Welcome to Olympic City!

You’re in the right place!  We are a husband and wife team who LOVE this business and love doing good work for good people.  We’re believe in the face-to-face version of this business built and not the one that hides behind websites and fake five star reviews.

As a husband-and-wife team we’ve been in and around the home business for over thirty years.  And because of that, we can’t possibly convey all of that experience in a few mouse clicks.  Reach out.  Connect.  Come see us at one of the home shows.  We are quietly one of the fastest growing renovation companies in Calgary and look forward to hearing about your project large or small. Just FYI, EVERY contractors bread and butter are smaller projects so don’t hesitate to reach out.

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Design-Build vs Traditional Renovation: Which Is Right for You?

Renovation Planning

Design-Build vs Traditional: Two Ways to Renovate

There are two main ways to hire for a renovation: traditional (hire a designer, then a contractor separately) or design-build (one company handles both). Here’s how they compare.

Traditional Approach

How it works:

  1. Hire an architect or designer to create plans
  2. Take plans to multiple contractors for bids
  3. Select a contractor and sign a construction contract
  4. Designer is typically no longer involved during construction

Pros:

  • Clear separation between design and construction roles
  • Competitive bidding from multiple contractors
  • Designer can advocate for you during contractor selection

Cons:

  • Longer timeline (design first, then bidding, then construction)
  • Potential disputes between designer and contractor
  • Scope or cost surprises during bidding phase
  • Change orders can be expensive when issues arise

Design-Build Approach

How it works:

  1. One company designs AND builds your renovation
  2. Design phase incorporates construction feasibility and cost from day one
  3. Same team stays with you from concept to completion

Pros:

  • Single point of contact and accountability
  • Design decisions made with construction cost/feasibility in mind
  • Faster overall timeline
  • Fewer surprises — the builder is involved from day one
  • Smoother change orders when issues arise

Cons:

  • Less competitive bidding (one company is designing and building)
  • Need to trust the company’s design capabilities

Which Should You Choose?

Traditional works best for: Large custom homes, architecturally complex projects, clients with specific designer relationships

Design-build works best for: Renovations, kitchen/bath remodels, basement developments, garage builds, homeowners who want one point of contact

For most Calgary residential renovations, design-build is faster, smoother, and produces better results. That’s why we operate as a design-build firm.

Ready to Renovate?

Contact Olympic City Renovations for a free consultation.

Olympic City Renovations serves Calgary, Priddis, Okotoks, and surrounding communities. We specialize in kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement developments, and luxury garage builds.

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