- You love your neighborhood and the schools, churches, shopping centers and other resources nearby.
- Clutter, lack of storage space, new appliances, a computer station and more dining options are common kitchen challenges.
- You may need additional bathrooms, a bath on another level of your home or a master bathroom with all the amenities.
- Your home is lacking features that would provide comfort, safety and convenience as you age.
- You need more bedrooms or even a second story.
- You would enjoy a new deck or porch so you can enjoy all the seasons.
- You need a home office or study for work projects, homework and organizing finances.
- A separate space for family activities or a playroom to organize toys and games would be nice.
You can be confident that Plekkenpol Builders:
- Is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Labor of Industry.
- Abides by Minnesota Warranty Statute 327A.
- Will provide proof of Worker’s Compensation and General Liability insurance and utilize required safety precautions.
- Is certified by the EPA to work on pre-1978 built homes that may contain lead paint and follows EPA required procedures.
- Will provide a written agreement and other informative documents as required by Minnesota or federal law.
- Maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
- Can provide testimonials and references from satisfied customers, as well as professional references from our bank, accountant, suppliers and subcontractors.
- Will provide you with experienced design expertise and has established relationships with professional interior designers, structural engineers and licensed architects.
- Has a permanent business location and a solid, unbroken history since 1970.
Your Project Manager
From your first call, through the completion of your project, your Project Manager serves as the vital link between you and the rest of our team. He or she will meet you at your home or our office to get to know you, your lifestyle, your remodeling goals and the investment you’re considering for your project.
Prior to your first meeting, you should:
- Consider everyone who will use the space to identify important features that you want incorporated into the project.
- Create a prioritized list of your wants versus needs.
- Collect images of design, style and products that you’d like to see in your project.
- Establish your preliminary budget and be prepared to discuss this with your Project Manager.
- Determine desired start and completion dates.
- Visit our Photo Gallery to look for ideas.
At your first meeting your Project Manager will:
- Walk through the existing spaces with you and discuss your goals.
- Discuss feasibility – codes, regulations, variances or structural issues and how they relate to your budget.
- Assess plumbing, heat, A/C and electrical systems. Anticipating these costs will minimize surprises and help you keep your budget on track.
- Consider traffic patterns, furniture placement and ease of movement.
- Consider and share with you options – remodeling existing space, adding on or up, future projects, remodeling in phases and realistic budgets.
- Ask and answer questions to clarify expectations.
- Discuss the benefits of utilizing a professional designer to assist with the selection process.
- Review with you the next step, the Project Development Agreement (PDA) along with the costs that go along with it.
- Should you decide to pursue your project in more detail under our Project Development Agreement, your Project Manager will take any measurements and photograph the space as needed to assist the team with building your drawings, specifications and cost.
- Kitchen Planning Worksheet
- Bathroom Planning Worksheet
Plekkenpol Builders can help you to develop a realistic budget and ensure that all of the necessary components are included. The final cost of your project is dependent on the level of complexity of the project and the product choices that you make. As those choices are identified, the project cost becomes more precise.
There are a variety of ways to pay for a remodeling project. Visit with a banker, financial advisor or a mortgage specialist before deciding what is right for you. If you’d like, we can provide you with the contact information for a mortgage consultant who specializes in financing for remodeling.
Once your Project Manager has prepared your contract documents, he or she will schedule a meeting with you to review:
- Plans and drawings that apply to your project.
- General conditions that apply to all projects.
- The unique specifications for your project.
- Alternates for items that you may want to include.
- Allowances and a list of selections that you need to make.
- A proposal/contract that includes your payment schedule.
- All other documents required by law to be given to homeowners.
Your Contract Documents will be used to:
- Obtain variances, building permits and financing.
- Allow construction to proceed smoothly and without unnecessary delays.
- Clearly separate each party’s responsibilities.
Allowances and Selections
Whether you are making product selections on your own or with the assistance of your Project Manager or an interior designer, it is important that all selections are made promptly, as delayed selections are likely to cause delays in scheduling.
To facilitate the selection process, your Project Manager will provide you with a list of the products that you need to select along with an allowance for each, as well as a list of product showrooms. Set an appointment with showroom representatives so that you can see and touch products and to inquire as to the care and necessary maintenance.
More About Allowance and Product Selections
Change Orders
To keep construction moving along and avoid delays, decisions are best made before construction begins. However, for many reasons during the course of construction, you may desire to make changes that result in either additional charges or credits.
You should make requests concerning any changes, additions or alterations in the work directly to your Project Manager or Production Supervisor, not to any worker or subcontractors’ workers.
The cost for change orders shall be determined in advance, whenever possible.
Changes in work required by a public body, utility or inspector, unforeseen subsoil conditions, insect or dry rot damage or unforeseen structural or mechanical obstructions and defects below grade or hidden in walls may require you to pay additional charges.
Careful site preparation will allow construction to proceed smoothly and efficiently with the least amount of confusion, disruption or delays.
- For everyone’s safety, please inform your family and guests to enter the construction area cautiously and only when necessary.
- Keep children and pets clear of the construction area and away from materials and tools.
- Contact your homeowners’ insurance agent and follow their recommendations for updating your policy to include your remodeling project.
- Have an extra key to the residence available to be placed in a lock box.
- Inform Production Supervisor how to use security system and turn on/off sprinkler system, if necessary.
- Inform your Production Supervisor which bathroom(s) the staff may use.
- Move all furnishings and accessories from construction area. Clear all walls, shelves, cabinets and counters and secure any items that have sentimental value or are irreplaceable.
- Provide clear access to the construction area and to secondary construction areas such as electrical service, ductwork, plumbing, etc.
- Clear exterior areas to allow adequate room for construction activities, as well as access for storage of materials and equipment. This may also include your garage and driveway.
- Remove any shrubbery, flowers, etc. that you want to save and replant.
- Identify and clearly label any salvageable items you wish to retain. All other waste and salvageable materials will be removed, re-used, recycled or properly disposed of.
- We take precautionary measures to confine dust and debris, but since air is moving throughout your home, it is impossible to totally contain dust. You should:
- Cover or remove furnishings and other possessions from the construction area to protect against dust or other damage.
- Close doors to other rooms and vacuum often to help control dust from spreading.
- Don’t forget to take some “before” and “during” photos. It is exciting to look back and to share the transformation with friends and family.
Your Production Supervisor
Your Production Supervisor manages the day-to-day construction of your project. He orders materials, schedules deliveries, obtains any necessary permits and schedules any required inspections. He will assign and schedule work crews and subcontractors. He will also communicate with you and your Project Manager regarding job progress and to facilitate the details of any changes to the scope of work.
To avoid communicating conflicting information, it works best to designate one person to communicate with your Project Manager, Production Supervisor and Interior Designer and provide all of them with that person’s contact information.
The Construction Phase
The size and scope of your project will determine the construction timeframe.
Each project is unique, and the steps and sequences vary. Depending on the type of remodeling you have chosen to do, the first few phases of construction might include the demolition, footings, rough framing, windows, doors, and the roof deck. This is often the quickest, most visible, dramatic step and probably, next to completion, the most exciting. Throughout your project, we will schedule “Big Red” (one of our dump trucks) to pick up debris – No unsightly dumpster on most projects!
The next phase is usually to rough-in the necessary mechanical elements like plumbing, heating/air conditioning, electrical, telephone, cable, Internet and other wiring.
Once the mechanical work is roughed in and approved by your local building inspector, drywall begins.
Once drywall is completed, the trim and cabinets and other built-ins are installed, along with tile, hardwood floors, plumbing fixtures, countertops, mirrors, shower doors, appliances and other finish materials.
When your project is substantially complete, walk through it and note any questions and review them with your Production Supervisor or Project Manager, so that everything is finished to your satisfaction.
Your crew will clean up tools and debris, and you can get busy decorating, organizing and adding the final touches to your new addition or remodeled space.
The Last Step: Enjoy your completed project and tell everyone you know!
All of your planning, preparation and patience will have paid off, and it’s time to plan your open house and show off your completed project to your family, friends and neighbors!
