Frequently Asked Questions

We start by listening.

Before we start designing a kitchen, bathroom or addition, we want to understand why you’re considering the project in the first place.

What’s not working? What frustrates you? What do you wish were different? How long do you expect to live in the home? What matters most to you? And what investment are you comfortable making?

Sometimes customers come to us thinking they already know the solution. They might say: “We need an addition.”

After listening, we may discover that changing the existing floor plan accomplishes what they really want for substantially less money. Or someone may believe they need an entirely new kitchen when modifying a few things would solve the actual problem.

We aren’t here simply to sell construction. We’re here to help solve problems.

We seek first to understand, then to build.

There are many contractors who can install cabinets, tile, flooring or drywall.

We believe remodeling requires something more. You’re trusting someone to open up your home, uncover what’s behind the walls and then put everything back together correctly.

That requires craftsmanship. But it also requires judgment, experience, communication, planning and trust.

Fairfield combines design, construction, purchasing, project management and building science into one coordinated process.

We also have our own team of craftsmen rather than simply functioning as a sales organization that subcontracts everything after the contract is signed.

Most importantly, we believe how you are treated matters.

We want you to feel: Welcome. Wanted. Important. Respected. Heard.

That’s what we mean by hospitality.

We handle projects ranging from smaller home improvements to significant whole-house renovations.

• Kitchens
• Bathrooms
• Basements
• Additions
• Whole-house renovations
• Structural repairs and modifications
• Exterior renovations
• Windows and doors
• Decks and porches
• Aging-in-place improvements
• Accessibility modifications
• Mechanical and building-system improvements
• Smaller projects and repairs

One advantage of being both a remodeler and a home builder is that we are comfortable looking beyond finishes. We look at the whole house, not just the room we are remodeling.

It means you shouldn’t have to become the general contractor for your own project.

Depending upon the project, Fairfield can coordinate design, architecture, engineering, permits, interior design, material selections, purchasing, construction, trade contractors, inspections and final completion.

Instead of you trying to coordinate a designer, architect, engineer, plumber, electrician, carpenter, tile contractor and building department, we can manage the process for you.

One team. One process. One point of responsibility.

No. In fact, we generally prefer to become involved before too much design work has been completed.

One of the most common remodeling problems is designing a project first and pricing it later.

It’s easy to create something beautiful on paper. The harder question is: “What will this actually cost to build?”

As a design/build remodeler, we can consider design and construction cost together.

Sometimes a small design change can save a substantial amount of money. Other times spending a little more creates a much better result.

We want those conversations happening while we’re designing, not after you’ve spent months designing something that doesn’t fit your budget.

No.

Our initial conversation is an opportunity to understand what you are considering and determine whether Fairfield might be a good fit.

It’s also your opportunity to interview us. Ask questions. Tell us what’s important to you. Tell us about previous remodeling experiences—good or bad. And tell us what concerns you about this one.

Remodeling requires trust. We want both of us to feel comfortable before moving forward

Yes. And we do.

Sometimes the most valuable advice we can give a customer is: “I am not sure I would spend the money here.”

We may suggest repairing something rather than replacing it. We may recommend addressing an aging roof, mechanical system, plumbing problem or water-intrusion issue before spending money on finishes.

We may tell you that the market is unlikely to place enough additional value on something to justify the investment.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. Your enjoyment of your home has value too.

But you deserve to understand the difference between an investment in your home and an investment in your lifestyle.

Our job isn’t simply to sell you more remodeling. It’s to give you honest guidance.

We talk about money early. That’s not always the most exciting part of remodeling, but it’s one of the most important.

We want to understand the investment you are comfortable making before we spend significant time designing something.

We’ll help you understand where the money is going and which decisions have the greatest effect on cost. When appropriate, we’ll offer alternatives.

You decide. Our job is to make sure you are making that decision with good information.

Because remodeling isn’t simply installing new finishes.

Before we can build something new, we often have to carefully remove what is already there. Then we have to integrate new construction into a house that may have been built 30, 50, 75 or even 100 years ago.

Floors aren’t always level. Walls aren’t always straight. Previous renovations aren’t always correct. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems may need updating. Structural conditions may be different from what anyone expected.

And today’s building codes may be very different from those in effect when the home was originally constructed.

A remodeler has to diagnose, adapt and solve problems while preserving the parts of the house that are not being remodeled. That is very different from building on an empty lot.

Because sometimes what you cannot see matters more than what you can.

Opening a room down to the framing gives us an opportunity to evaluate plumbing, electrical systems, structure, insulation, air sealing, water intrusion, ventilation, previous construction, exterior penetrations, waterproofing and hidden deterioration.

We’re often asked to remodel rooms that have already been remodeled once—or several times.

Installing beautiful new finishes over aging or improperly installed systems may make the room look wonderful today while leaving tomorrow’s problems hidden underneath.

When appropriate, we would rather get back to a sound starting point and build forward correctly.

We build today so your home has a better chance at the next 50 years.

First, we show you. Then we explain it.

Existing homes contain surprises. No contractor can honestly promise otherwise.

We may discover deteriorated framing, old plumbing, outdated wiring, previous water damage, improper structural modifications or work completed incorrectly decades ago.

When that happens, we want you to understand what we found, why it matters, what we recommend, what the alternatives are, what it will cost, and what happens if you choose not to address it.

Whenever practical, we will provide photographs or show you the condition in person.

We don’t want to simply tell you: “We found a problem and it’s going to cost more.” We want you to understand what you’re paying to correct.

Transparency reduces surprises. Communication reduces anxiety.

Building science is understanding how your house works as a complete system.

Water moves. Air moves. Heat moves. Moisture moves.

Changing one part of an existing home can sometimes affect another.

That’s why we’re interested in more than the finishes you’re choosing. We pay attention to water management, flashing, air sealing, insulation, ventilation, window and door installation, bath exhaust, kitchen exhaust, heating and cooling, ductwork, moisture control and exterior penetrations.

A beautiful bathroom is not a successful bathroom if the shower leaks. New siding is not successful if water gets behind it. More insulation is not the answer if air is still leaking around it.

Know better. Build better.

Absolutely.

Remodeling can involve an enormous number of decisions—cabinets, countertops, tile, flooring, plumbing fixtures, lighting, hardware, paint, doors and trim.

Our design team helps you navigate those choices.

We want to understand your taste, your home and your budget and then help narrow thousands of possibilities into a manageable number of good options.

You are still in control. You just do not have to figure everything out alone.

Yes.

We created our showroom because we don’t think sending customers from store to store every Saturday is a particularly enjoyable way to remodel a home.

We display many of the products and materials our customers commonly select so you can compare options in one comfortable environment.

Our designer can help you put everything together while keeping the overall design—and budget—in mind.

If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we’ll help you find it.

Our showroom isn’t intended to limit your choices. It’s intended to make remodeling easier.

An allowance is a budget established for an item you have not selected yet.

For example, your project might include allowances for tile, plumbing fixtures, cabinets, countertops or other finish materials.

If your final selection costs less than the allowance, you receive the savings. If you select something more expensive, you pay the difference.

We try to establish realistic allowances based upon the level of product we have discussed with you.

We don’t believe in intentionally using unrealistically low allowances to make the original project price look better.

The goal is an honest budget—not the lowest-looking number on a piece of paper.

Yes.

If you’ve found something you love, tell us.

Often the easiest approach is to give us the manufacturer and model number and allow Fairfield to purchase it.

That gives our team responsibility for ordering, delivery coordination, damaged items, missing parts and returns.

If you’d prefer to purchase something yourself, we’ll discuss how that affects the project and who is responsible if the item is late, damaged, incomplete or incorrect.

The objective isn’t control. It’s avoiding problems for you.

Because we don’t want to remodel your home one last-minute decision at a time.

Completing selections beforehand allows us to order materials, coordinate trades and create a much more reliable construction plan.

It also gives you time to make thoughtful decisions with our designer rather than making them under pressure because someone is waiting for an answer at the jobsite.

Good pre-construction planning reduces delays, mistakes, backorders, rework, last-minute decisions, unnecessary change orders and stress.

A smoother remodeling experience begins before demolition.

A lot.

Before construction begins, we work to make sure plans, specifications and selections are complete and materials are ordered or scheduled appropriately.

We also have a pre-construction process so the people responsible for building your project understand what has been sold and designed.

Before demolition begins, we want the salesperson, designer, production team and customer to be on the same page.

Plan first. Build second.

Remodeling is disruptive. We do not want to pretend otherwise.

There will be noise. There will be dust. People will be coming and going. There may be times when your kitchen, bathroom, water, electricity or other parts of your home are not available.

Our responsibility is to manage that disruption respectfully.

That means protecting areas outside the work zone, communicating shutdowns and other disruptions whenever possible, maintaining a professional jobsite and remembering something very important:

This isn’t our construction site. It’s your home. We’re guests here.

Protection begins before demolition.

The appropriate protection depends upon the project, but our goal is to isolate construction from the rest of the home as reasonably as possible and protect surfaces that are not part of the work.

That can include floor protection, dust barriers and protecting adjacent finished areas.

No remodeling project can be completely dust-free or disruption-free.

But there is a tremendous difference between making dust and not caring where it goes.

We care.

Professionally and respectfully.

Technical ability alone is not enough.

We expect the people working in your home to understand that being there is a privilege.

That means respecting you, your family, your belongings and the other people working on the project.

It also means helping one another. We want a jobsite where our employees and trade partners work as a team rather than saying: “That is not my job.”

Hospitality is not something reserved for customers. We believe our employees, subcontractors, suppliers and partners should feel respected too.

Teams that treat each other well tend to take better care of customers.

Frequently.

You’ll have access to project information through our cloud-based project management system, including applicable plans, specifications, selections, scheduling information and progress photographs.

But technology is only a tool.

If you have a concern: Call us. If something does not make sense: Ask us. If something bothers you: Tell us.

We would much rather have a conversation today than discover three weeks later that you have been frustrated about something.

Good communication is one of the most important tools on a remodeling project.

Not necessarily.

Construction has natural pauses. Materials need to arrive. Inspections need to occur. Concrete, drywall, flooring, tile and paint may require curing or drying time. Different trades need to be coordinated in sequence.

There may occasionally be days when nobody is physically working at your home.

That does not necessarily mean nothing is happening.

The important thing is that your project is being actively managed and you know what comes next.

It depends enormously upon the scope.

A bathroom is different from a kitchen. A kitchen is different from an addition. An addition is different from a whole-house renovation.

Permits, engineering, product lead times, inspections, design complexity and unforeseen existing conditions can all affect the schedule.

Before construction begins, we will discuss the anticipated schedule for your particular project.

We would rather give you a realistic expectation than promise an artificially short schedule simply because it is what you want to hear.

Often, yes. Whether you want to is another question.

For many projects, customers remain in the home throughout construction.

For larger renovations, there may be periods when temporarily living elsewhere makes life considerably easier.

We’ll discuss the likely disruption beforehand so you can make the decision that’s best for your family.

A kitchen remodel, for example, is very different when you are living without your primary kitchen for an extended period.

Planning for those realities is part of our pre-construction process.

You can. It is your home.

We’ll explain what the change involves, what it costs and whether it affects the schedule before proceeding whenever possible.

The important thing to understand is that a change can involve much more than the difference in material cost.

Something that appears simple may require design changes, new drawings, engineering, permit revisions, returning materials, ordering new materials, rescheduling trades, changing work already completed and additional labor.

We don’t want to simply tell you that a change costs more. We want you to understand why.

Then you can decide whether it is worth it.

Timing.

Changing a faucet before it is ordered is relatively simple. Changing plumbing locations after the walls are closed is not.

Changing a cabinet during design is much easier than changing it after the cabinets have been manufactured.

That’s why we put so much emphasis on completing design and selections before construction begins.

We know customers occasionally change their minds. We are human too.

Our goal is simply to help you make as many decisions as possible when they are easiest and least expensive to change.

We deal with it.

Remodeling combines existing houses, new materials, human beings, suppliers, subcontractors and thousands of individual details.

Something eventually won’t go exactly as planned. A material may arrive damaged. Something may be backordered. We may uncover an unexpected condition. Someone may make a mistake.

We don’t believe the measure of a good remodeler is pretending mistakes and problems never happen. The measure is how the remodeler responds when they do.

We communicate. We take responsibility for what belongs to us. We determine the solution. And we keep moving forward.

That’s part of The Fairfield Way.

Tell us.

Please don’t assume you’re being difficult. We would rather know.

Sometimes there’s a construction reason something is being done a particular way. Sometimes there’s a misunderstanding. Sometimes we may disagree. And sometimes something simply needs to be corrected.

The only way we can work through it is if we know about it.

Hospitality means making people feel heard, even when the conversation is difficult.

Quality is not simply expensive tile, beautiful cabinets or perfect paint.

Those things matter. But some of the most important work we do will never be seen once your project is complete.

Waterproofing behind the shower. Framing behind the drywall. Electrical connections inside the walls. Flashing behind the siding. Air sealing around penetrations. Plumbing beneath the floor.

We want the things you cannot see to receive the same attention as the things you can.

A project should not simply photograph beautifully when it is finished. It should be built correctly underneath.

Do not simply compare the bottom-line numbers. First make sure you are comparing the same project.

Ask what is included. Ask what is not. Ask about allowances. Ask who is actually doing the work. Ask who will supervise the project. Ask how changes are priced. Ask what happens when hidden conditions are discovered. Ask about insurance and licensing requirements. Ask how your home will be protected. Ask how often you will receive communication. Ask what happens after the final payment. And talk to previous customers.

Most importantly, pay attention to how you are treated before signing the contract.

If someone doesn’t return calls while they’re trying to earn your business, don’t assume communication will suddenly improve after they have it.

Choose someone you trust enough to have in your home.

No. And we do not try to be.

There will almost always be someone willing to give you a lower number.

What matters is understanding what you are getting for that number.

We employ craftsmen. We provide design assistance. We maintain a showroom. We coordinate purchasing. We manage projects. We carry the appropriate insurance and operate a professional business. And we are willing to look beyond the finishes when something underneath needs attention.

The lowest initial price and the lowest ultimate cost are not always the same thing.

We have been called after inexpensive projects have failed and had to be built again.

Doing something once correctly—even when it costs more initially—is usually less expensive than doing it twice.

We don’t want the relationship to disappear with the final invoice.

Homes move. Materials adjust. Something may need attention. And occasionally you may simply have a question.

Call us.

We believe completing the punch list and responding to service concerns are part of the job—not an inconvenience after the job.

We hope that years from now, when you need something else done to your home, you don’t have to start searching for a contractor again.

We want your first thought to be: “Call Fairfield.”

Everything.

We’re entering your home. We’re walking through your hallways. We’re protecting your floors. We’re working around your belongings. We may be tearing apart the room next to where you’re eating breakfast.

Your children may see us. Your pets certainly will. You may see our team more often during the project than you see some members of your own family.

That’s why craftsmanship alone isn’t enough.

We want you to feel: Welcome. Wanted. Important. Respected. Heard.

We want to answer the phone. We want to explain what we are doing. We want to tell you when something is not worth spending money on. We want to tell you when we think something is worth doing—even if you will never see it after the walls are closed.

And when something goes wrong, we want to own our part and make it right.

At the end of the project, of course we want you to love your new kitchen, bathroom, addition or renovated home.

But we want something more. We want you to be able to say: “I am glad we chose Fairfield.”

Because ultimately, we’re not just remodeling houses. We’re taking care of people while we work on their homes.

That’s hospitality. That’s The Fairfield Way.