At Colt, we’ve learned that hours invested in Preconstruction prior to job start save significant time and money on the obstacles that arise from poor planning and preparation — and our team simply isn’t willing to compromise on either. 

Colt believes in building up — and that takes effort from more than just the people on the job site. Our detail-oriented Estimating + Preconstruction team is hard at work behind the scenes, keeping Colt’s standards at the highest level in the industry. 

Here’s how our world-class Estimating + Preconstruction process unfolds: 

• Accurate in-house estimating. Being awarded a project comes with a sense of trust from the customer. To build and maintain that good faith, Colt’s first step is providing a detailed and accurate monetary outline.
• Transition to Preconstruction. Once estimation is complete, your project is handed over to the Preconstruction department. This team acts as a bridge between the Estimating department and field personnel, and takes your project to the threshold of the job site.
• Early plan reviews. Our Preconstruction team identifies potential project problems and tricky framing details, coordinates shop drawings with structural plans, and writes RFIs to include any missing information. We pave the way for our people in the field to be successful, so they can frame things once and frame things correctly.
• Solidification of job requirements. Once the Preconstruction team has completed their assessment, field personnel are briefed on job-specific responsibilities and requirements and the safety department steps in to implement an ironclad safety management system.

Colt’s Preconstruction process provides you with top-notch service by pre-planning for every possible contingency that could arise.

After Colt Builders is awarded a project, our Preconstruction team begins the preparation for the job start.

This includes:

• In-depth review of the plans to see if there are any missing details or information that needs further clarification.
• Begin RFI submittals with anticipation that all questions get answered and information provided before the first nail is driven.
• Review of initial material and labor estimates to make sure current construction drawing set details are covered in takeoff.
• Creation of job site layouts to show building sections / phases for scheduling, deliveries and work flow.
• Creation of CAD drawings if needed, to assist on-site personnel with layout of hold down embeds, etc.
• Review materials specified in plans and create material submittal package.
• Scope review to make sure all field personnel are aware of responsibilities and job specific requirements.

All of the above serve to make your project as easy and seamless as possible.

Design Assist represents an AIA-recognized project delivery method where collaborative efforts between the contractor, specialty sub-contractors, Architect, and Engineer are fostered during the Schematic and Design Development phases of the project. The primary objective of Design Assist is to engage early in the development process with the developer, general contractor, and design team to guide the project towards a successful outcome. This approach establishes a foundation of trust among all project team members, a facet unattainable in traditional design-bid-build projects. Noteworthy advantages of Design Assist include potential cost savings, condensed construction schedules, diminished change orders, and a reduction in Requests for Information (RFIs).

Colt Builders delivers a fully-integrated design-assist team.  Colt Builders facilitates collaboration among our preconstruction department, designer, and trade partners to offer guidance in various capacities, including:

• Design assistance pertaining to material selections, framing orientations, floor plan layouts, and other crucial aspects.
• Provision of preliminary floor truss designs aimed at optimizing truss depth and spacing.
• Supplying parameter construction budgets (encompassing rough carpentry, doors and windows, siding) for pro forma calculations.
• Formulating strategies for lumber procurement within an unpredictable pricing environment, including lead time projections.
• Proficiency in providing constructability reviews and value engineering throughout the Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), and Construction Document (CD) phases of the project.

We believe accidents and injuries are preventable. Our management is committed to continuously review of our safety management system and open to new ways of completing tasks safely so that we are consistently achieving our goal of zero injuries.