Frequently Asked Questions
Your Building Questions, Answered
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You’ll connect with our team to discuss your project goals, vision, and budget. You’ll also receive a back-of-the-napkin estimate, a high level cost projection based on similar projects, giving you a clear starting point.
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We begin with a discovery call, then a complimentary site visit, then a studio proposal meeting. The discovery call is to understand your project and budget reality. The site visit is where we see the house and understand the scope in real context. After that, we build and present the design proposal. See our Process page for more detail.
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We try to make a first-pass budget judgment at discovery, but the more accurate budget work happens after we’ve seen the property and refined scope. You should expect us to test whether your current budget is realistic, not just tell you what you want to hear.
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The complimentary site visit is the next step after discovery. We come to the property, see the constraints and opportunities in person, deepen the conversation around scope and pain points, and test budget reality in the actual space. It’s important to us to see you in the context of the space we’ll be remaking together. One site visit is typically complimentary; multiple-property or repeated visits may trigger a fee.
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It depends on project complexity, but the site visit usually includes, at the very least, our Development Manager and a representative from the design team.
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Timeline depends heavily on scope, complexity, design development, permit path, and how quickly decisions get made. The honest answer is that design and preconstruction take real time, and compressed expectations usually increase risk.
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Delays often stem from material lead times, permitting, or unforeseen conditions, but our detailed pre-construction planning minimizes risks and ensures seamless execution. We make sure the process isn’t delayed by building these variables into our schedule.
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We use a detailed, upfront budgeting process that accounts for every aspect of your project, minimizing surprises and ensuring financial transparency from day one. We also integrate budgeting with design so that what you envision has room to grow into the planning process.
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You’ll get budget clarity in stages. Discovery is a first-pass qualification. The site visit improves the reality check. Based on an analysis of your project and past builds, the design/proposal work gets you to a much more grounded number. The truly fixed number comes later, once the design is sufficiently developed because a budget that precedes design is just guesswork.
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Our fixed-price contracts outline all costs upfront, including materials, labor, and project management, eliminating unexpected expenses.
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Unlike cost-plus contracts, which can fluctuate, our fixed-price model ensures financial predictability, so you know exactly what to expect.
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Yes, but any changes will be carefully reviewed and approved in advance to ensure they align with your overall goals and timeline.
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The first commitment is the design contract, not the build contract. That design phase has its own fee structure and deliverables. If you move forward with Tectonic for construction, that happens later. Part of the reason we separate them is to ensure it's a good fit before we head into the build process–and that's a benefit to you, too.
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Traditional construction requires hiring a designer, architect, and builder separately, often leaving you to manage communication, timelines, and budgets on your own.
With design-build, everything is handled in-house: one dedicated team oversees your entire project, ensuring seamless execution, clear communication, and total accountability from start to finish.
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An independent architect focuses on design but isn’t directly involved in budgeting or construction execution, which can lead to misalignment and costly revisions. At Tectonic, our AIA-accredited, licensed architect works directly with our builders and project managers from day one, ensuring a seamless, efficient process where design, budget, and construction are fully aligned.
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Yes, but our design-build model eliminates the gaps that often arise between independent architects and builders. If you already have an architect, we’ll work to align their vision with our proven, fully integrated process to ensure a smooth and efficient build. Our in-house licensed, AIA-accredited architect can also provide additional expertise to refine the design and construction details.
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We are opinionated about quality and execution, but not about forcing a single design style on clients. The design should fit the client, the house, and the investment level: our team will always find you selections within your budget and that align with your goals and aesthetic vision. We meet you where you are, not where we think you “should” be.
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Passivehaus is a tried and tested solution that provides a way of building ecologically-responsible homes without sacrificing comfort or style. Passivhaus buildings are very comfortable while using very little energy for heating and cooling.
Tectonic’s whole team is Passivehaus Certified. This means that not only are you getting a quality build with transparent communication, you’re doing your part to preserve the beautiful Colorado landscape we call home.