New Home Construction and Remodeling Process
When you choose Toscana Homes for your new home construction or remodeling project, our team of experienced professionals will ensure that your home represents you through every decision made. Your project will exude class and sophistication, with each part perfected to fit your lifestyle. While new home construction is a little more of a lengthy process than home remodeling, we strive to come in under budget, on time and with the highest quality home or remodel possible.
Communication
Toscana Homes employs the latest technology through our Buildertrend software to keep you informed and your job on track. Your project will be assigned its own section in Buildertrend where you can access your job schedule and view progress photos. You will receive an invitation via email from Buildertrend, which will walk you through the process of setting up your account. The portal is available through the Buildertrend website or an app on your Apple or Android device. Your project manager will review the program with you at the start of the job so you are always up-to-date with what is happening at your new home. This includes all progress, upcoming selection items, as well as updates from the entire team: architect, landscape architect and interior designer.
In addition, you will have constant contact with your project manager, who will keep you personally updated on the construction process. You will always be informed of major milestones, the best times to visit the job site, selections that need to be made, and all other decisions that will keep your house moving forward. You are as much a part of the construction team as everyone else!
Design & Consultation
We bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the design process. With more than 30 years of creating custom homes, we have come to know what really makes your home livable, not just what looks good on paper. Your home begins with a design. If you have not yet selected an architect or interior designer, we can help you find the best options to create the initial designs for your house. And this is where Toscana Homes brings extra value to your home before work has even begun. In these early stages, Toscana Homes will work with your design team to identify areas of savings and implement practicality in design. We will ensure you get the absolute best house your money can buy, and that you enjoy living in it for years to come.
Estimating & Cost Projection
When we receive your initial house plan, we will immediately begin putting together quotes from industry professionals on each scope of work (concrete, carpentry, electric, plumbing, HVAC, drywall, painting, and many more… in fact, our detailed cost sheet has more than 300 items!). Our process helps ensure you are getting the best value from a qualified subcontractor in each area.
Once we’ve gathered estimates and condensed them into a detailed construction cost breakdown, we will review it with you and identify potential areas of savings, as well as areas that may present problems (for example, your initial blueprints may include incomplete structural engineering which could impact the estimates we’ve gathered for concrete or carpentry). We will use this information to refine your house plans and present our findings and ideas to your design team. They will implement the changes into your final design, which we will use to gather additional estimates and create a final budget.
Once a final budget is agreed on, we can select contractors and begin construction!
Project Management
Our whole team is dedicated to creating the home of your dreams. On site, your superintendent will supervise subcontractors and ensure everything is running smoothly. Any issues will be relayed to your project manager, who is overseeing the construction process at our office. Your project manager is your direct connection to the job site, and will ensure you are informed of the whole construction process. Any major issues will be addressed to keep the project on schedule and within your budget, and any changes will be relayed promptly to your superintendent.
Every project has a goal of being finished on time, under cost, and with the highest quality. It’s said that you have to sacrifice one to gain the other two. At Toscana Homes, we don’t believe in sacrifices. We will never compromise your job quality, and your budget and schedule are always our priority.
New Home Construction and Remodeling
While our estimating team is assembling your budget, your project manager will be creating your job schedule. The job schedule details every major stage in your home’s construction and is composed of more than 120 milestones and includes a calendared task list for you, the owner, as well as your interior designer. Part of the “true custom” experience of building a home includes picking every finish: countertops, paint colors, door and cabinet hardware, and much more. Your project manager will ensure you and your designer know what you need to choose and when you need to choose it, so your home is never waiting for you.
Most Toscana Homes are scheduled for a construction period of between 14 and 20 months depending on size and complexity. Your project manager will review your schedule with you precisely, just as your estimator will review your budget, identifying areas of savings and ensuring your home is built as efficiently as possible.
Construction
By the time your budget and schedule are complete, your building permit should be ready and construction can begin. Your home will be assigned a superintendent, who will coordinate all construction activities in the field and liaise with your project manager to ensure any issues are addressed in a timely and efficient manner. Throughout the construction process we will schedule regular site walks for you to review various aspects of the project.
Every home is different, but in most cases construction will proceed as follows:
- Your construction fence will be installed and your lot will be cleared and leveled.
- If your home is on pilings, the pile driver will install them first. If there are no pilings, we will proceed immediately to concrete.
- The mason will lay out your foundation and prepare everything for the concrete pour.
- The pool contractor will dig your pool and form the pool shell, and the excavation crew will fill and compact your foundation.
- Underground utilities will be installed and your concrete foundation will be poured.
- The remaining block and concrete work will proceed and your home’s exterior walls, floor structure, and roof structure will be installed.
- The roof will be put on the house, windows will be installed, and your interior walls will be framed.
- Your home’s mechanicals will be implemented (plumbing, electric, HVAC, audio/video/security), and then insulation will be installed in the walls, floors, ceilings, and attics.
- The house will then receive drywall inside and stucco outside, which will be primed and given a first coat of paint.
- Now the floor can be installed and all your baseboards, door and window casings, and ceiling trim can be primed and installed.
- Once the floor is done and while your carpenters are installing your trim, your cabinets will also be installed, followed by your countertops and appliances.
- Now your mechanical trims (like light switches and plumbing fixtures) can be installed in the house, and your driveway and landscaping can be installed outside.
- Once everyone is clear of the house, it’s time to apply final paint inside and out, as well as finish and fill your pool!
- Near the end, we’ll do the last touches (like cabinet hardware, bathroom accessories, door and window handles) and do a full clean of the home.
- You’ll have been involved through the whole process, and at this point we’ll give you a full walkthrough of the house and create a punch list (small items that need to be taken care of before the house is really done).
Once the punch list is clear, it’s time to start life in your new Toscana Home!