An architects hand-drawn blueprint showing an alternative interior elevation design is overlaid by dollar bills of varying denominations to represent the construction cost topic.

DESIGN YOUR CONSTRUCTION COST TO BUILD A HOME OR COTTAGE IN MUSKOKA

We build great homes with enduring value at a fair construction cost for a vibrant Muskoka.

YOUR DESIGNER'S INFLUENCE ON HOME CONSTRUCTION COST

Construction cost is almost entirely determined by the skill and effort that are applied to the design of your building by an Architect or Home Designer.

Architectural design & related services in the design-phase of your building project will average between 5% and 20% of total project budget.

Construction costs will account for the majority of your project costs at 80% to 95% of all costs.

Your Architect or Designer will establish the essential construction information during the design-phase, including:

  • What is to be built?
  • In what size or quantity?
  • What materials are to be used?
  • What construction methods are appropriate and acceptable?

This is the information that determines the cost of the construction work that will be performed under your construction contract.

The quality of the workmanship that is incorporated into your home, cottage, garage, or boathouse in Muskoka will endure permanently for the life of the building and will form a substantial component of your daily experience when using the building.

A cottage interior with wood paneling, stone fireplace and recessed ceiling lighting in Muskoka, Ontario.

SAVE ON COSTS

Read these tips to save money on the cost to build your home, cottage, garage or boathouse.

COST SAVINGS

YOUR BUILDER'S INFLUENCE ON HOME CONSTRUCTION COST

A weathered divided-lite wood window in the stable of a Muskoka barn.

Classic Muskoka Homes is committed to delivering beneficial value to our construction clients.

When you pay for construction services, you engage in an exchange of value.

The cost that you pay for the construction work is exchanged for a property market value that will continue to increase over the long-term if the design and construction work are performed with sincere care and attention to detail.

When you pay for construction services, you incur “beneficial costs” to the extent that the cost you pay will reliably deliver beneficial value to you as the property owner.

Unfortunately, “wasted expense” is relatively common in the construction industry.

Wasted expense most commonly results from poor construction document quality, an insufficient construction budget, incomplete knowledge or skill among construction workers, or unusually challenging building site conditions.

Wasted expense can very quickly result in the need for demolition, restoration or replacement of expensive products and systems in relatively new buildings.

REQUEST A QUOTE

Contact us for a Fixed-Price Construction Cost for your building project.

QUOTE
Ben provided us with a fixed price contract and charged extra only for agreed upon changes.  We were very impressed with both the quality of workmanship and Ben's dedication to getting it right, even when that involved working long hours.Bracebridge

COST CONTINGENCY FACTORS FOR A HOME OR COTTAGE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET

Include a realistic contingency factor in your construction budget to allow your building design to evolve by incorporating novel design ideas that will inspire and delight without your project becoming too expensive to build.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONTINGENCY

Keep a contingency factor of 20% in your budget through the project's preliminary design phase.  This will ensure there is room for the design to evolve naturally according to your wishes, without exceeding your maximum budget.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT CONTINGENCY

Allow 15% as a budget contingency during the design development phase in order to leave room for high-quality materials, finishes & fixtures that you may want to include in the perfect design for your building.

CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS CONTINGENCY

When design is complete and you are ready to contract out the construction work, keep enough room for a 5% to 10% construction cost contingency.  This will ensure that you are prepared to deal with un-anticipated conditions & costs, or design changes that you may want to make during construction.

CONSTRUCTION COST & CONTRACT INFORMATION

AN INDEPENDENT GUIDE TO RESIDENTIAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COSTS

The Altus Group's “Canadian Cost Guide” for Wood Framed Residential - Custom Homes in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) offers a realistic expectation of home building costs.

https://www.altusgroup.com

We believe that insisting on fair compensation for diligent construction service is fundamental to the development of high-quality homes, human character, to the maintenance of social culture, and is the only basis on which healthy communities that offer economic opportunity can exist.