BEHST Builders, Inc. is a design/build company, which means that we provide one stop shopping for your construction projects. Time and time again customers bring us architectural plans that do not work, are incomplete, or exceed the budget. Design drawings are expensive. We take responsibility for all aspects of the project from the very beginning, including the design.. We are flexible with respect to doing the design work in house or working with third party designers and architects.
Residential building codes are getting more and more copmlicated each year. Whether, you are planning a substantial remodel or new construction, you will face a maze of regulations and design requirements. Failure to account for the permitting process can create unnecessary delays and expenses.
While it is important that plans meet the requirements of local codes, it is most important that the plans deliver value to the owner. We believe that our role is to educate customers on different material and installation choices as well on what it means to be "Green". Most imporantly, we work to incorporate the Green Building principles that make economic sense.
We strive to have thorough job specifications to ensure that our customers are given every opportunity to incorporate clever custom details in their projects. Bigger isn't always better, so we strive to manage the overall square footage to ensrue room in the budget for premium materials and installation.
INITAL CONSULTATION
We are happy to meet with customers at no charge for an initial consultation. Sometimes people already have plans drawn for the project and some tiems they are at the very beginning of the design process. We know that we can add value in just this first meeting by helping to prioritize and get specifications in writing. We have created three different Design Phases to accomodate three typical scenarios.
DESIGN PHASE
At completion of teh Design Phase, the goal is to have all of the floor plans and elevations complete along with very detailed job specifications and a detailed budget. Job Specifications are imperative as they determine the exact materials and methods for each phase of the project. Job Specifications help to ensure that bidders are all considering the same scope of work.
- Scenario One: In this scenario, the client has not started the design for the project and BEHST Builders, Inc. will complete all design work.
- Scenario Two: In this scenario, a third party designer or architect has been selected for the project. Architectural plans and elevations are completed or are in draft form, but the project needs to be engineered and gotten ready for permitting. BEHST Builders will perform a complete Plan Review and compile a list of questions and opportunities for improvement. This plan review will provide a price range for the scope of work provided and will highlight the allowances that will make a significant impact on the final budget.
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Scenario Three: In this scenario, the customer has plans that are already signed and sealed by a licensed engineer or architect. In this case, we will simply work with the customer to finalize all of the specifications and allowances and then finalize the contract price.
Once the plans and specifications are completed, engineering and site planning is done. Project engineering typically includes soil testing, truss designs, and structural engineering to meet the 2004 Florida Building Code requirements. We prefer to work with our engineering team as it helps to facilitate results and ensure consistency. Site plans are required for permitting to confirm setback requirements and to identify any tree removal requirements. We work with your surveyor or ours to complete site plans.
Another critical component of the Design Phase is working to come up with a workable budget. Once concept plans are done, we work with the owner to shape a budget and to prioritize selections and square footage to stay within the budget.
Approximately 40% of the typical budget depends upon the selection of finishes, from readily available materials and simple installations to premium materials and complex installations. Selecting finish details is an important part of defining an accurate budget.
Click here to see a range of interior trim options.
PERMITTING
Once all plans are completed, the project is ready for permitting. Permitting typically takes three to four weeks. The entire design and permitting phase typically takes four months depending on the complexity of the project and the ability of the customer to provide swift feedback on draft plans and specifications. If the permit office has questions, we work swiftly to resolve the issue to get the project started.
CONSTRUCTION
First and foremost, we are CONTRACTORS, which means that we take our contracts seriously. The foundation for the contracts with sub contractors and material suppliers is made up of the plans and specifications for the job. The need for sound specifications is the reason we like to be involved from the beginning of the process. Before you choose another architect or contractor for your project, find out what their contract documents include. We guarantee that we offer the most complete package out there.
Once construction commences, scheduling and quality control become most imperative until the contract is 100% complete. We work hard to use checklists and track issues to ensure swift completion of each phase of construction. We have completed our last two custom homes, each a total of approximately 6,000 square feet, in well under twelve months. We know time is money, so we get the job done fast. At the same time, we conduct inspections at each critical phase of construction to ensure we deliver on everything promised in the contract documents.
Call us today to arrange a free intial consultation. It is never too early to begin the design process to get the most out of your next construction project. We look forward to working with you.
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