How the Collective Building Process Works....
Every job is different... the following is just a general outline of how we handle most of our projects, of course if your project is small enough ( ie, a repair, or standard trim, door, or window install) then we would simplify the process to suit your needs. At the collective, we offer free written estimates and preliminary consultations to our clients, we know once we get our foot in the door, the numbers will speak for themselves. Once the rough ideas are are laid out, we can briefly go over what kind of approach we can take in terms of budget allocation and scheduling. This is a good time for all of us to quickly go over your ideas and offer suggestions that might maximize your project's potential, and increase efficiency. In construction, a term often used is, "90% of the time spent on the job is working on the last 10% of the project". We know all too well what that term refers to, over here we spend the extra time in the beginning to make sure the job runs like a well oiled machine.
After an overview has been created... We can design, schedule and budget your project to suit your needs. We are proficient in tradition paper drafting and can draft prints for a small piece of furniture in minutes or for more complicated projects, employ CAD and render 3-D walk-thrus of your future kitchen or wine cellar. We look through catalogs and magazines to find what you resonate with, and add a touch of personality to your project. We create a schedule, so our work is organized by task and duration, making it clear to all who is needed and when. We figure what options will fit best with your budget, and discuss your tremendous range of options over what materials and finishes we have at our disposal, we not only work with wood, but can create custom works with fiberglass and metal work, as well as blown glass and stone.The sky is the limit with us, whatever you can dream of, we can make it a reality, and at very reasonable cost to you. You'll be surprised to find how much we can all save by making the project run smoothly.
Then we create a project command center on this website, which you'll be able to access securely. This is the place where designers, builders, installers and clients can access a project calendar, review drawings, make revisions, update and review progress and exchange ideas all in one place. The office has now become mobile, imagine the time saved by having all the job information in one place accessible by your blackberry! With the ability to make corrections in real time and collaborate on ideas from just about anywhere, the job can keep moving and the people involved can be kept aware of changes to the project. You'll get video and picture updates of progress so you can watch your project grow and appreciate the process of construction the way it was meant to be.
-Ultimate accessibility, instant interaction, and crystal clear transparency, ahhhh... what a great idea!
-Ultimate accessibility, instant interaction, and crystal clear transparency, ahhhh... what a great idea!
The building process begins, and with any building process comes the third of the equation, the materials. We have so many options these days of materials it will make your head spin, from traditional oak and maple, to more contemporary styles with glass and metal, we have an enormous pallet to chose from. We keep costs down by keeping our operation simple, with the technology in woodworking constantly evolving, it has made it much easier to do more of the work on-site, depending obviously on the circumstances, it can significantly improve implementation to have fabrication and installation close together. For large projects we have a modest shop with all the woodworking tools of any standard wood shops, as well as having the luxury to finish our projects in our own spray booth. We store cabinets and other woodwork in climate controlled storage units and wrap our work in recycled paper to prevent damage and also minimize the use of plastics which end up in our landfills. But eco-friendly doesn't mean we're sacrificing, in fact, just the opposite, we are conserving, therefore saving even money at the end of the day.
Once the project has left the shop, our professional installers finish the job on site. During installation, the rest of the team is being updated on progress and can quickly make changes or decisions about the install at anytime. Having a common place where all the job site information is kept allows the installer to better allocate his energies to the most important task at any given time. It is also a great tool for logging hours and having any extra work be approved instantly. If there is an issue with a dimension or a modification that needs resolution, the installer can take out his phone, record a video, post it on the command center, and have the designer, the builder and the client all come to an agreement of how it should be resolved instead of playing phone tag and wasting time doing job visits. This is how we keep our price down, and our workers happy. Since we all feel involved, the pride in our work shows. Our hard work and success are rewarded and our mistakes affect everyone, that is the best way to run a company, or rather the Carpentry Collective.
Thank you for taking the time to read this, it will help knowing how we work once we get started...
Thank you for taking the time to read this, it will help knowing how we work once we get started...