Tag: design-build columbus ohio

Renovation Lifecycle – Design & Estimating

Are you planning a home remodel in Columbus, Ohio? Want to know more about what it means to hire a Design-Build firm? Read on to see how the experienced professionals at The Cleary Company work with clients to design and build projects that meet their remodeling needs and their budget.

The Remodel-Design-Build process simplified. We get to know you and you get to know us. Discovering your unique style and vision for your home is a critical step in the development of your project. Together, we work to find the answers to your project’s biggest questions. With guidance from your Project Developer and inspiration from your Designer, we work to create the home of your dreams within your budget. Then, our skilled Project Managers and Lead Carpenters provide you high-quality installation and service. You sit back and watch your dream come together. When the renovation lifecycle has completed, all that is left to do is enjoy your beautiful new space!

After you’ve given us a call or submitted a new project form online you’ll have the chance to speak with our Client Relations Coordinator. They will ask you a few questions, but mostly they will listen to you describe the type of remodeling project you’re interested in discussing. They will also schedule an appointment for you to meet with one of our Project Developers and the renovation lifecycle begins.

Step 1: Meet your Project Developer (1-3 weeks)

A Project Developer will first meet with you in your home (or if you prefer, a virtual meeting via FaceTime or Zoom can be arranged!) to learn more about your project and discuss your budget range. They will explain the details of our process and scheduling goals. You’ll begin to understand what The Cleary Company Remodel Design Build is all about: dedicated remodeling professionals who collaborate and deliver experience, high-quality design and skilled construction.

If we are a good fit and you choose to move forward with our Team, you will commit to a Design Agreement by paying the design fee.

Step 2: Meet your Designer (2-4 weeks)

The next scheduled meeting will also be in your home. Your Project Developer will introduce you to your Designer. Your Designer will conduct a detailed interview to discover your likes and dislikes about your home. Easy and fun collaboration will be enabled through a Houzz Ideabook! You will also establish the Design Schedule by setting the dates for all the subsequent meetings in the design process. So, have your family calendar handy!

During this time your Project Developer and our Project Consultant will be taking photos and measurements for the As-Build drawings.

Step 3: Design Presentation (2-4 weeks)

You will meet your Team at The Cleary Company design studio office to review floor plan options for your project. After choosing your favorite floor plan, you’ll explore a variety of materials to begin the process of making product selections.

Step 4: Trade Partner Visit (2-4 weeks)

For the estimation of your project to establish the construction budget, your Project Developer and our Project Consultant will invite our Trade Partners to a scheduled visit at your home. This meeting is to ensure quote accuracy and the chance for detecting any potential issues that could create challenges in our proposed plans.

Based on your floor plan choice at the design presentation meeting, your Designer is continuing to create an overall design and details, as well as draw elevations and 3D renderings. Our Design Consultant is also involved in gathering product selection suggestions and getting quotes. All of this information will be used to establish your project’s budget.

Step 5: Construction Contract (2-4 weeks)

At this time you will again meet at The Cleary Company design studio office to review all of the details, documents, drawings, selection suggestions and Scope of Work for your project. The budget number will also be reviewed and you will decide on any options that arose during development.

If all goes as planned you will sign your Construction Contract and set the remaining meeting dates for final selection sign off!

Step 6: Selection Finalization (2-3 weeks)

At this final pre-construction meeting you will meet with your Designer and/or our Design Consultant to sign off on all selections. Once the design process is complete you will receive your official start date!

Step 7: OnSite PreConstruction Meeting (1-2 weeks prior to Project Launch date)

Your Project Developer will introduce you to your Project Manager and discuss project logistics. A communication plan will be established as well as a plan for how your family will experience the remodeling work. Our Team will introduce our Project APP through BuilderTrend.

After this meeting you can start to clear out the areas in your home where work will happen! The Renovation Lifecycle is nearly complete.

PROJECT LAUNCH – IT’S GAME DAY – CONSTRUCTION BEGINS!

Ready to get started? Contact our Team today!

Check out this throwback video from 2016 of George Cleary, CR, CEO explaining our Design-Build process.

October 5, 2023
Top Four Benefits of a Home Addition | Columbus, OH
Why building a home addition makes sense for your family.

Do you need more space or functionality in your home for a growing family? Maybe you need a home office or want a sunroom? Or do you desire a ground-level primary suite for aging in place in your home of 20-30+ years?

A design-build home addition can provide many benefits for your family. Our Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company in Columbus, Ohio is who you can trust to collaborate with you to develop and execute a plan that works for your family and lifestyle.

Furthermore, adding on to your home is a wise investment to make for your family, especially when you want to stay in your neighborhood. The following are some benefits to consider, helping you decide when it’s time to add on to your home.
1. Increase family living space. How great would it be to expand part of your beloved home without having to move or leave your neighborhood? Adding a bedroom, family room, home office, blowing out the wall to expand the kitchen, or adding a sunroom keeps you in your home without the hassle of moving. Extra square footage can greatly impact the quality of life for your family and give you the extra room you need to grow.
2. Comfort, functionality, and personalization. Designing an addition for your home allows you to tailor your design plan to suit your family’s preferences and needs. Customizing the plan during development and design gives you the flexibility to create a spa-like bathroom, a functional home office, a spacious family room, or an additional bedroom to serve as a primary or a guest suite. Perhaps it’s the addition of a 4-season room to complete your vision for your backyard oasis. Personalizing it ensures that your home is tailored to your lifestyle and design aesthetic.
3. Cost-Effectiveness. Of course, a home addition will cost you money. But that will pale in comparison to the cost of purchasing a new, larger home. The cost of moving to a new home involves real estate agent fees, closing and moving costs, and potential renovations to make a new home yours. A home addition allows you to add the room you need, without the cost of relocating to a new home. A side benefit, you will increase the value of your property, depending on what you add to your home. Additional square footage usually translates into a higher market value.
4. Aging in place. This is a top consideration for many of our design-build clients. They love their home, their neighborhood, and their community. But a two-story home that worked for their family isn’t working as well now that the kids are gone, and the parents are getting older. The need for more living space on the first floor is a common theme we encounter. Creating additional kitchen space, a first-floor primary bedroom and bathroom suite, and a sunroom is high on the list for remodeling projects.
Watch the Home Additions playlist on our YouTube channel to see how we’ve transformed many homes in central Ohio!

After you hire the Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company, we will not only collaborate with you to develop and execute a plan that works for your lifestyle but our Team will handle all of the details. We are responsible for the budget, scope of work, design plan, quality and completion of your project as well as,
- Provide you one point of contact.
- Navigate your local zoning regulations.
- Draft construction documents & plans for building permits.
- Determine any impacts on the overall aesthetics of your property.
- Work within your budget by simultaneously designing and estimating your project.
What does a home addition cost in Columbus, Ohio? Read our blog to see what investment ranges you can expect when hiring a design-build firm for a home addition.

Read more tips for planning a home addition from BobVila.com the quintessential resource for trustworthy advice for your home.

Let’s work together to fulfill your vision and improve your home life! Visit the Contact page on our website or call our Client Relations Coordinator @ 614-459-4000.
June 12, 2023
Open Concept Design-Build Home Remodel
Project Spotlight: The 1st floor of this 1940’s traditional 2-story Colonial home in Upper Arlington, OH was transformed into an expansive bright, open concept fresh interior. Tight spaces were opened up allowing natural light to flow from the front thru the back of the home.

Existing Floorplan – Main living spaces on 1st floor all separated by too many walls with narrow openings.

Proposed Floorplan – Main living spaces are all opened up to one another allowing for better flow, function and views.

After – Living, Dining & Family rooms were all opened allowing natural light to flow throughout the home.

1^st floor open concept remodel scope of work included:
- Paint 1^st floor walls and trim
- Refinish all existing hardwood and add new hardwood to foyer and where walls were removed
- Open up or remove walls between living, dining & family rooms
- Install rustic wood beams for architectural interest and to visually separate the spaces
- Build & install new bench seating with storage cabinets in family room
- Build & install new storage cabinets in dining room
- Upgrade staircase with all new rails, posts and balusters plus remove wall on stairwell to basement
After – new staircase and front entry.

You can learn more details about this project, including viewing additional photos and seeing the project cost range on our Houzz profile. Watch a video tour of this home remodel on our YouTube channel!
February 1, 2022
Pricing Your Home Addition | Columbus, OH
How Much Does a Home Addition Cost in Columbus, OH?

A new home addition is different from a remodel of an existing room in a home. A home addition typically adds new square footage and requires all new everything from the floor up. This includes the foundation, walls, ceiling and roof as well as mechanical systems like electrical, plumbing and heating. Because you are adding something instead of changing a space that already exists, costs can vary greatly.

Calculating the cost of a home addition requires knowing first the design, scope and size of the project and the type of room you’ll be adding. Will new utilities be required? Maybe not for a sunroom but definitely for a new bathroom. There are also many other variables, including permits, trade prices and material costs.

Our Team has created the following project profiles to help you begin the discussion for your next home addition project. We also recommend reviewing Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs Value report for more information on building and remodeling costs in Columbus OH.

3 Projects – 3 Budgets – 3 Scopes

Upscale – Single or 2 story addition + whole house remodel

Estimated Price Range: $250k – $750k+

Possible Scope of Work & Finishes:
- increase sq ft of home by building outside current footprint
- exterior updates including new windows and/or siding
- rework existing interior footprint
- move and/or add plumbing & hvac
- upgrade existing lighting and electric
- greatest number of choices for finishes & materials
- quartz countertops, custom tile backsplash
- lots of custom cabinetry
- large island w/seating & storage
- Heated tile flooring and/or exotic hardwood floors
MID-RANGE – Bump Out Build a small add on to existing room

Estimated Price Range: $100k – $250k

Possible Scope of Work & Finishes:
- enlarge existing room by removing walls & building new
- reorganize existing layout for greater efficiency
- move and/or add plumbing & hvac
- professional level of fixtures & finishes
- new lighting & electrical
- basic level granite w/flamed or leathered finish
- custom cabinetry w/variety of choices
- refinish existing or install new flooring– hardwood or tile
MID-RANGE – Build a new room within existing footprint of home

Estimated Price Range: $75k – $100k

Possible Scope of Work & Finishes:
- repurpose existing space with in home’s current footprint; example– basement, attic, spare bedroom
- install new plumbing & hvac
- professional level fixtures & finishes
- basic electrical lighting 2-3 fixtures
- simple semi-custom painted or stained cabinetry
- limited countertop choices- level 1 granite or quartz or HD laminate
- paint only remodeled space
Visit our Additions Gallery for inspiration!

Ready to Build Your Home Addition?

Contact our Client Relations Coordinator by calling 614-459-4000 or visit our website.
January 13, 2022
Chase Away Winter Blues – Lighting Tips from Ferguson

Choosing the Right Lighting Fixtures for Your Home

The winter days can be dark and dreary, but with the right lighting, everything looks better and your mood and energy levels can improve. That’s how we feel about our partnership with Ferguson. Not only do they provide quality products for your home, but working together with them, our designers create lighting solutions for our clients, making their projects brighter and better.

Choosing the right lighting for your home might seem like an easy task. Lamp goes here, chandelier goes there, then you head to the store to grab a few different types of light bulbs because what if those ones are too warm? Or too cool? Or too bright? Too dim? Whatever—it’s a light, how much of a difference will it make?

Bulb Types

Choosing the fixtures is the fun part. Choosing the bulbs is a little less sexy, but just as important when it comes to getting lighting right. LED lights come in a variety of color temperatures and are typically budget-friendly, both at the time of purchase and long-term. Classic incandescent lights are an option as well, but consider swapping them out for brighter halogen bulbs or more subdued (and trendier) Edison bulbs – which can add a “vintage” flair to your fixtures and spaces.

Whether you’re planning an entire renovation or just giving your space a facelift, you’ll need to put together a plan before anything else. Consider the space, size and style of each room and the activities that take place in each of those rooms.

Living Rooms – Perhaps the most flexible room in your home, the living room is typically one of the first rooms you and your guests see when entering the home. The living room is where you go to relax, and it also serves as a social gathering spot for any parties you might have. Getting the lighting right here is vital to setting the tone for the rest of your home. For larger, taller spaces, consider subtle recessed lighting or a stunning chandelier to spark conversation. For smaller spaces, a flush-mount overhead light and a couple of bold table lamps should do.

Kitchen – Often the focal point of many homes, kitchen lighting tends to be morecomplex. The odds of you utilizing more than one type of light are strong, so this is where your plan will come in handy. Recessed lighting is a great option for general illumination – or ambient lighting – but for more nuanced options, consider LED strips along the top of cabinets. Under-cabinet lights are perfect for task lighting, and decorative pendant lights over islands can help establish your kitchen as a unique space.

Bedroom – Just because you’ll spend most of your time asleep in this room doesn’t mean you have to skip out on good lighting. Bedrooms are sanctuaries. Whether you’re retreating into bed after a long day, curling up on your day off or simply reading a book before heading off to sleep, the right lighting can make or break your bedroom’s entire atmosphere. Forget table lamps on nightstands and instead opt for unique sconces or pendant lights on either side of your bed to add some style and flair to the room. Utilize floor lamps and ceiling lights – maybe a fan, too – for broader lighting options. No matter what, remember that dimmer switches are ideal for setting every mood.

Bathroom – Overhead lighting is ideal for lighting up entire bathrooms, but near your vanity you’ll want to opt for task lighting over or next to your mirror. Avoid installing light fixtures directly overhead, as it can cast harsh, unflattering and inaccurate shadows. For baths and showers, use two or more lights to sufficiently brighten the space. Like your bedroom, a dimmer switch might be a good idea, as not many people enjoy being awakened by bright, crisp lights.

When it comes time to start changing your interior lighting, let Ferguson and The Cleary Company create a plan for you that will illuminate your vision for your remodeled home. You’ll live better with Ferguson and The Cleary Company lighting the way. Visit fergusonshowrooms.com to schedule a one-on-one consultation with one of their product experts.

January 29, 2020
Modern Farmhouse New Build Home | Upper Arlington, OH

Project Spotlight: A modest ranch home in Upper Arlington, Ohio is demolished. The Cleary Company Remodel-Design-Build completes a new 2 story modern farmhouse style home.

In 2015 we were hired to design, remodel and build an addition on a 1008sf single-story home built in 1952. The client requested an open concept floor plan with vaulted ceilings, new flooring, fixtures and finishes throughout. After several months of design, planning and estimating this extensive remodel, the decision was made to tear off down the entire house and rebuild the foundation.

The new foundation allowed the home to be better positioned on the existing lot as well as create a new dry basement with taller ceilings.

BEFORE – Exterior curb view

AFTER – Exterior curb view

Design-Build custom home in Upper Arlington, Ohio, 2018

Read more about this project in HouseTrends Magazine.

Do you have a home addition or whole house remodel you’d like to discuss? Contact us today to get started!

March 1, 2019
Architectural Digest Features Columbus Ohio Design

Where Clients Become Like Family

When George Cleary founded The Cleary Company in 1994, he began working for clients he had known his entire
life. It was a client base that would lay the groundwork for a philosophy that has permeated his company ever since. “Once clients hire us, they become part of our family,” he says.

While his team always explores clients’ personal tastes, budgets and lifestyles, they also gain an in-depth understanding of clients’ greater visions for their homes. “Because we treat every client’s home like our own, we understand today’s decisions will impact tomorrow’s dreams,” he says. “We always design holistically, thinking about clients’ future budgets and projects.”

To help clients navigate the emotional stages of remodeling, Cleary says an in-house project management app and an incredible team of skilled craftspeople foster transparency and customer satisfaction. “The truth about remodeling is that it can be a hard and messy process, but treating clients like family ensures the final product and client experience are exceptional.

See the full spread – Architectural Digest_The Cleary Company Remodel Design Build

George Cleary CR & his best buddy Russell.

October 17, 2017