BLOOMINGTON, Minn. AMEK Design + Build, the family-owned Twin Cities remodeling firm, has published a homeowner guide explaining the practical differences between hiring a design-build firm and a general contractor for Minneapolis area renovation projects. The guide addresses one of the most common questions that Bloomington-based AMEK receives from homeowners researching kitchen, bathroom, basement, and whole-home remodels.
Founded in 1996 by twin brothers Andrew and Matt Schmidt at age 22, AMEK has spent nearly three decades watching homeowners struggle with this comparison. The choice shapes how a project is priced, scheduled, and delivered. According to the guide, design-build firms handle both design and construction under one roof, while general contractors typically execute plans drawn up by a separate architect or designer.
"Most homeowners do not realize the design build vs general contractor decision affects everything from budget accuracy to how quickly the work gets done," said Andrew Schmidt, CEO and co-owner of AMEK Design + Build. "When the same team designs and builds, you eliminate the back and forth that drives up cost and stretches timelines. That is the value Minneapolis homeowners deserve to understand before they sign anything."
The new design build vs general contractor Minneapolis guide walks readers through how each model handles design fees, change orders, project communication, and warranty coverage. AMEK reports that homeowners who choose a design-build firm often see fewer surprise costs, because the same team owns the drawings and the construction.
The guide draws on AMEK's more than 29 years of service to the Twin Cities metro, including award-winning projects in Eagan, Orono, and Bloomington. The firm has earned multiple NARI CotY (Contractor of the Year) awards and was recognized in 2024 with several ROMA (Remodeler of Merit Awards) from Housing First Minnesota. Schmidt also served as president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, giving the company an industry-wide perspective on how remodeling has changed.
For larger projects in particular, the guide explains, design-build offers tighter integration. AMEK keeps architects, drafters, designers, and carpenters on staff rather than subcontracting the design work. That structure lets the firm hand a homeowner three or four developed concepts with elevations during the concept phase, something a traditional general contractor rarely does without bringing in a separate architecture fee.
The guide also addresses common myths. One section confirms that design-build firms can, in fact, handle smaller remodels, not only luxury whole-home transformations. Another explains why the model is usually the better fit for a homeowner seeking accountability through a single point of contact rather than juggling an architect, a contractor, and a designer.
"We have spent almost 30 years on Twin Cities homes, and we have watched the industry shift," Schmidt added. "Homeowners want clarity. They want to know who is responsible when something needs to be solved. The design build model answers that question by design."
The full guide is available now on the AMEK website, alongside the firm's Twin Cities design build remodeling services covering kitchens, bathrooms, basements, additions, and whole home transformations. The article walks Minneapolis homeowners through budget, timeline, and risk differences between the two approaches so they can make an informed decision before signing any remodeling contract
AMEK Design + Build is headquartered at 9401 James Ave S, Suite 170, Bloomington, MN 55431, and serves a 30-mile radius across the Twin Cities, including Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Orono, Plymouth, and Chanhassen. Content distribution and SEO support for AMEK is handled by ASTOUNDZ, a Houston-based content marketing agency.