Frequently Asked Questions

When you decide to remodel or build your home, you can hire an architect or designer to develop the concepts and plans and then hire a general contractor to bring the design to life. Or, you can hire a design-build company to handle every step of the process from start to finish.

Design-build remodeling brings together the two crucial elements of a project: design and construction. Our team is comprised of designers and builders who work together to complete your remodeling project faster and better and unifies the workflow from initial concept to project completion. This means you have one team working in unison to bring your vision to life.

The benefits of this approach include lower design costs, improved communication, fewer change orders, and faster project completion. We recommend the design-build option for anyone hoping for a streamlined remodel or custom home project.

We feel it is very important to know and understand our client’s general design ideas. After all, our clients live in and know their homes better than anyone else. Our initial meeting with a homeowner always starts with learning about their goals and priorities for their home. Homeowners know how they live in their house and can provide important insights into what will make their life functionally and emotionally better. It has been our experience that a client’s initial general design ideas can be developed through our design process and made better by our design team. So don’t be shy about expressing your ideas for the remodeling project.

However, it can sometimes feel difficult to explain your design ideas to your remodeler. Our first recommendation is to create lookbooks of designs, appliances, flooring, paint colors or anything else you find attractive. You can create your lookbook using online platforms such as Houzz or Pinterest or also consider the method of cutting photos from magazines. This will help us understand your design aesthetic which we can use to design the home of your dreams.

We have an experienced team of designers in-house which offer incredible design at almost half the cost of an architect.  We also have an amazing in-house team to manage your interior selections ensuring your project has unified style, timeless and tested materials, and a personalized look.

At this time, we are unable to work with outside designers + architects and/or provide build-only services. 

Design and construction costs can vary greatly depending on the size and scope of the project. The three biggest factors in determining the cost of a project are existing conditions, quality of finishes, and time frame. Throughout the duration of a project, we consider ourselves “keepers of the budget.” At the end of the Feasibility phase, we provide an allowance-based estimate to make sure your vision is within your budget. Once the project selections are made we get bids from our subcontractors during Pre-Construction. This gives us an accurate fixed-price contract for Construction.

Construction projects are a big investment not only of money, but of trust. As a design-build firm, we oversee projects from the early design conception through to completion. We offer the complete spectrum of services including design, engineering, permit processing, high quality construction, warranty and we are always here for you long after your project is completed. Our clients can be as involved as they like throughout the design process. Our biggest priority is meeting our clients’ needs and exceeding their expectations.

We have a proven system that ensures our clients get both excellent construction AND stunning design. We are a collaborative company where our designers work hand-in-hand with our construction team. Attentive listening combined with creative thinking allows the COOPER team to discover a client’s wants and needs effectively to design an intelligent, thoughtful solution for a price they are willing to pay.

Over our 30+ years serving the Portland area we have enjoyed developing and working on a wide range of ideas and styles. We specialize in whole house remodeling, integrated additions, gourmet kitchens, primary suites, large outdoor living spaces, and attic/basement remodels. We also have an affinity for restoring and renovating Portland’s many beautiful historic homes. If you have a change in mind to modernize your home and make it more functional, we are the design-build team for you!

We’ve worked very hard in the last few years to develop and maintain project management systems that are efficient on jobs large and small, so that we can provide full design-build services on a wide variety of projects. If we feel the project is not the right fit for our company, we’ll be glad to refer you to professionals who can help you.

COOPER Design Build will manage all of the construction permits needed for your project.

Remodeling is a complex process. Each project is different according to the existing structure, the size of the job, and the wants and needs of the client. To get a better understanding of the different cost ranges, you can review the Portland Cost vs. Value Report for the current year. We take time with our clients during the design process to help understand costs associated with your project. We also do our best to identify any options you may choose in the future and include pricing for those options in our proposal.

Typically, when we sign a contract with our client, we hold true to the contracted price. We take the time to go over every detail of your project to ensure the cost is accurate. If there is any additional work or changes made to the project by the homeowner, this could be an additional charge, but our designers will go over the new changes with you before any charges are incurred. There is the possibility of issues behind the walls or other areas that can affect the price.  It is a standard construction recommendation to allow 10% extra cushion to your budget.

The company was started in 1991 by Lane Cooper who remains the central pulse of the company.  We currently have thirteen talented team members, several of whom have been with the company for 15+ years. We have over 30 years of experience, hundreds of successful projects with happy clients, an impeccable reputation in our industry, and a flawless record with the BBB and CCB.

• Ideally the design-build firm will have its architectural design and construction services in-house. This way a company will have more control over its staff for quality control and schedule. It is impossible to have significant influence over design or construction staff that is subcontracted.
• Set up a meet and greet at the remodeling company’s office so you can be introduced to some of the people you will be working with and to check out the office environment. You will quickly learn if it’s a good fit.
• Verify that the remodeling company is licensed, bonded and insured as a contractor in your jurisdiction. You can verify this through the Oregon Construction Contractors Board in Oregon and Washington Labor & Industry in Washington.
• References are always smart and helpful. You should contact a few of the remodeling company’s past clients and learn about their experience. Are they happy with the results? In some cases, you might be able to visit a job site or a finished project.

In our experience, remodeling stress is due almost entirely to unclear expectations. We work to limit stress by mapping the remodeling process as precisely as possible. You’ll know what decisions need to be made and when, guidance from our interior design team on material selection and where to find them, and the project schedule. We use project management software to keep you and our team on the same page during your project. You’ll also know exactly who to reach out to when you need guidance or clarification. As your remodeling guide, we consider it our job to keep you feeling in control and excited about your project’s progress.

In most cases, we strongly recommend moving out of your home during the construction phase for the convenience, health, and safety of your family. Our Project Managers take the utmost care to minimize disturbance, dust, and debris or damage by tightly sealing off the areas of the home not within the scope of construction, however, living in a construction zone takes a toll on both your quality of life and your experience of the remodel. Moreover, having our construction schedule align with your day-to-day schedule slows down efficiency and productivity leading to higher costs and longer timelines.

COOPER Design Build will take you through each stage of our design and construction processes with precision and care:

Consultation (1 day): We will walk through your home with you to hear about your frustrations and vision for your space. 

Feasibility (6-8 weeks): In this phase, we will work with you to put together a design for your remodel that fits your wants, needs, and dreams for your space while also assessing how that aligns with your proposed budget

Pre-Construction (8-12 weeks): You can finally see it – the home of your dreams is detailed. Refining your project is the next exciting phase of bringing your design to life and truly creating a place that you will love to call home.

Build (4-9+ months): During construction, we will meet with you regularly to see the design as it is being built and keep you informed of the building progress to ensure that your dream home is realized as imagined.

For a more detailed account, visit Our Process page.

We use an internet based project management system that will show your project schedule and selections that need to be made. It also links communications between you and our project team. Once construction begins there is a weekly scheduled meeting on site to review progress, answer questions and keep everything on track.

Our process allows our design team and the homeowner to explore design options and work out the many details before construction starts. Having all the details documented and clarified in our construction drawings allows us to provide clients with fixed-price construction contracts. In the event that a change is required, either client driven or by an unforeseen condition, it is easily handled with a standard change order. We encourage our clients to have minimal changes in order to avoid project delays or cost overruns.