at Adaptations saw things that we had missed. They suggested a design that led to a new world-class kitchen and in the process, with minor additional effort and expense, totally changed the character of the public areas of our house. We had always loved our home, but now our satisfaction with it defies words.” - Catherine and William OuweneelHere is what Adaptations can offer you..........
Building Design, Site Design and Space Planning- Assessment of your needs: How do you use your home? What’s not working well? How might it function better? Would reorganizing existing space prevent the need for an addition, or perhaps an addition smaller than you had thought? How long do you intend to live in your home? Are your energy bills feeling exorbitant? Do you or any family members experience chronic respiratory symptoms at home that warrant further study?
- Site-specific design: maximizing one’s view and light orientation; potential for solar and/or wind power.
- Specialists in new, custom homes that are better, not bigger, by focusing on the efficiency and effectiveness of space utilization.
- Feasibility studies to explore the technical, regulatory and financial aspects of your ideas.
- Drafting and design development for your particular project, whether it is an alteration to your existing space, an addition, or a new, custom home.
- Attention to historical preservation and renovation so that the alteration, when completed, appears to be an original component of the building.
- Kitchen and bathroom planning: development of floor plans and detailed cabinet layouts.
- Updating of whole-house systems to increase energy efficiency, indoor air quality, and comfort.
- Edible landscape design: we employ a certified Permaculturist who can help you design (and we can also install) your fruit orchard, vegetable garden, raised beds, water catchment/storage, etc.
- Outdoor environments: design (and also build) your deck, patio, hardscaping (i.e. rockeries, water features, trellis, etc.)
- Out buildings: shed, carport, garage (again, any and all of which we can also build)
- Complete product-sample studio for finished surfaces, from tile and carpet, to paint and cabinetry. Quality installation for each and every product is available.
- Specification service (this is the narrative portion of the design work, describing everything from your appliances to paint colors to ceramic tile, etc.) for residential and light commercial projects, applied to both remodeling and new construction.
- Furniture selection and arrangement; accessory selection; integration of your personal treasures into your home environment.
- Proponents of universal design, which embraces the diversity of age and mobility of the home’s inhabitants. Such principles optimize long-term accessibility and comfort so that people can age within the home, avoiding the need to move to a different home due to sub-standard stairways, narrow passageways and non-functional spaces.
- Color consultations, featuring Benjamin Moore, Parker, Safe-coat, and OS finishes.
- Lighting consultations, acknowledging the need for additional lighting as we age.
- Organization and clutter management: let us help you sort, downsize, reorganize or perhaps eliminate some of the things that hinder the feel or flow of your space.
“After all of your warnings of the potential difficulties we could encounter in our remodel, and after taking them seriously to heart, what was our wonder when everything proceeded like clockwork. Your excellent planning and scheduling really paid off. And you kept in touch and kept us informed every step of the way. Your guiding hand was evident throughout. You are wonderfully organized and we can’t speak too highly of the results. You, and all who are associated with you, were a pleasure to know and work with." – Merrill and Paule Kelly
