FAQ · Design–Build · Collin County
Questions, answered straight.
Permits, design-build, cost, timeline — the things Collin County homeowners actually ask before they start a remodel, addition, or custom build. Honest answers, no fine print.
Getting started
What does "design-build" mean, and why does it matter?
Design-build means one team owns both the design and the construction of your project — space planning and architecture, structural engineering, permits, and the build itself. Instead of hiring a designer to draw plans and then bidding those plans out to a separate contractor, you work with a single accountable team from the first sketch to the final walkthrough. That closes the usual gap between what was drawn and what actually gets built, and keeps the estimate grounded in real construction.
Do you handle both the design and the construction?
Yes — both, in-house. Space planning and design, structural engineering, MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing), permitting, and the construction all run through one team. The people who draw your project are the people who build it, so nothing gets lost in a handoff between an architect and a crew.
Are you insured and bonded?
Yes. The Remo Guys carries insurance and is bonded, so the crew on your property and the work they leave behind are backed. Texas does not issue a statewide general-contractor license, so for remodeling and construction here the meaningful assurance is that the company doing the work is insured and bonded — and we are.
What kinds of projects do you take on?
We're a design-build remodeling and construction contractor, so we take on whole-home renovations, additions and ADUs, ground-up custom homes, pools and outdoor living, and commercial finish-outs — plus kitchens and bathrooms. If a project touches structure, systems, and finishes at once, that's squarely what we do.
What areas do you serve?
We're based in Allen, TX and focused on Collin County — Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper — while also taking on projects across the greater DFW metroplex. Proximity matters on a build, so Collin County is home base and where most of our work lives.
Permits, code & your site
Do I need a permit for my project in Collin County?
It depends on the scope and the city, but most structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, addition, pool, and finish-out work does require a permit — while purely cosmetic updates like paint, flooring, or a like-for-like cabinet swap often don't. Each city runs its own review: Allen files everything through its Citizen Self-Service portal, while a faster-turn city like Plano can review some permits in a matter of days. We confirm exactly what your project needs before any work starts.
Who handles the permits and inspections — me or you?
We do. Pulling permits, scheduling inspections, and building to code across Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper is part of the design-build scope, not something we hand back to you. Some cities add their own steps — Frisco, for instance, requires contractors to register before submitting most permits — and that's on us to manage, too.
Why does Collin County's clay soil affect my project?
North Texas sits on expansive clay that swells and shrinks as moisture changes through the seasons. That movement is the single biggest factor behind foundation design, drainage, and grading here — especially on additions, pools, and new builds, where new structure has to tie into an existing house without fighting it. Getting the soil and foundation right up front is what keeps everything above the slab holding up.
Cost, timeline & estimates
How do your estimates work?
Tell us what you're picturing and we'll set expectations on scope, timeline, and a realistic budget range — usually within a day of hearing from you. Because we design and build in-house, that number reflects what actually gets constructed, rather than an early figure that jumps once a separate contractor finally sees the plans.
How much will my project cost?
Honestly, it depends — and any contractor who quotes a firm number before seeing your project is guessing. The biggest drivers are square footage, how much structural and systems (MEP) work is involved, the level of finishes you choose, site conditions like drainage and Collin County's clay soil, and permitting. We won't put a number in front of you we can't stand behind, but once we understand the project we give you a grounded range. Our cost guides walk through what actually moves the budget.
How long will my project take?
It depends on scope. A kitchen or bathroom moves faster than an addition, and a whole-home renovation or a ground-up custom build is a longer horizon. City permitting adds time as well — plan review can run from a few days in a fast-turn city to roughly two weeks or more elsewhere (Frisco's initial plan review, for example, runs on the order of 15 days). We build a realistic schedule into the plan before construction starts, not after.
Scope & project types
What's the difference between a renovation, an addition, and a custom build?
A renovation reworks the house you already have — layout, structure, systems, and finishes within (or lightly beyond) the existing footprint. An addition adds new square footage that has to tie cleanly into the existing foundation, roofline, and MEP. A custom build is new construction from the lot and soil up. They overlap, and plenty of projects mix all three — which is exactly where having one team across design and construction pays off.
Do you build ADUs or guest suites?
Yes — accessory dwelling units (ADUs), in-law suites, and guest suites, subject to each city's zoning and size rules. McKinney, for instance, allows and even encourages ADUs on single-family lots, with size caps tied to the main home; other cities treat them differently. We check what your lot and city actually allow before design starts.
Do you do commercial work, or only residential?
Both. Most of our work is residential — renovations, additions, and custom homes — but we also handle commercial finish-outs: retail, office, and restaurant tenant improvements, coordinated through ADA, life-safety, and MEP all the way to the certificate of occupancy.
Still deciding?
Have a question we didn’t answer? Just ask.
Tell us what you’re picturing and we’ll set expectations on scope, timeline, and cost — usually within a day.