I often have inquiries asking: “How much do you charge per square foot to build?” We are not that kind of builder. We do not provide generalized numbers and apply them to a project with which we have little or no familiarity.
At Zinn Design Build, we dig into specifics early and deeply, during our design process. We visit your site, we clarify your visual and functional desires, we want to know your budget. We create a highly functioning communication system so that we understand you and your project variables very well. Our extensive knowledge of current costs helps us guide you to make wise decisions.
And when we sign the contract to build, it is a fixed price contract with immense detail. There are no unrealistic allowances that result in unexpected change orders.
The too-simplistic formula of using a generic number to think about cost per square foot is imprecise and misleading. Costs for remodels and new construction are nuanced and specific to each job.
Site costs, which include clearing of trees, rough grading for proper water management, erosion control fencing, a temporary driveway for trades and deliveries, can vary widely. Trees are expensive to remove, steep grades have to be cut or backfilled with compacted fill, long driveways – even temporary driveways – require expensive machine time and tons of stone hauled to the site. Without intimate knowledge and thorough planning, estimating these costs is risky and irresponsible.
Details and finishes inside the home will affect the price per square foot. Highly-refined, high-quality homes such as those we build typically include pricier selections. More expensive appliances, higher quality cabinetry, higher-end lighting and plumbing fixtures, unique tile and stone, and more extensive landscaping all will affect the overall price of the home.
Labor – the cost for the people who will install the materials – is also a significant price component. To get the absolute best result, we use the most highly-skilled trades available. And it shows. Labor is a market commodity and, therefore, the best people command the highest prices.
One-level homes cost more to build than two- or three-story homes.
Smaller homes cost more per square foot to build than larger homes.
Kitchens and bathrooms cost more than simpler living spaces (such as bedrooms) because they require work from multiple mechanical trades including plumbing and electric, and involve many more finishes that drive cost: cabinets and countertops; sinks, tubs and showers and corresponding plumbing fixtures; decorative hardware, lighting, appliances, and tile.
Finishing bedrooms, family rooms, offices, and bonus rooms requires fewer, generally less expensive elements: floor covering, simple lighting, and trim work. When there are fewer “cheap” spaces to offset the cost of the more expensive spaces, dividing the overall cost of the project by the total square footage of a smaller home skews the price per square foot higher: there is less “cheap” square footage over which to spread the cost.
I hope this helps our potential ZDB clients know more about this part of designing and building.
