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Design Services

Bfreehomes provides design services for new and existing housing, We also provide Design/Build services in conjunction with trusted builders and renovators.

You have an initial 20 minute phone consultation with us to discuss your ideas and objectives for your new home or renovation. There is no up front fee or charge for this consultation.

After this consultation, we require a $500 retainer for design services that includes site planning, barrier-free floor plans, user-friendly details, preplanning for renewable energy and other future options, as well as healthy materials, and resource and water conservation. Design fees are a big variable: A custom home can require 25 to 70 hours design time at $120/hr. We agree upon a not-to-exceed budget for the design phase (with the exception of any structural engineering costs). If at any time during the project we expect the final design costs to exceed this figure we will notify you and gain your approval to incur additional costs.

Once the design is clarified, a detailed energy analysis is done, for a flat fee of $650. This includes a heat loss-heat gain calculation, detailed scenarios for deep energy savings, and a schematic for integrated space and water heating/ventilation systems. Then, we prepare complete construction drawings. We supply 10 sets of drawings. We endeavor to design your new home so it will exceed the target rating of the EnerGuide for New Houses program as well as the insulation and energy use requirements of the coming update of the NS Building Code.

Deliverables for the Design Phase can include:

Study Set

The study includes the proposed major elevations of the house, the floor plans and a preliminary cross section showing suggested assemblies. As applicable, all of the ‘flex' components of the home design - expansion/addition options, garage placements, et cetera will be noted. The study set is used to finalize the floor plan and overall design. Revised versions provided as required. The approved study set is the base for the final construction drawings, and contains adequate information to work through preliminary budget issues, permit requirements and any structural engineering required.

Final Construction Drawings

The final construction drawings consist of:

• a cover sheet showing at least two 3-D model views of the home
• exterior elevations
• foundation plan
• detailed floor plans
• cross-sections
• interior elevations (as required)
• window and door schedules
• ‘best practice' construction details, including optimal value engineering (OVE) framing plans as required
  
• barrier-free and user-friendly details
  

Optional with the Final Construction Drawings:

• standard wiring and plumbing diagrams (as required)
• home automation wiring schematics (as required)
• materials list
• ventilation system schematic
• space heating system schematic

Fees subject to change without notice. All fees for services subject to HST.

 

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