How Design Build Reduces Project Timelines in New Construction

Hi there! I’m the owner and lead landscape contractor at Intu Nature Landscape Associates, and I’ve been in the landscaping game for over a decade. These days, most of my clients are moving away from plain old turf and looking for drought-tolerant, low-maintenance landscapes with features like boulders, cobbles, and native plants. If you’re thinking of building new or redoing your outdoor space from the ground up, let me tell you why Design Build for New Construction is my go-to method—and why it saves tons of time.

Table of Contents

1. What Is Design Build?
2. Why Design Build Saves Time
3. My Real-Life Experience
4. Time-Saving Table: Design Build vs. Traditional Build
5. Less Turf, More Impact
6. Final Thoughts
7. People Also Ask (FAQ)

What Is Design Build?

Let’s keep this simple. Design Build means one team—like mine—handles both the design and the construction. So, instead of hiring a designer and then a separate contractor, you just work with one company from start to finish. That’s us!

It’s a bit like going to a restaurant where the chef also takes your order. Fewer steps, less confusion, and way faster results.

Why Design Build Saves Time

Now, here’s the big question: How does this actually save time?

Well, according to a source, Design Build projects are completed 33.5% faster than traditional design-bid-build projects.

And it makes sense. When you skip the back-and-forth between a designer and a contractor, you avoid miscommunications, delays, and last-minute changes. There’s no confusion—we all start with the same clear vision.

My Real-Life Experience

I’ve worked on plenty of landscape projects where a traditional setup caused major delays. One client wanted a drought-friendly front yard with gravel pathways, large boulders, and succulents. But their original designer forgot to plan for proper drainage. By the time I came in to fix it, we were already weeks behind.

When I handle the whole job—design and build—I think about everything from plant placement to water runoff from the very start. No one has to “check in” with anyone else. It just gets done.

Time-Saving Table: Design Build vs. Traditional Build

Here’s a quick look at the time differences:

Process Step	Traditional Build (weeks)	Design Build (weeks)
Design Approval	3–5	1–2
Contractor Bidding	2–4	0
Design Revisions	2–3	1
Construction Timeline	8–10	6–8
Total Estimated Time	15–22 weeks	8–11 weeks

Based on average medium-sized residential landscape projects.

Less Turf, More Impact

Now, I’ve got to talk about turf—or more accurately, the lack of it. In almost every project lately, my clients ask me to get rid of turf completely. They want a front yard that looks amazing, doesn’t waste water, and is super easy to care for.

Using Design Build helps with that too. We can plan out your new boulder features, cobble beds, and hardy, native plants all in one go. No waiting around for a separate design team to mock things up while your contractor waits to start. We just roll it all into one seamless timeline.

Fun fact: California homeowners who remove turf and go drought-friendly can save up to 55 gallons of water per square foot per year (source: Metropolitan Water District of Southern California).

Final Thoughts

Look, I’m not here to sell you some fancy idea. I’m just telling you what works. Design Build for New Construction saves time, saves headaches, and gives you better results—especially when your goal is a clean, water-wise, beautiful outdoor space.

We’re not in the lawncare business anymore. We’re here to design and build smart, sustainable, and great-looking landscapes. And I’m proud to be doing it.

People Also Ask (FAQ)