We are certified by the Passive House Institue of the United States (PHIUS).

We like to keep things close to home. It’s part of our high-touch approach. Our “territory” is anywhere within the state of Colorado. We are licensed to practice engineering in Colorado.

Still searching for property? Get in touch if you’d like to talk about the area in general. Part of building a custom home is finding the right piece of land on which to build it.

This one of the most common questions that buyers of custom homes have – understandably.

A custom home is not described exclusively in terms of finished square feet. Instead, it is better described by the details, finishes, complexity and countless components that are not included in finished square foot measurements. Examples of these include Italian marble counter tops vs. a laminate, Sub-Zero appliances vs. Maytag, sustainable vs. unsustainable. Building in the mountains will be more expensive than building down on the plains, everything else being equal.

But to give you a little bit of an idea:

For $300/SF – A house on the plains, built using century-old building methods (2×6 construction), it will meet code minimum requirements for energy efficiency. It’ll have nice cabinets and counter tops, but nothing special. The house will have standard appliances, refrigerator, stove, washer/dryer. Code minimum heating and air conditioning systems will be part of this home. It will have cementitious siding and asphalt shingles on the roof.

For $400/SF – A house on the plains or the foothills. It will be built with modern construction methods, greatly exceeding code minimums. It will have upgraded solid wood cabinets and higher quality counter tops. It will use upgraded appliances that are more efficient and more functional. Heating and cooling systems will be upgraded and may include radiant floor heating. The siding will be stucco or stone, and it may have tile shingles on the roof.

For $500/SF and beyond – A house in the mountains with possibly spectacular views. It will be built with modern construction methods, greatly exceeding code minimums (passive house, off-grid). There may be fantastic, imported counter tops, custom cabinetry and more built-ins. High end appliances, plumbing, and lighting fixtures may also be part of that home. The siding may be stucco or stone, and the roof may have tile shingles.

The features and options listed above are just a small sampling to give a general idea of what to expect at a given price. In practice, a custom home is a series of trade-offs intended to maintain a budget. Very few have the budget to get everything on their wish list. But by prioritizing the features that are most important to you, and knowing how much they cost, you can pick and choose the features that will make your home special and still reach your budget goals. Contact us and start the conversation.

After the question concerning cost per square foot, this is probably the next most asked question. The answer will depend on the size and complexity of the project. In general, you expect to spend between 5% and 20% of the home’s finished value. Yikes, why such a huge range?

The complexity of the project will drive much of the cost variation. The house on a steep mountain slope will often require sophisticated foundations, may have driveways that usually require careful engineering, and the property may require retaining walls or terracing. If a well or septic system is required, those will need engineering. If your program includes sustainability, off-grid, vaulted ceilings, expect more engineering.

If the design uses construction methods that not common, then more detailed construction drawings may be needed. Onsite consultation with building crews may also be necessary.

A house with a lot of square feet will be somewhat less expensive on a square foot basis than a smaller house. Why? The cost to design a 200SF bedroom is almost the same as the cost to design a 100SF bedroom. We’re still talking about four simple walls, a door, a couple of windows, and that’s about it. Most of the design cost is going to be the foundation, roof, and endless possibilities in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Yes. Budget usually comes up early in the discussion, since for most people money is the limiting factor in our ambition. It’s a good idea to determine how much you will have to spend before getting too far into the design process. That way, your program can be matched to your budget. But don’t forget about those “nice-to-have” details; sometimes those little extras are not that much more money than the standard! Again, conversation is key. If we know you want something, we can try to work it in. The client always has the final call on the budget.

We are certified by the Passive House Institue of the United States (PHIUS).

The short answer is no, but … maybe – it depends on your vision. If you are wanting to build a track house or even a semi-custom house, then no, you do not need an architect. Any competent builder can build that house for you; they likely already have a selection of house that they’ve built in the past that will fit your needs and budget.

It’s when we get into the custom house arena that the question becomes more difficult. When the house concept is fairly straightforward, many builders will rely on their in-house designer, who will use their experience to design your home – most will not have a professional architect on staff. More difficult situations will often require professional consultants on the design team.

If you’re looking to build a custom home that is a unique reflection of your personal style, then you probably will want to hire an architect.

Maybe, it depends! If you’re building a track house or a semi-custom home in the suburbs, then most likely you do not need an engineer. Your builder most likely has already performed all the required engineering on the house you are considering on building.

But buyer beware, with the above statement. You could hire a perfectly good builder with lots of experience with a particular home design in a particular environment. But move that house to a new environment, and may it not work.  For example, a well-designed house in Dallas, TX is a poorly designed house in Denver. Dallas has a hot, humid climate – Denver on the other hand is dry and much colder. The snow loads in Summit County are very different than the snow loads in Denver. So, an engineer may be required even for a traditional house.

When moving into the custom house market, an engineer will usually be required. And if your dream home includes uncommon elements, such as passive house, off-grid, timber frame construction or is being built in difficult terrain (think side of a mountain), then you will almost certainly need an engineer.

Like most other answers here, it depends. For a simple custom home, expect to wait 12 months from groundbreaking to moving in. But larger, more complex houses can easily take 24 months or longer.

The design process is also quite variable. Simple houses are faster, maybe being ready for permitting in three months. However, a more complex house could easily take 6-9 months. If the house requirements are not well defined up front, there could be a considerable amount of back and forth between the design team and the client, perhaps rework as well.

Permitting also takes time. Figure 4-6 weeks for the building department to review and approve the plans. If multiple permit types are required, e.g., well or septic permit, then allow more time for this process.

A building program is a critical step in the home design process. It serves as a roadmap for the entire design process, detailing project goals, requirements, and constraints. The program should be created at the beginning of the design process. The program will ensure that all parties are on the same page.

A program is a list of requirements, desirements and nice-to-have features that will distinguish your custom residence from many chicken coops that populate the suburbs. Your program might include “off-grid” or passive home, timber frame construction, cathedral ceilings, a kitchen-family room, morning/afternoon light, a luxury master suite, a walkout basement, or whatever features are most important to you. Defining the number of people living in the house, their ages and health, any special activities they engage in are all important inputs into the design.

It may seem like overkill to spend time and money defining every aspect of the house before starting the design process. But in reality, it will save time and money in the long run.

 

Absolutely, we love it!

We welcome the opportunity to work with architects and other professionals. The best projects evolve when the architect, engineer, the construction team, other consultants and the owner are committed early in the process and work together as a team to achieve a shared goal.

Our engineering perspective allows us to understand the world of architecture, and architects, and ensures that we’ll deliver the expected product.