Commonwealth Home Design is often called upon to tear down a significantly outdated house and design a new home on the same piece of land in Northern Virginia.
Our streamlined design-build process takes you from preliminary ideas through construction completion in three simple phases.
During the Initial Design Phase an architect will discuss your vision as well as assess existing site conditions, zoning, easement, and environmental issues. A combination of hand sketches, renderings, and computer drawings will be used to produce design comps and establish ballpark costs for construction and interior finishes. Revisions will be made to meet your needs, budget, and aesthetic sensibilities.
After the initial design and budget have been established you’re given a slot on our construction schedule that coincides with completion of the remaining design detail work, this is the Design Development Phase. During this phase, a subcontractor meeting is held so that project craftsmen, with architectural plans in hand, can evaluate and troubleshoot their areas of responsibility. Kitchen and bath designers work closely with you to complete the design of the interior spaces. Any major structural engineering issues, zoning or environmental site issues are addressed as well. All remaining design decisions are made, project documentation is reviewed with you, and a final project cost is determined.
The final step of the project is the Construction Phase. Construction Documents are assembled and completed and permit documents are prepared and submitted to the county reviewer. Specialty items such as windows, cabinets, stone, etc. are ordered so they arrive when needed for installation.
Before the actual construction begins, your project manager conducts a formal review process of all project information. A pre-construction conference puts you and your project craftsmen on the same page for all on-site particulars. The first step in construction may include demolition, while for others it means excavation and masonry work. Construction progresses per the construction schedule through completion. During the last week or two of work, you will perform a walk-through and punch list preparation and completion.
Our client relationship continues beyond completion of the Three-Phase Design-Build Process. Commonwealth will perform a free, one-year tune-up where issues such as the following are addressed: separation of seams in trim due to shrinkage are caulked and touched-up; separation of woodwork and cabinetry due to shrinkage is repaired; cabinet doors and drawers are operating properly; interior doors and hardware are balanced and close properly; etc.
