Frequently Asked Questions

Many of our clients have similar questions about the design, renovation, and building process when working with Irvine Construction. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions of our Maryland contractors:

Who will be the contact person at Irvine Construction throughout our remodeling, contracting, renovation, or build project?

You will communicate directly with Irvine Construction’s owner, James Irvine, through the entire process. From initial contact through design phase, during the construction process and after project completion, he will be the one you will contact with any questions or concerns.

Are all of Irvine Construction’s general contractors licensed and insured in Maryland?

Irvine Construction is fully licensed by the state of Maryland (MHIC 25379). The company and all its associates also carry both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance.

Is Irvine Construction a member of the Better Business Bureau in Maryland?

Yes, Irvine Construction is a member of the BBB through the Baltimore office serving greater Maryland. You can view our A+ BBB review here.

Will you provide references for your home remodeling and construction work?

After the initial consultation, you can request references of previous design/build and remodeling projects close to your location in Maryland and are similar in size and scope of work. If you would like to see some reviews of our past work, visit our Google Reviews page.

May we see previous construction and remodeling projects in Maryland?

Yes, site visits can be arranged for completed construction projects in Maryland to allow you to see our work in person and speak with previous clients.

How long does the design/build construction process take?

Typically, the design phase can last between two and three months, and we allow about a month to procure the permits for construction.

The construction and build portion of the process is largely determined by the size and complexity of the project, but most take between four and six months. At your initial consultation, we will begin to determine the amount of time needed for your project.

For home additions or home renovations, will we need to move out of our home? How will our home be protected during construction?

In most cases, it’s not necessary for you to move out of your home unless we are performing a complete home remodel.

To protect your home, we provide dust barriers and temporary walls to isolate the rest of your home from the work.

How do we make the home product selections?

After discussing the details of your project, we provide you with a list of all items that need to be selected for your project, along with a recommended cost allowance for each. This list includes items such as plumbing and electrical fixtures, floor coverings, cabinetry, countertops, windows, and doors.

We connect you with our suppliers so you can work with them to make the selections that fit your budget and taste.

How long has Irvine Construction been in business in Maryland?

Irvine Construction has served Maryland and areas of southern Pennsylvania since 1985. We are a highly experienced contracting company, completing design/build, home remodeling and addition, and history renovation projects in five central Maryland counties and in several areas of southern Pennsylvania.

What methods of contract construction work do you do in Maryland?

We offer several types of contract construction work, including:

• Design/build: This is our preferred method, allowing us to tailor the construction project design, scope of work, and specifications to meet specific budget requirements. We provide architectural and/or engineering services as needed.
• Cost/plus: This method has no fixed contract price except, potentially, a “not to exceed” ceiling price. This procedure is best used in situations where there are numerous unknown conditions that can impact the work throughout the construction process.
• Competitive bid: This is the most popular and well-known method of contract construction work. We provide limited bid proposals in a prequalified situation. In most cases, providing a competitive bid proposal requires professional quality plans and specifications.
• Negotiated contracts: This method is usually a hybrid of methods where the final construction documents and scope of work are modified due to budget restrictions. These contracts may combine others and include some cost/plus work for unknown conditions, and fixed pricing for a clearly defined scope of work.

Regardless of the contract method you choose, Irvine Construction offers a no-cost initial consultation to discuss your project.

What does the term “design budget” mean, and how is it determined?

When we meet during our initial consultation, we review the scope of work, or your wish list, that you are considering. This scope of work is evaluated against the construction budget that you have planned for, and your project is compared to others of a similar size and complexity recently completed. We then arrive at what a realistic and feasible project design budget is based on all these factors.

The design budget is expressed as and represents a range of likely project costs. These costs are not an estimate to perform contract work; unsteady, they are the probable costs that become our team’s guide during the design phase to prevent the project from exceeding your budget while meeting your expectations.

Most importantly, the design budget allows us to proceed to the design phase with the confidence that your budget is adequate for the scope of work to be completed.

What is included in the design phase of construction, and do you have examples of previous work?

During your initial consultation, we can show you full-size drawings to demonstrate how the process works. You also can view samples of these drawings here.