Building a sustainable or “green” house, or building any house for that matter, is a complex process. It involves an intricate process which encompasses a design that reflects the clients’ vision, an understanding of how to optimally place the structure on a given site and a contractor who understands the challenges of the concept and puts together an efficient plan to get it done.
In this video Elizabeth DiSalvo, founder of Trillium Architects, talks about the elements included in the construction of a sustainable home. She addresses material, labor and the markups of both the contractor and the architect. The video will give you an excellent idea of what to expect if you are contemplating building a new home.
Significantly, Elizabeth explains what is and what is not included in the construction cost of a home. She uses what she calls the “upside down test,” where anything that would fall out if you held the house upside down is not included in the construction cost. In terms of markups, she explains that both the contractor and architect usually charge around 15% plus/minus to cover their planning, design, supervision and logistics management of the entire job.
Attention to detail and fulfilling the homebuyer’s/owner’s vision is the most important aspect of designing and building a new sustainable home. As DiSalvo puts it, the end product is always a home that is “happy, healthy, warm and dry.”
