Skip to main content

Design-Build Firm vs General Contractor: Choosing the Home Remodeling Contractor That’s Right for You


When you’re in the beginning stages of a home remodeling project, you have a lot of options to consider, but choosing between a design-build firm vs general contractor is the biggest decision you have to make.

At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we’re here to showcase the differences between design-build firms like us compared to general contractors so you can see which is best suited for your needs.

Design & Planning

The beginning process of your remodeling project is the design phase. After you’ve chosen which part of your house you plan to remodel, the design process can begin. When you partner with a design-build firm, they’ll handle the design aspect of the project and begin the construction phase. General contractors, however, can’t begin their work until the design is completed, which is usually done by an outside designer.

Cost-Effective Process

While the prospect of remodeling your home, or certain rooms, can be a costly endeavor, there is a difference between a design-build firm vs general contractor. With the former, since the design is in-house and streamlined, you can potentially save more than with a general contractor, which would result in you having to hire a designer for the remodeling process to begin.

The Necessary Skillsets

There are many different skillsets required to complete a remodeling or renovation project. Electricians are needed for any rewiring or the relocation or addition of outlets while plumbers are needed if you’re remodeling a bathroom or kitchen. As a design-build firm, we work with subcontractors early on in the process. They’ll evaluate the needs of your remodel and provide the work early on to eliminate unwanted surprises and eliminate downtime.

Point of Contact

Communication is vital to your remodeling project. Whether you need to express changes in your wants or schedule, it’s easy with a design-build firm because it’s one company that you’re dealing with. While it’s usually pretty easy to get in touch with your contractor, design-build firms make a point to always be present and readily available.

Remodeling Timeline

Since the remodeling process must wait for the design to be completed, design-build firms offer a streamlined process by all working together throughout the entirety of the remodeling project. Design-build firms are completely knowledgeable throughout the entire process that they’re able to minimize downtime and expedite through challenges. Design-build firms also purchase the materials directly from vendors and suppliers, eliminating any wait for backorders.

Hire Your Home Remodeling Contractor Today

At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we hope that this guide on design-build firms vs general contractors help you see the key differences between these two home remodeling contractor options.

But when you decide that it’s time to start an update to your home, whether it’s a bathroom, a bedroom, the basement, or even the kitchen, you’ll want to make a choice that’s right for you. Flansburg Construction, LLC is a design-build firm that offers to have a streamlined process with open communication and a stress-free process with remodeling your home.

If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us so we can learn more about the details of what you’re looking for with your home remodeling.

Popular Bathroom Remodeling Ideas for 2025

It’s the new year and there are plenty of items on your list of how to bring your home into 2025, specifically, coming up with bathroom remodeling ideas to make these areas in your home pop aesthetically while adding a level of comfort.

At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we’re here to help by sharing the most popular bathroom remodeling ideas for this year so you can begin formulating your wants and needs for your next remodeling project! Whether you’re simply looking to update, or you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, here’s a few ideas to consider:

Create a Wet Room

Wet Rooms have begun to make a comeback in the tale end of 2024, and that style may persist into this year. These bathroom styles can help you save space, improve accessibility, and they’re really easy to clean and maintain.

This design style involves removing shower and bath cubicles, making the space open, so you don’t have to feel claustrophobic while getting clean.

Update with Stone Tiles

There are plenty of flooring options for your bathroom, but if you’re looking for style and durability, you may want to include stone tiles. Using natural stones like marble or quartzite can help make the floor pop.

A great aspect of this choice is that the style of your floor is continuous. Since no pieces of stone are identical, there’s a mosaic aspect to the floors without repetitiveness.

Incorporate Smart Features in the Bathroom

If you’re looking to make your bathroom a place of comfort and relaxation, incorporating smart features like light dimmers, or even colored lights can bring a relaxing ambiance. You can also incorporate spa-esque features like a steam unit into your shower, which can not only add to the relaxation, but also be a form of aroma therapy for those long days where you simply want to unwind.

Step Into the Past

Fashion trends tend to resurge after a few decades, and the style of the 1930s is starting to make a comeback. This “art-deco” style adds an ambiance of sophistication to your bathroom. Matching it with bold colors, decorative molding, and incorporating old-timey fixtures can make it feel like time traveling.

Slab Showers

Natural stone is a luxurious option in terms of style and durability. Utilizing natural stone for a slab shower can not only bolster the style of your bathroom, but it adds an elegance to the aesthetics and makes it an easier surface to clean due to lack of spaces and grout.  

There are also quartz and porcelain slab options that can offer the same beauty as natural stone with more color and pattern consistency, and without some of the limitations

Remodel Your Bathroom Today

While it’s still early in the new year, we expect to see some more unique and upcoming trends that can elevate the look and feel of your bathroom. If you’re interested in taking your bathroom to the next level, and want to incorporate some of these styles, contact us at Flansburg Construction, LLC.

We’ll conduct an inspection of your bathroom and see what type of work would be needed to bring your bathroom into the new year!

Looking to get started? Contact us today for a quote!

Where to Begin When Remodeling Your Home

Whether you’re newly moved in, you’re gearing up to sell, or you simply want to update your space, there’s a lot to consider when remodeling your home. If there are a few things on your list that you’d like to get done, you may want to prioritize because the process can take some time.

At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we’re here to help you through the process by posing some things to think about with your remodeling needs to you can clearly define your wants with your home.

Determine Your Home Remodeling Goals

You’ll want to consider the purpose of remodeling. Are you updating to boost the value? Are there some factors that are missing? Are you trying to increase the space to accommodate your growing family?

There are plenty of factors to think about before hiring a home remodeling contractor.  Picking out your needs can help you decide on the scope of your remodeling  project.

Set Your Budget

Because remodeling your home can be a costly endeavor, it’s important to have a budget in mind before enlisting remodeling services. Whether you’ve been saving up, or you plan on taking a loan out, you’ll want to request quotes from local contractors and determine which one fits your budget and needs.

Prioritize Your Home Remodeling Needs

Before demolition can occur, you’ll need to prioritize the areas of your house that you’re going to remodel. If there’s an urgent need involving the need for repairs, you may want to place them at the top of the list.

However, if your remodeling needs are purely to update and expand your space, it may make sense to focus on the more involved areas like your kitchen. Your kitchen is one of the most used spaces in your home, and while it can be tough without one for a bit, getting it out of the way first may make the rest of the process easier.

Plan Ahead for the Work

When you’re having your home remodeled, there will be a lot of distractions with workers coming in and out, the sounds of the tools, and the mere state of your home during the initial stages. It may be a good time to get away while the work is being done. Whether you plan a short getaway, or heading to a coffee shop for remote work, it can help alleviate the stress you may experience during the project.

Connect with an Experienced Home Remodeling Contractor

If you’re contemplating a home remodeling project, Flansburg Construction, LLC can help! We can detail the scope of your needs and present costs and a timeline of when the home remodeling project will be completed.

Since we’re a design-build firm, we handle the design and planning of your home remodeling in-house. This helps us streamline the process without having to wait for 3rd party contractors and can effectively and efficiently complete your home remodeling within a timely manner.

Looking to get started? Contact us today for a quote!

Home Renovation Ideas to Boost Your Resale Value

Getting the most value for your home is important to every homeowner who puts their house on the market, but did you know there are home renovation ideas that can help you boost your resale value?

Whether you’re just settling in, or you’re gearing up for the sale, there’s a few things that you can do to ensure that you get the most value for your home with a few renovations. At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we’ll detail some of the ideas that we have as a design-build firm that can help you maximize your return on investment.

Modernize Your Kitchen

The kitchen is arguably one of the biggest selling points in a home. You’ll want to make sure that you put effort and focus into the kitchen to help attract potential buyers. This can include opening the space, adding new cabinetry or an island, updating the appliances, or installing new countertops to help boost the aesthetic appeal of the most important room in your home.

Freshen Up the Exterior to Enhance Curb Appeal

First impressions are everything, especially to those who are about to tour your home and potentially place an offer on it. The outside needs to elevate the excitement and enhance the curiosity of those viewing it. For this, updating the front door and siding to a vibrant color, installing modern lighting, and even enhancing the landscaping can help give potential home buyers a good feeling as they’re stepping through the threshold.

Update Your Bathrooms for Fashion & Function

The bathrooms in your home, particularly the master bath, should instill a sense of calm and comfort. Whether you’re looking to update the fixtures, install a new sink and shower, or even adding a modern toilet into the mix, you’ll want to give your bathroom a spa-like sense.

Incorporate Energy-Efficiency Into Your Home Remodeling Ideas

It’s important to ensure that your home is energy efficient. Today’s home buyers are savvy, and they will look at your home as a long-term investment, and factor in the energy costs. If you have efficient appliances, lighting, and even energy-efficient windows, it can help add a peace of mind to the next owner that they’ll get a great value for their next home.

Add a New Bedroom

The more bedrooms a home has, the more appealing it can be, and in the end, it can also help raise the value. Whether it’s a large family, or a new one that’s touring, having the additional accommodations for guests or a new member of the family can be a deciding factor for home buyers.

Finish Your Attic or Basement

When you finish your attic or basement, it can convert them into useable spaces, which can be an attractive selling point to buyers. They can be utilized for another bedroom, an office, a gym, an entertainment space, or more. Finishing these rooms can make them functional, which increases the value of your home.

Let Flansburg Construction Help with Your Value-Boosting Home Renovation Ideas

As a design-build firm, we’ve helped countless homeowners maximize their home’s resale value through thoughtful renovations to their home. Are you interested in putting your house up or making it your forever home? Let us help you design your ideal home today!

Contact us today to get started!

DIY vs Professional Home Renovation Contractors: Considering Your Options

When it’s time to consider home renovations to help boost the overall aesthetic and curb appeal of your house, you may be debating between doing it yourself or hiring a professional. While there are many advantages to both avenues, you’ll want to choose the one that’s right for you and your renovation plans.

At Flansburg Construction, LLC, we’re here to detail DIY vs professional home renovation services so you can decide on which path is right for you.

Knowledge & Experience

The biggest benefit to hiring a professional design-build home renovation contractor is that they have the necessary experience and knowledge for tackling your home renovation project. They’ve got years of experience, have taken the time to hone their skills and master their trades, as well as they’ve stayed up to date with the latest trends and techniques in the industry, and are familiar with local regulations and building codes.

While it may be a fun project to take on yourself, there could be some heavy downtime to research certain methods and processes, leaving your home in renovation limbo.

Project Duration & Efficiency

When you hire a professional home renovation contractor, they’ll give you not only an estimate of the costs, but also the length of time until the project is completed. When you take on this task yourself, the completion date can be mirky in the sense of unforeseen issues, inability to acquire materials, as well as the time it takes to properly learn the necessary skills.

Access to Materials & Resources

Design-build home renovation contractors have access to all the necessary tools, resources, and building materials that are needed for the job. They have commercial accounts with suppliers and retailers, so procuring these materials is seamless.

Quality of Work

One major deciding factor that tips the scales of DIY vs. professional home renovation is the quality of work. While it may look easy on TV, it’s actually a very difficult and involved process to renovate a home. Plus, you may be doing it on your own whereas a professional contractor will have several team members with different expertise that all work together to bring about an immaculate finished product.

Avoiding Stress & Injury

The process of renovating a home can be a stressful one, even if you aren’t the one doing the work. However, if you are doing the work, the stress of doing it yourself can be insurmountable. There’s also the risk of injury if you’re inexperienced with building and the various tools necessary for the job.

Hiring a professional home renovation contractor will alleviate some of the stress and keep you out of harm’s way. You can simply relax and let the professionals go to work to bring your vision to life.

Contact a Professional Home Renovation Contractor Today

While completing a home renovation by yourself can be a remarkable feat, it’s not recommended if you’re without professional experience. But if you’re looking to complete some renovations to your home, and you’re looking for a professional to assist you, you can contact us at Flansburg Construction, LLC.

We’re a design-build firm that’s here to help you complete the process of renovating your home from start to finish.

Contact us today to get started!

Mastering the Art of the Home Addition: Navigate the Process with Confidence

In today’s cutthroat real estate market where homes are being sold faster than families can tour them, buying your dream house might be more difficult than you thought. Because of this, many homeowners are turning to a more viable solution by investing in an addition to transform their current space into the forever home their family needs.

A custom addition is the perfect solution if you already love your neighborhood and commute and are looking for a less expensive alternative to buying a brand-new house. Additions give you the power to create a space that truly fits your family’s lifestyle, rather than tying you down to what’s available in the real estate market.

Wondering how you can make it happen? An experienced design-build team like Flansburg can help you navigate through these four steps.

Step One: Make a Plan and Build a Budget. Careful planning at the start of your custom addition project will help ensure a smooth process and results designed to exceed your expectations. At Flansburg, all of our projects begin with a consultation where we discuss the pain points of your current space, your dream home vision, and design styles you love. We’ll also talk about your budget and come up with a number for the entire project that you feel comfortable with.

Step Two: Choose the Right Professionals. Selecting experienced designers, planners, and craftsmen is vital to your project’s success. As a design-build firm, Flansburg has a team in place of some of the best in the business. Our trusted partners produce high-quality results according to your exact specifications outlined during the planning process. At the beginning of your project, we’ll assign a designated project manager to coordinate and communicate with everyone on the job site. They’ll also provide you with regular updates and will be available to answer any of your questions.

Step Three: Navigate the Zoning Process. Before any work begins onsite, you’ll need to ensure your custom addition adheres to local zoning requirements. We’ll help you understand your area’s zoning rules early on in the design-build process. Some projects, like work on historic homes or on protected land, may have more stringent restrictions, but Flansburg’s experienced team can design a plan that will satisfy your property’s unique zoning requirements, and help you avoid costly project delays or redesigns.

Step Four: Integrate Design and Construction. The best way to approach a custom addition is with an integrated design-build approach, which ensures cohesion from initial design concepts and budgeting to construction to final touches. With one team working on your build from start to finish, you can expect a space that is exactly what you envisioned.

Whether you want to create some more space for your family to enjoy until you move later on, or if you want to turn your current house into a forever home, a custom addition can turn your vision into a livable reality—no real estate agents required. The Flansburg team is here to help you navigate the design-build process from start to finish as you take on your addition project. Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation today and together we’ll explore the possibilities of expanding your space!