SAVING MONEY ON A SAN FRANCISCO REMODEL

December 4, 2020 - Our Bernal Heights addition remodel is in progress. We have added large sliding glass doors and a deck to the rear facade, a new HVAC system, new lighting and upgraded electrical system, along with rough framing and plumbing for another bedroom, laundry room and bathroom downstairs, and refinishing the garage. The project budget is close to $300/sf if you include the unconditioned areas such as the garage and the deck. Typical design/bid/build cost per square foot for a remodel of this size in Bernal Heights is closer to $600/sf. This project is our first foray into a design build model which lowers the owner's overall construction budget by managing most of the construction.

Eliminating the GC of course comes at a cost of additional risk for the owner, since the owner will be holding the insurance for the project. Additionally it adds work for the architect and owner and does not remove to possibility of schedule issues, sub contractors becoming unreliable or other mistakes made by sub contractors who for example don't speak the same language or look at the drawings. With all that said, the project will be finishing well under the majority of the original GC bids and typical cost per square foot for San Francisco.