Guide · Hiring
Design-Build vs General Contractor
Design-build gives you one company responsible for design and construction under one contract. A general contractor builds from drawings you bring, which makes bids easier to compare. For most kitchen and bath remodels, the right choice depends on how much you want to manage.
Side by side
| Design-build | General contractor (design-bid-build) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who designs | In-house or partnered designer, under the same contract | Your designer or architect, hired separately |
| Pricing | Developed alongside design; harder to compare across firms | Several bids on identical drawings; easy to compare |
| Timeline | Design and pricing overlap, so it can start sooner | Design, then bidding, then construction |
| Change orders | Fewer design-construction gaps; changes priced within one contract | Gaps between drawings and site conditions become change orders |
| Responsibility | One company for design and build | Split between designer and builder |
| Suits | Owners who want one point of contact | Owners who want competitive bids and design control |
Where showrooms fit
Cabinet and bath showrooms often provide design for the products they sell, then hand installation to a contractor. It works well for cabinet-led kitchens. Make sure someone owns the whole scope, including plumbing, electrical, permits and repairs behind the walls.
Architects and designers
Same-footprint kitchens and baths rarely need an architect. Structural changes need an engineer and drawings for plan check. Kitchen and bath designers bring product knowledge and detailed elevations that make bids comparable.
How to decide
- Want one call for everything, and value speed? Lean design-build.
- Want three comparable bids on fixed drawings? Hire a designer, then bid to general contractors.
- Cabinets are the center of the project? A showroom plus a licensed installer can work.
Whichever route, check the license and follow CSLB payment rules: how to choose a remodeler. Scope guides: kitchens · bathrooms.
Questions
Is design-build more expensive?
Not necessarily. Design-build often prices design into the contract and may cost more than the lowest bid on finished drawings, but it can reduce redesign and change orders because the builder prices the design as it develops. Compare total cost, including design fees, on similar scopes.
Do I need an architect for a kitchen or bath remodel?
Usually not for a same-footprint remodel. You may need an engineer for structural changes such as removing a bearing wall, and drawings for plan check. Many kitchen and bath projects use an interior or kitchen designer instead of an architect.
Next step
Ready to price your remodel?
Tell us about the room and a local remodeler can walk you through scope, permits and a written quote.