Our Process

Our architects will guide you through a design process that brings your conceptual ideas to life, engineered and coordinated for permit-ready construction documents. We pride ourselves on offering thoughtful input and design inspiration that aligns with your direction, developing initial conversations into spaces that you will love. Throughout the process, we'll provide consistent, transparent communication and you'll be able to make informed decisions with the help of a 3D rendered model of your project, every step of the way. To understand the full scope of our in-house design process, navigate through the graphic above.

Design

The design process consists of three primary phases: schematic design, design development, and construction documents

Concept sketches for a client who wants to make the most of their living space

Schematic Design

Work directly with our architects and designers to determine the program elements and features of your project. Through a series of meetings and presentations, you'll have the opportunity to share design inspiration, goals, wants, and needs with us. We'll help conceptualize your ideas into a cohesive plan and guide your thinking along the way through the development of a live rendered 3D model.

Floor plans for homeowners and developers. Simple Homes will help you design just the product you need.

Design Development

Once you're happy with the schematic design, we'll develop our documents with enhanced detail and coordinate with structural and HVAC engineers. This process involves providing engineers with the design layout and direction to ensure they understand the goals of each project.

Construction Documents

Next, we'll refine the design documents into their final form: permit-ready, construction documents. The architects and engineers will remain in contact with the contractor and review jurisdiction to respond to any comments or questions necessary to receive an approved building permit.

Fabrication modeling

We build every project twice: once virtually, once in the real world. Every project starts with a detailed digital fabrication model that drives all aspects of our production process. This phase of the process starts by translating the design model into a 3-D digital twin. We use this model to generate everything from an automated bill of materials, to shop drawings, machine files and digital work instructions.

One System. Simple Homes can simplify a challenging procedure through digital integration.

Development of 3D Digital Twin

We model every part and piece of the framing scope of work. Every stud, every piece of hardware, every sheet of OSB is modeled in 3D. This creates a complete virtual representation of the building's structural system.

Coordination and Clash Detection

Our designers work to resolve plan set coordination issues well before framing ever starts on site. We also work with our customers and their trade partners to conduct additional clash detection and coordination as needed to enable a seamless construction process.

Machine File Generation and Digital Work Instructions

We use the data in our fabrication models to drive every detail of our production process. Our models generate machine files, shop drawings, and digital work instructions for our field carpenters.

Site work & build preparation

Once construction begins on site, you will be working directly with your general contractor for the duration of the construction process. Site work time varies by project but for single family homes, expect 3-6 weeks from breaking ground to frame start.

Builder Orientation

We spend time upfront with our builder partners to provide an understanding of our unique building system. For our homeowner and developer customers, who do not already have a builder, we work together to recommend the right builder or general contractor for their project.

Coordination with other trades

We will stay in close contact with our builder partners throughout the process. We will provide them with foundation layout plans, coordination of anchor bolts, hold downs, and structural steel.

Efficient construction through factory precision and simple on-site assembly

Parallel processing

The builder works with other trade partners to do excavation and other site preparation. We are able to begin the process of building your panels while this site work is happening, ensuring your project is completed faster.

Framing & Fabrication

Your project is transmitted digitally to our factory floor for precise fabrication using our unique panelized building system. Factory assembly time can range from a few hours (for a small cottage or ADU) to a few weeks (for a large multi-family project). Our approach collapses your schedule while maintaining quality-it is simply a better way to frame.

Our Prefab building process at Simple Homes. Every piece of lumber is precision cut using CNC-controlled saws, with cutting dimensions downloaded directly from our 3D models

Precision Cut Materials

Our CNC-controlled saws receive measurements as an output of our fabrication model. These measurements cut precisely and print assembly instructions directly onto the material.

Prefabricated floor cassettes under construction in Simple Homes' Denver factory

Digitally Enabled Manufacturing

Our team of highly-skilled carpenters constructs walls panels and floor cassettes guided by shop drawings and information printed directly onto the material. Integral weather-resistive barrier sheathing is applied to all exterior panels before transportation to site. Even windows can be pre-installed in our factory if desired.

Panels loaded and ready to go for our Newton St. apartment project with High Land Development Co and DIRC Homes

In-House Transportation and Logistics

Using an innovative vertical transportation method, our logistics team efficiently transports our panels to your site. Panels are organized on trailers in order of installation, further reducing time onsite.

Finishing work

After Simple Homes framing installation is complete, your contractor will have a dried-in building shell ready to receive exterior and interior finish work.