Guides
What things cost, how long they take, and what to ask.
Most people meet a builder without knowing what a fair number looks like. That is not their fault, and it is not a good way to start a relationship that will last six months.
These are the answers we give at the studio, written down. They are as useful for checking somebody else's quote as ours, which is the point.
What it costs
-
01
Kitchen remodel cost in Seattle
Four bands by scope, plus the sales tax, permits and contingency that most quotes leave out.
-
02
Bathroom remodel cost in Seattle
Why the smallest room costs the most per square foot, and the four decisions that move the number.
-
03
Whole-house renovation cost
Priced per square foot, and why studs-or-surfaces is worth more than every finish choice put together.
-
04
What custom cabinets cost
Stock, semi-custom and full custom per linear foot, and the four situations where custom actually pays for itself.
How it works
-
05
Design-build, or an architect and a contractor?
Two honest models. What each one buys you, what each one costs you, and how to tell which your project wants.
-
06
How long a renovation takes
The four stretches of a project, and the three things that actually move a date.
-
07
When you need a permit
What needs one in Seattle and on the Eastside, who is supposed to pull it, and what happens if the last owner did not.
-
08
How to check a contractor
The five checks before you pay anybody, and the questions that separate a real quote from a hopeful one.
None of this replaces twenty minutes with your floor plan on a table.
920 Dexter Ave N, Monday to Friday. Bring the plan if you have one, photographs if you do not. It costs nothing and it is the fastest way to find out whether what you want is in the budget you have.