The Ecklundson Building Process 

Ever wonder what the general mechanics of the custom home building process are? There are essentially 12 phases to the construction process. Coordinating and overseeing the many sub-trades is essential to ensure you stay on budget and more importantly that the end result is one of quality. Ecklundson Constructions oversees and reviews with their customers at each of these 12 phases to ensure quality construction and budgets are kept in check at every phase of construction. 

Each phase of our process is well documented and captured through photography. This makes it easy to remember what was done where. For example, if we ever need to uncover drywall to locate mechanical feature or structural element we can easily go back and find the picture that was documented by this process. 

You will also be given a schedule of decisions to make prior to each stage of the construction process. Some clients work with an interior designer and some want to incorporate their own vision; either way Ecklundson will assist you to ensure your choices and materials result in the home you want. At each phase of construction, you will meet with us on to walk through your home, have your questions answered and make adjustments sot at your vision becomes reality. 

Here are the 12 construction phase for Ecklundson Construction 

1) Lot Selection The majority of clients have a house design in mind. We meet with you to get a feel for your lifestyle and location needs. We can help you find the ideal lot for your house or if you have a lot in mind we can provide guidance so that you don’t end up with a lot that won’t accommodate your design plans. 

2) Design. We have partnered with a designer who will help you achieve your vision for your new home and ensure your new home meets all your needs. We will talk through the home design and develop a specification document for you. If you have specific custom design elements you'd like incorporated into your new home, we encourage you to bring pictures of it. A picture can help answer a thousand questions. 

3) Budget - Pricing out your home to is a taken seriously at Ecklundson construction. Once your design is determined we provide accurate estimates as well as alternatives, if necessary, so that you may accommodate your budget. 

4) Contract Documents. After you finally settle on a suitable design, you will need to identify all of the materials and finishes that you want to go along with it. There are literally thousands of items that go into the construction of a new home and every single one of them must be specified. So in order to get the things that you want with the materials you want we will put all material specifications in writing and in as much detail as necessary, to create clear, complete, and accurate construction plans and specifications. Besides their importance in building your new house, these documents will be needed in order to create an accurate budget. You cannot realistically expect to know how much your house will cost to build, until you know exactly what you are trying to construct. After all the design work, plans and specifications are complete and our budget is set in place we will sign and initial contract documents. 

5) Site Excavation - In order to build your home we need to excavate the chosen build site to provide your foundation with a firm solid load bearing capacity that will carry the weight of your house and not shift or sink. 

6) Foundation – The foundation is the structure on which the rest of your house is built. Whether it is stone, concrete, steel, or wood; a basement, crawl space, pilings, or slab on grade, it needs to be strong and square and dry. 

This is not a good place to try to save money. Be sure the footings are properly sized and reinforced for the loads that will be carried. Build the walls to be able to withstand the forces of the earth that they will need to hold back. And, invest in a waterproofing system that will protect areas below grade. A house is only as good as the foundation on which it rests. 

7) Framing - Many people consider the framing stage to be the most exciting. When the framing crew finishes the first floor deck, you will finally be able to take your first walk around your new house. It is an indescribable moment. 

Framing will take anywhere from a week for a small house, to several months for a larger one. You will be able to watch the basic structure take shape very fast. Your home will suddenly have walls, a roof, and windows. 

This is also the time when the first on-site changes will probably take place. Room sizes and layouts become much easier to see in 3 dimensions. Even the best architect frequently finds something that didn't turn out quite the way it was envisioned on paper. 

8) Rough-ins – As the individual trades converge on your house, things will appear to slow down considerably. In reality, a lot more work is actually being done on your house during the rough-in stage, it just isn't as dramatic. 

During the next several weeks or months, dozens of people will be installing the inner workings of your house. Plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, lighting, security systems, central vacuum lines, television cable, entertainment systems, computer networks, exhaust fans, phone lines, fireplaces, and scores of back-ups and nailers for things yet to be installed. 

This may not be an exciting time, but it is very important that everything and everybody be properly coordinated. Take the time to get things right at the rough-in stage, and you will save yourself lots of aggravation later on. 

9) Finishing- When you are absolutely certain that everything has been roughed-in properly, it is time to finish the walls, install the doors & trim, hang the cabinets, put down the hardwood flooring, install ceramic tile, and cover everything that doesn't move with either paper, plastic, or paint. 

This is also just about the time that you start worrying about the fact that your existing house still hasn't sold and the kids are going to have to change schools midterm. Well don't get too concerned yet. There is still a lot of work to do before you will be able to move into a completed home. 

After the paint, the next things to be installed are the light fixtures, counter tops, appliances, plumbing fixtures, mirrors, shower doors, security systems, door knobs, towel bars, and toilet paper holders. Most of these things will even be installed in the correct locations. 

10) Exterior Finishing - While work is progressing inside, there is much to be done outside as well. Keep in mind that the exterior finishing will need to be designed and installed to keep out the elements and protect the main structure for as long as possible. 

The exterior finishes might be any combination of brick, stone, stucco, vinyl, Hardi board, concrete, or wood. Before you make a final decision, you need to take into consideration the weather conditions in the area where you are building and how much time you will be able to spend on maintaining the outside of your house. 

11) Landscaping – Landscaping can tie your house together with the land. Properly placed trees can help keep your house cooler in the summer, and protect it from cold winter winds. 

The walks, patios, walls, pond, and plantings that make up a landscape can easily represent a sizeable expense, yet they are very important in making a new house look and feel like a home. 

All too often, because this is one of the last phases of the job, people forget about the importance of blending the structure with nature. Be sure to make a reasonable budget for landscaping and try very hard not to spend it on something else. 

12) Completion – Prior to us “turning over the keys” we will do a thorough walk through of your home to make sure everything is completed to your satisfaction. We will also take time to review the mechanical workings of your home and review the New Home Warranty booklet and your customer maintenance manual for your home. 

Your new home is covered under the 2-5-10 year New Home Warranty underwritten by Travelers Guarantee Company of Canada. Every new home goes through a "breaking in" phase and it's our guarantee that all warranted items in your home are corrected in a timely manner. 

DESIGN SERVICE 

For a personalized design approach Ecklundson Construction partners with Jorgensen / Osmond Limited, a leading edge building designer that has over 30 years of building and design experience within the residential construction and commercial industries. 

Jorgensen-Osmond is an award winning firm and its principal service is to provide unique and inviting designs to homes on Vancouver Island. 

From the design concept, evaluating the site and the blending of your views, you will be working with the principle of the firm Peter Jorgensen. You can rest assured that Peter will help you bring out the maximum potential that your vision has to offer…which is our ultimate goal. 

Design Review Process 

The Design Review Process will provide you, the designer and Ecklundson construction with the tools and information that is needed to fully achieve your goals. It is a multiple-step process that includes: 

1) Pre-Design Meeting. Intended to introduce your design goals, review the process for design and submittals and present the key issues that you and our building team will need to be aware of and address. This step generally requires a minimum of two meetings: A “site concept design meeting” and a “building massing review”. 

2) Preliminary Design Review. A two-part process consisting of architectural and conceptual landscape designs submitted for consideration. 

3) Final Design Review. Once you are happy with your “custom set of plans” for your new home or renovation we then continue on to prepare for permit application.