Who Is on a Design-Build Team? Roles and When You Meet Them

A design-build team is the group of professionals who design and build your remodel under one firm. On a Lamont Bros. remodel, that team includes a design consultant, a designer, a project manager, and a remodel superintendent, supported by licensed trade specialists, engineers, and municipal inspectors when the project calls for them. You meet them in order, starting with the design consultant on your first call. This guide explains each role, when you meet them, and which questions each one answers. For the full sequence of stages, see the design-build process.

Key Takeaways

• The design consultant is your first contact, from the virtual call through the home visit, and answers questions about scope, budget, and feasibility.
• The designer joins shortly after the project begins and creates the layouts, selections, and 3D renderings.
• The project manager works with the design team on cost and schedule before construction, then coordinates the build.
• The remodel superintendent is the person you deal with day to day during construction.
• Engineers, licensed trade specialists, and inspectors are brought in only when the project needs them.

Who Answers What: A Quick Reference

Design Team

Design Consultant: Your Guide and Advocate

The first person you meet is a design consultant. This person is your main point of contact through the design process and advocates for your needs and goals. The first conversation is a 30 to 45 minute virtual call, followed by a home visit. Read how to prepare for your first design consultation to get the most out of it.

Design consultants help define:

• Scope: which spaces you want to remodel and how extensively.
• Budget: realistic financial parameters.
• Vision: how your style, preferences, and priorities translate into a feasible design plan.

They are the people who answer questions like:

• "Can we remove that wall?"
• "Can we raise the ceiling height in our basement?"
• "How much will this project cost?"

Designer: Turning Ideas into Plans

Shortly after your project begins, you meet your designer. Designers have a background in interior design and bring their own style to the project. Making countless choices about fixtures, colors, and lighting, and making sure they work together, can be overwhelming. Your designer guides those choices.

Designers also create 3D renderings and floor plans so you can see the finished space before construction begins. Their role balances design creativity with functional precision, so the remodel looks and works the way you envision.

Because the same firm designs and builds the project, and because the design and construction teams work together on every project, the design is grounded in what can actually be built. The team begins with the end in mind.

Build Team

Project Manager: Planning and Oversight

Your project manager is involved before construction begins, working with the design team to estimate costs and plan the schedule.

Once construction starts, the project manager:

• Coordinates logistics and staffing.
• Monitors timelines and budgets.
• Serves as the liaison between the design and build teams.

Project managers often oversee several projects at once and visit your site periodically to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Remodel Superintendent: Your Daily Contact

The remodel superintendent is the team member you deal with every day during the build phase. Superintendents are both project managers and builders, and they are dedicated to one remodel at a time. They are not juggling jobs and running from site to site, and they are not difficult to reach.

In practice, your superintendent shows up every day to work on your home, keeps you up to date on progress, and pulls you in when an issue comes up. Homeowners often come to see their superintendent as an essential partner for updates, quality assurance, and guidance throughout construction.

Depending on the scope, the superintendent brings in one or two other team members to support the work. This consistent team works on your home from start to finish.

"Our family couldn't be happier with our bathroom remodel by Lamont Bros. Zeb and the whole team were great to work with. They really listened to our ideas for an unusual teakwood bath and gave us expert advice throughout the design process. Kerry and Julie, our project and design managers, kept us updated every step of the way and were quick to answer any questions. Zeb's craftsmanship and attention to detail show in every part of the finished space, and it's appreciated daily by the entire family."

Specialized Support

Licensed Trade Specialists

When a remodel requires licensed work, such as electrical rewiring, HVAC changes, or complex plumbing, Lamont Bros. brings in vetted specialists. They coordinate with the team and are introduced early in the process so the work fits together smoothly.

Engineering and Structural Consultants

For major structural changes, the designers and builders collaborate with licensed engineers. You may never meet these behind-the-scenes experts, but their input keeps the remodel safe and sound during and after construction.

Municipal Inspections

For projects that require permits, municipal inspections confirm that the work complies with building codes. In Portland, Lamont Bros. participates in the FIR (Field Issuance Remodel) program, which can mean working with a dedicated inspector for consistency and smoother inspections.

Ready to Meet Your Team?

Lamont Bros. works with Portland-area homeowners who want a remodel designed and built by one cohesive team, with the same people accountable from the first call to the final walkthrough. Every project starts with a conversation about your home and how you want it to work.

Schedule a consultation to get started

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is on a design-build team?

At Lamont Bros., the team includes a design consultant, a designer, a project manager, and a remodel superintendent. Licensed trade specialists, engineers, and municipal inspectors are brought in when a project needs them.

Who is my main contact during a remodel?

The design consultant is the main contact through the design process. During construction, the remodel superintendent is the daily contact, and the project manager oversees schedule and budget.

When do I meet the designer?

Homeowners meet their designer shortly after the project begins. The designer creates the layouts, selections, and 3D renderings and floor plans.

Does the same person stay on my project from start to finish?

The remodel superintendent is dedicated to one remodel at a time, and the same small crew works on the home from start to finish. The design consultant, designer, and project manager each cover their own phase of the project.

Do I have to manage the trades myself?

No. The project manager and superintendent coordinate trade partners, deliveries, and inspections so homeowners do not have to direct the trades.

Can I bring my own designer or contractor?

Lamont Bros. designs and builds each project as one cohesive process, and it does not take single-trade jobs. Homeowners who want to hire separate firms for design and construction may prefer a traditional design-bid-build approach.