Your Gunn Construction & Building questions; Answered

Here are answers to some of the most common questions homeowners ask when planning a custom home or major renovation.

  • Gunn Construction & Building is a turnkey general contractor building new homes, performing extensive remodels, as well as historic renovations. Additionally, we also perform custom home service and maintenance. We can handle every aspect and every phase of the construction process from demolition and site clearing to final paint and landscaping.

  • We recommend involving your builder early in the design process, often during early schematic design with your architect. Early builder involvement allows the team to develop realistic budgets, review constructability, and coordinate scheduling so that design decisions align with the project budget and timeline.

  • The cost of building a custom home in Houston varies depending on size, design complexity, materials, and site conditions. High-quality custom homes with significant architectural detailing typically range widely depending on these factors. During pre-construction we work with the architect and owner to develop detailed budgets so expectations are clear before construction begins. Most of the architect-designed new custom homes we build in Houston range between $400-$900 per square foot depending on the complexity, materials, and site conditions. While this is only a general pricing range, we specifically price each project based on specific information. Due to the variations in work and existing conditions pricing for remodel projects can vary greatly but generally fall between $250 to $1000 per square foot.

  • Most architect-designed new construction projects typically will take 1.5 to 2 years to build. This of course depends on the design complexity, size, materials, and completeness of the design and selections. As we begin the pre-construction phase, our team will be working to develop preliminary budgets and project schedules to help guide the planning and decision-making process.

  • Yes. Most of our projects are architect-led homes designed by leading residential architects and interior designers. We collaborate closely with the design team to ensure the architect’s vision is executed with a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.

  • Gunn Construction & Building primarily works in and around Houston, Texas in neighborhoods like River Oaks, West University, South Side Place, Southhampton, Museum District, Memorial, & the Memorial Villages. We have also built in the Heights, Champions Forest, Sugar Land, Galveston, Montgomery, Lake Conroe, Richmond, Chappell Hill, & La Grange.

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way. Our goal is to help guide you through the process to get your home built. Also, see our page entitled “our process”.

  • During pre-construction, the builder works with the architect and owner to develop:

    • preliminary budgets

    • construction schedules

    • material selections

    • engineering coordination

    • permit preparation

    This phase helps ensure the project can be built within the desired budget and timeline.

  • Once we have full documents from the architect and/or designer it typically will take 4-6 weeks for us to develop a final budget. During that time we circulate the drawings and information to our subcontractors and vendors for their pricing and then compile the information into a budget we will present and review with the client and architect.

  • Most of our projects are completed under cost-plus construction contracts. This structure allows the owner full transparency into project costs while providing flexibility for the detailed design and craftsmanship typical of high-end custom homes.  We also perform some projects as a stipulated sum or a fixed price contract. Different projects fit different contract arrangements, and we will discuss the pros and cons of each contract arrangement and how it relates to your specific project.

  • If you are interested let’s discuss our Build Now program where we utilize existing plans to help short cut the full design process.

  • Yes. In addition to building and renovating homes, we offer services that help homeowners maintain their properties over time. This may include routine maintenance coordination, inspections, repairs, and other services designed to protect the long-term investment in a custom home. Also see our Service page tab.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one to two business days. You can always also call us at 713.526.9494.