Our Process

What to Expect On Your Path to a More Comfortable Home

PHASE 1 – Discussion and Discovery

INITIAL CONTACT

After completing our online contact form, we will follow up via email within 1-3 business days. This is your opportunity to describe your project, ask questions, and gather some basic information about our process. If we seem to be a good fit for one another, you can schedule a phone call with Matt Williams (owner/general manager) to further discuss your project.

FIRST ONSITE MEETING

During this step, the Straight Line team will visit your home for a complimentary on-site consultation. We will gather additional information about your project, assess for any structural and logistical challenges, discuss general layout options (including design opportunities and limitations), provide a general estimate, and explain our process including our Design Retainer Agreement.

FIELD MEASURE MEETING

If you decide you would like to proceed with our company, we will schedule another on-site meeting with the contractor, structural designer, and interior designer. At this meeting, we will ask you to sign our Design Retainer Agreement. We will take detailed measurements of your space as well as “before” photos. We will also ask you to fill out our design questionnaire to gather more details about your wants and needs for the space.

PHASE 2 – Design & Planning

DESIGN REVIEW MEETINGS

The initial design meeting will be in your home with our interior designer. At this meeting, the designer will present 1-3 layout options. These may include computer renderings and/or hand sketches that are drawn to scale. With your input, we will start refining and re-sketching the layout and design features. This meeting will be followed by 3-5 interim design meetings, the first scheduled within 1-2 weeks of the initial design review meeting.

FINAL PROPOSAL AND DESIGN MEETING

The purpose of the final proposal meeting is to review the design details, product and material specifications, and final proposal prior to contract signing. This meeting is typically attended by the contractor, interior designer, and structural designer. We will also discuss in more detail the payment process and preliminary project schedule. The contract signing will be scheduled within 1-2 weeks of the final proposal meeting.

CONTRACT MEETING

At this meeting, we will review the contract in detail and both parties will sign an agreement. The first payment is due at this time and we will present you with a proposed project start date and schedule. Congratulations, you will soon be entering the exciting production phase!

PHASE 3 – Production

DEMOLITION

Before demolition starts, the area is prepped to prevent unnecessary damage. Over the period of one to two weeks, our skilled carpenters will carefully remove unwanted fixtures, walls, and flooring to make room for the planned construction. During the demolition process, we strive to maintain the integrity and comfort of your home with weatherproofing and zipper walls to prevent excess dust and debris.

CONSTRUCTION

Depending on the scope of your project, the construction phase will take anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks (on average). This phase includes structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installation, followed by drywall, paint, flooring, and cabinets. During construction, we will maintain weatherproofing and zipper wall barriers to ensure that your home remains as comfortable as possible during the transformation.

FINAL TOUCHES

In the home stretch of the production phase, we’ll run through our detailed checklist to ensure that no loose end is left untied. From doorknobs to light bulbs, all of the finishing elements come together in this exciting step. This is when your new home comes to life!

PHASE 4 – Post Production

PROJECT REVIEW MEETING AND SURVEY (includes PROJECT PHOTOS)

After the dust has settled and you’ve had some time to get comfortable in your new space, we’ll return for a final visit to ensure that all of your household’s needs have been met, and plan for any touch-ups or adjustments (as needed). We’ll also bring in our photographer to capture high-resolution “after” images of the completed project.

Design and Product Level Selection

As our quality craftsmanship will always remain the same, the following design and product levels will help indicate how a finished project will look. Below are descriptions of each level and pricing tier:

Builder Level is the lowest level a project can be. It uses builder-grade products (usually very inexpensive) and combines them with industry design standards. The final outcome is expected to have minor aesthetic flaws, such as imperfectly centered tile layouts. This type of work is typically done with projects such as real estate flips and business remodels.

Semi-Designer Level is a selective use of builder-grade products paired with a thoughtful and contemporary design process. This allows for access to inexpensive product lines which are hand-picked for maximum design potential. This type of work is is a good fit for those seeking modern aesthetics on a limited budget.

Designer Level combines quality products with sharp design to achieve a beautiful-looking outcome. This is the most common level of work that our clients choose, as it offers the highest return on investment for most home locations.

High-End Level projects are one-of-a-kind designs that are built using the most premium materials available, typically special orders. This results in a finished product that’s both highly customized and luxurious. Clients that chose this level are expecting perfection, and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Green Building can be added to any of the design levels. This approach takes the environmental impact of the construction into consideration for the project’s overall design. This type of work is usually a personal choice by the client. We would prefer to use green building practices for all of our projects, but we understand that the additional costs can be prohibitive for some clients.