RISKS TO YOUR HOME OR COTTAGE CONSTRUCTION COST: BUILDING IN MUSKOKA
Be aware of these construction cost risks on your Muskoka home, cottage, garage, or boathouse build.
COST RISKS IN MUSKOKA COTTAGE CONSTRUCTION
COST RISK #1: FOUNDATION EXCAVATION & CONSTRUCTION
Foundation excavation work can present a significant construction cost risk due to Canadian Shield bedrock subgrade conditions that are a common feature of Muskoka building sites. Subgrade conditions on a building site can vary significantly from one area to another.
The presence of bedrock usually prevents the use of standard mechanical excavation methods. In this case, explosive bedrock removal by drilling, blasting, excavation & off-site rock disposal will probably be required.
Depending on the extent of bedrock removal required, this can add several tens of thousands of dollars (or more) to your home or garage construction cost.
A fixed-price is not available for bedrock drilling, blasting & excavation work due to concealed subgrade conditions, variability in bedrock characteristics, and the potentially unlimited travel distance to off-site rock disposal locations.
Our experience as a custom home & cottage designer serving Muskoka can reduce your risk of explosive bedrock excavation cost surprises.
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CONSULTCOST RISKS IN MUSKOKA HOME CONSTRUCTION
COST RISK #2: WORK SCOPE EXPANSION, OR “SCOPE CREEP”
Construction clients often develop too strong a focus on acquiring “wants” for their building project without a realistic expectation of the additional cost associated with delivering the related design or construction services.
It is important to understand that every decision that adds quantity or quality to the construction work for your home building project will result in an increased cost for delivery of the building.
In the long-term this will generally result in an increased real estate value for the building & property but, in the short-term it can can result in construction costs that exceed the project budget.
Change Order costs can inflate your building contract price quickly due to the adminstrative and scheduling miscoordination that they impose on your builder.
Classic Muskoka Homes is prepared to provide clear & transparent cost information in relation to every detail that you specify for your building project.
LET'S BUILD
Contact us to start building your classic country home in Muskoka today!
EMAILBen always returned messages in a timely manner. When we were able to come up for a visit to see the project he would make sure to meet us at the site. Ben is very proud of his work and is very willing to correct any issues that arise.Lake Joseph
MUSKOKA COTTAGE CONSTRUCTION COST RISKS
COST RISK #3: FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES & SCHEDULE ACCELERATION
Where timely performance of construction work is a key priority, it is necessary to add a substantial premium to your home, cottage, garage, or boathouse construction budget.
This cost premium will allow for overtime wage rate premiums at 150% to 200% of standard hourly wage rates.
Reduced productivity must be expected when construction trades are required to work overtime hours or a longer than standard work week.
Interference or friction between building trade sub-contractors on a crowded construction site will also result in reduced productivity.
Factors causing reduced work productivity will cause a related increase in construction costs.
A cost premium is also necessary to cover the cost of increased project management & work coordination effort.
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QUOTEWe talked to a number of contractors when planning the work and Ben struck us as the most realistic and ‘quality focused’ of the people we talked to. Oxtongue River
COST RISK #4: WATER-ACCESS & REMOTE BUILDING SITES
Classic Muskoka Homes is prepared to deliver your custom home or cottage building project on a water-access or remote construction site.
A Costs-plus-Markup construction contract will be offered that provides for reimbursement of direct project-related costs, plus business overhead mark-up.
Site accessibility, commuting travel-time, material & equipment delivery costs and work productivity rates for water-access building sites & remote rural properties are highly uncertain and difficult to predict.
A significant allowance for uncertainty must be included in construction schedule duration estimates for work on water access & remote building sites.
A Fixed-Price contract is not available.
