Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
No. There is no question that our main focus is on historic properties but we will gladly take on other projects that fit within our scope of work.
CenterBeam Construction is run by a female certified building contractor who has been living and working on buildings in the Riverside/Avondale historic district of Jacksonville, Florida since the company began. Any contractor, worth his/her weight can coordinate and oversee an addition or remodel, but when you pair the construction knowledge of Cb with over 20 years of experience working on historical properties, you have a match made in heaven. The craftsmen at CenterBeam Construction are aware of the unique nature of how Jacksonville’s older homes were constructed and the best way to care for them. Not only that, but the staff are experts in moving projects through the necessary permitting process with the historic commission and the City of Jacksonville. We know what it takes to get your job done properly and legally to avoid expensive change orders and help to keep each one rolling on time.
We have a few departments within our company that focus on different tasks. That allows us to take on various sizes of projects. Within the historic district, the most challenging task is simply taking care of these homes on a regular schedule. That is why we offer yearly maintenance services which usually takes 1 to 3 days to complete. But our main focus is still remodels and additions with the modern family in mind. We’ve carried out projects as small as a few hundred dollars and as large as close to a million dollars. We’re happy to discuss your project with you. And If we can’t fit it into our schedule, we’ll try to help you find a reputable contractor that can.
Yes, CenterBeam Construction can help you a few different ways. We can offer in-house design services and we also have a network of architects and designers with whom we work as well. Each project is different. Depending on the type of your project, where it’s located, and other factors, we can recommend which is best for you. Furthermore, we can provide insight into construction materials, methods, and costs that will help your project get off to a great start. Of course, some projects don’t require the services of an architect. For those, we can help prepare a scope of work and a list of suggested materials in advance of providing a cost estimate.
Saving historic homes from demolition is the ultimate in green construction. We have extensive experience in the best practices for insulating old houses, refurbishing windows, using reclaimed materials, adding instant water heaters, salvaging original floors, adding, digital thermostats, solar light tubes and more.
Calling on CenterBeam Construction is your best choice. Our specialty is kitchen and bathroom renovations and we have done plenty for experience which has resulted in great client reviews. We can help you in the design phase to bring your ideas to reality and to keep with the style and look that complements the age and architectural style of your home.
- Repair and/or replace Exterior Rotten Wood, soffits, fascia and siding
- Rebuild or repair front and rear porch flooring and ceiling boards including railings
- Sanding, prepping and painting exterior of Homes (replacing bad wood with new as needed). And yes, we have lead certified technicians.
- Scraping, Sanding and painting interior Baseboards, Doors, Trim and Windows
- Foundation, repointing and other brickwork Repairs
- Rebuilding rotten window frames, sill and sashes. Assisting in the structural repair of historical windows as well as re-glazing and repairing windows
- Re-squaring of doors and replacing of rotten Wood jambs from exterior water damage-WDO work
- Repairing detached 1920’s garages, adding shelving, replacing garage doors and just overall…making them useful for the modern family
- Repairing drywall and plaster for leaks or settling cracks. Re-caulking around tubs and sinks and re-grouting small to full bathroom showers
- Manipulating existing spaces to create walk in closets and new doorways.
If you want to know how much it will cost to repair something, then it all depends on what you are asking. Often times, this can be ball parked by a general photo sent via email or text. (Ex: Replacement of bad wood around a door jamb). Free estimates are most common for uncomplicated jobs such as pressure washing or window washing or drywall repair.
If you want us to try and determine the source of a particular problem, then you will pay a small fee for the diagnosis. Our fees are $75 per hr-rounded up by each hour. A typical diagnosis averages $200. This is most common in older homes, as technicians need to use processes of elimination to pinpoint the cause. (Ex: moisture issues from an attic or water intrusion from outside siding to inside drywall).
If you have a larger project in mind and want an initial consultation, then there would be no charge. The first walk through appointment is simply to discuss your ideas and wants. To answer your questions and to view the space. There is no charge for this service.
Often times, after meeting with clients, they would like to receive an estimate prior to drawings to see if it fits within their budget. These larger, more elaborate projects-like a bathroom or kitchen remodel-may require more time to create a projection of costs to determine if you want to move forward to the design phase. The original estimate for this request assumes a lot of typical finishes (example: typical appliance package in a kitchen design) and will cost around $300
Once you determine you would like to move forward, you will move into the design phase is around 3% of the overall targeted job costs. This is when all measurements will be taken, before and after demo plans will be drawn and a scope of work will be discussed.
Yes! If you’re buying a house or want advice on improving your current home, we also offer a 45-minute, in-person consultation with our contractor for $300.
If you’re wondering how much it’ll cost to repair something small, like replacing bad wood around a door jamb or a window, you’ll probably need to get an exterior audit.
Check it out here – Exterior Audit: https://centerbeamconstruction.com/exterior-repairs/
But, if you need us to figure out the source of a problem—like moisture issues from an attic or water intrusion from outside siding into drywall—that’s a bit more involved. And it may be a process of elimination which might take a few visits. We charge a small fee for the diagnosis: $145 per hour/per person, rounded up to the next hour. Most diagnoses average around $300 because older homes often require a process of elimination to get to the root cause.
For larger projects, like a remodel, bathroom, kitchen or addition, we start with an initial consultation that’s completely free.
This first meeting is all about discussing your ideas, answering questions, and getting a feel for the space. We can often provide a guesstimate of what we believe the job will cost during or after the initial meeting.
If you choose to move forward with an estimate, then you will be charged 1% of the guesstimate.
After our initial conversation, if you decide to move forward, we’ll schedule an in-person meeting to provide a free ballpark guesstimate of your project. If everything looks good and you want a detailed estimate, we’ll send over an agreement to sign and charge a fee of 1% of the estimated project cost.
This is where the real magic starts! We’ll take measurements, discuss your vision, share inspiration (hello, Pinterest boards!), coordinate with vendors, and do everything needed to create a thorough, detailed estimate.
Once we start your estimate, the general time line is about 4 weeks.
Here’s what working with us looks like, from start to finish:
Our first meeting is all about getting to know each other, learning about your project, and exploring your goals. We’ll also give you a ballpark idea of the budget and discuss any contingencies to help establish a target design and budget. This is just a starting point—it’s not the final estimate.
If the project is feasible and within your budget, we’ll prepare a Design Phase contract for you to review. Once signed, we’ll:
- Investigate your home and provide guidance where needed.
- Take photos and measurements of the space.
- Address any major design challenges.
- Create preliminary design drawings, including floor plans, elevations, and foundation plans (if needed for an additional fee).
- Develop a detailed scope of work and project specifications.
- Prepare a proposal and construction contract.
The cost of this design phase is approximately 1% of your target project budget
During this phase, we’ll work closely with you and involve our team of subcontractors and specialists to develop the actual project costs.
When the design phase is complete, you’ll have:
- Finalized design drawings (if needed and purchased)
- Detailed project specifications.
- A fixed-price construction proposal (as fixed as possible- remember, with remodels, there are many unknowns)
At this point, you have options:
- You can keep the design documents and pause the project.
- Or, you can move forward with the construction phase.
We’ll finalize permit drawings, apply for permits and COA’s (if needed) and start scheduling trades. Your contract will be sent to your for signature and the process getting you on schedule will begin. Once that’s done, we’ll provide a soft timeline for project milestones.
This is a good question. And it will change depending on the size of the project. However, each project will be broken down into installment payments. The initial installment usually kicks off the project including demo, framing, etc… and is typically 20 to 30% of the full amount of the estimate. The rest will be broken down into installment payments usually due around percentage of completion milestones. EXAMPLE:
- 1/4 due before permits are pulled.
- 1/4 due midway (around framing and window install time).
- 1/4 due afterwards (usually after tile is installed
- 1/4 due after final inspections are complete.
Well, that’s an easy one to answer. Simply fill out the form and give us some details about what you are looking for. We’ll call you within 24 hours to discuss your project. Here’s a link to the fill out the form: https://centerbeamconstruction.com/contact/
