1. Project Program

The program for your house is a laundry list of everything you want your house to be. This is the starting point of your project.

2. Project Budget

The budget is what you are prepared to spend on your house. The budget and the program provide the context within which the remaining decisions are made.

3. Existing Site Conditions

The building site can affect your project cost in a number of ways. The strength of the soil or the slope of the land can affect the size and design of your foundation. In remodels and house additions, the condition and configuration of the existing house can be a major determinant of the new construction cost.

4. Project Size

The size of your project will be determined by balancing the needs and limitations of your program, your budget and your site.

5. Exterior Envelope

In addition to your project’s size, its shape and configuration also affect its cost, primarily due to the amount of its exterior envelope. The exterior envelope of your house, its foundation, walls, windows and roof, comprises a significant part of your project’s budget.

6. Finishes and Materials

One category presenting a great range of cost options is that of finish materials. Countertops, wall treatments, flooring, and the building’s exterior skin are just a few of the elements that can be supplied in a variety of forms and styles, each with their own cost impacts.

7. Change Orders

Change orders are those changes which are made after construction has commenced. This is the most expensive time in the process to make changes, and minimizing change orders is a very effective way to keep costs within budget. Shuler Architecture will work with you and the contractor to anticipate key decisions prior to construction.