Time and the design/build process

Written by Gerard Del Monte, FabCab Client Representative

Designing and building a new home or ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is not something that can or should be hurried. By the time the hammers start swinging on your building site, you don’t want to be unsure of design details.

A properly and professionally created home like a FabCab is not an overnight wonder. Give the design process the time and respect it deserves. Even if you choose one of our standard designs, there still may be modifications required by your local building code, and we still have to design a proper foundation, etc. Then your home needs to be structurally engineered. Factor in the time necessary for obtaining a building permit, and the time necessary for the custom fabrication of the major components of your home (the timberframe and the structural insulated panels), and the timeline starts to add up. It gets even longer with a pure custom design.

In most of the U.S., the traditional building season starts in the Spring. That means that everybody involved in the residential construction industry is going to be really busy – not just designers and builders, but also building permit personnel, subcontractors, financial institutions, and vendors. If you wait too long to get your design underway, you could run right into a roadblock in late Winter and early Spring when everything is coming to a head.

We collaborate extensively with every new homeowner to make sure that the design of their home is everything they expect it to be. Our goal is to work closely with you and your builder to ensure that the design and building of your new FabCab will be as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

Allowing enough time for that process to properly unfold is important, and less stressful.

Accordingly, when figuring out your timeline, allow at least 4 months between your project deposit and when your timberframe can be shipped. Those homeowners wishing to start construction sometime in April should be in design with us by the first week of December. That way we can generate your permit-ready plans in time and get them submitted to your local permit office in advance of the typical Spring rush.

Remember, it’s never too early to start the design process.

Scroll to Top