Build Blog
Sharing news, trends, insights and interviews.
Protected: Before You Build: Why Pre-Construction Saves Time, Money, and Your Sanity
You’ve heard the horror stories—delays, surprise costs, scope creep, and miscommunication that frustrate everyone. Truth is, most of those headaches aren’t caused mid-project. They start before the first shovel hits the ground. At Duet Build, we don’t just manage construction; we lead with strategy. Pre-construction isn’t a phase we just check off. It’s where smart, successful projects are born. Luke McNary, Project Manager at Duet Build, walks through how a strong pre-construction process protects your investment, keeps your timeline on track, and sets your team up to execute with precision.
Devon & Caleb Tobin: The New Perfect Duet
For 15 years, Caleb Tobin—husband of Duet Design founder and principal Devon Tobin—has watched his wife build a beautiful and powerful brand, under which she has run both Duet Design and, most recently, Duet Build. Now, the firms are pleased to announce Caleb’s new role as owner and president of Duet Build!
4 FAQs About Building a Custom Home
Building a custom home is a big deal—exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of decisions that you didn’t even know were things (Why are there 47 types of grout?). We get it. So, we asked Karen Hoskinson, Project Manager at Duet Build, to answer four of the biggest questions people ask before diving into a custom build or remodel. Because if you’re about to spend months (or years) making your renovation or new build happen, you should go in with your eyes wide open. Homeowners who know what to expect even enjoy the process. (It’s possible!)
Why Custom Cabinets & Millwork Are Worth the Investment
One of the finest elements of a custom home is custom millwork. Homes that feel distinctive often have beautifully crafted doors, molding, trim, siding, cabinetry, wainscoting, and/or built-ins—all of which fall into the category of millwork. As the homeowner, you want a home that fully achieves your goals for aesthetic beauty and function, and custom millwork gives you and your designer control over the materials, style, and function of your spaces. Here, six reasons custom millwork is essential to a luxury home build or remodel:
High-quality Subcontractors: The “Secret Sauce” in Your Construction Project
We’ll let you in on an often-overlooked fact of custom home building and remodeling: Your general contractor is only as good as...
What Role Does an Architect Play in a Remodel?
For large-scale projects like ours, Duet Build needs an architect to create stamped drawings to submit to the city for permitting. But even beyond that requirement, homeowners need an architect to help them figure out how to transform their spaces from what they have into what they want.