The design-build method eliminates hassles, stress, delays, and extra costs by streamlining the process. However, entrusting both design and construction services to a single company makes choosing the right contractor essential. How do you choose the right industrial design build contractor team for your project?
Every project is unique. Additionally, contractors are not the same. When the success of your project depends on hiring the right design-build industrial contractor, it’s essential to do a little research to ensure that the contractor you’re considering is a good fit for your project. Check these areas.
Exploring the Process
Traditionally, an architect or designer creates a design. Then, the contractor handles the construction. Any conflict that arises requires some back-and-forth between the two entities, which can cause delays, extra expenses, and headaches for the client caught in the middle. Design-build construction is different. Here, one company handles everything. So, what is the company’s process like? What happens during the design phase? What happens during the construction phase? If any conflicts arise, how are they handled?
Matching Experience
Does the company have a solid reputation? Does it have experience with multiple projects similar to what you’re planning? Building a church is vastly different than a medical center. Do they have experience with similar projects in size, scale, and scope? Does the design build construction company have the knowledge and resources needed for this project?
Choose a design build firm with experience to your project. Ideally, these projects should have been completed within the last five years.
Discovering the Design Side
Reviewing the company’s portfolio provides a good starting point, but there are plenty of good questions to ask.
- How does the company handle the design phase?
- How many options are clients provided?
- What type of communication can clients expect?
- What are the costs of this phase?
- How much time is generally devoted to this phase?
Investigating the Team
Attention to detail is vital when the building begins. Quality is measured in two ways: materials and Labor. Is the team committed to quality? Skilled employees with years of experience and a commitment to quality bring exceptional value to any project. Who makes up the industrial building construction company’s team? Are they employees? Are subcontractors vetted for the same values as the commercial contractor?
Appraising Budgeting Controls
A successful result is a quality building delivered on time and budget. Is the company prepared to control and manage costs during the design phase? Ask whether it is ready to maintain and manage costs during construction.
Covering Insurance
If a company doesn’t have proper insurance, you may be liable. Does the company have adequate insurance to protect everyone if a person is injured or property is damaged? Every state is different. Make sure you understand the licensing and insurance requirements of your state.
Evaluating Safety Practices
Workplace mishaps can have tragic consequences and cause costly delays. What steps does the company take to reduce risks and ensure safer worksites? CBF Contracting takes safety seriously. Every year, we invite Lancaster Safety to conduct our annual safety meeting. Our record of safety speaks for itself. It’s important to keep our worksites safe and accident-free.
Requesting References
Will the company provide references from clients? Ideally, these should be from clients with similar projects to your project. If the don’t automatically provide you with references, ask. Past performance is an indicator of future performance.
CBF Contracting Inc. is a full-service industrial design-build contractor. We are committed to delivering exceptional service from start to finish. When you’re searching for a design build construction company, we’ve worked on numerous types of construction projects. Give us a call to discuss your project.
