Planning and Designing a Custom Home in St. Joseph, MO

Most of the decisions that determine whether you like your custom home are made before anyone breaks ground. Floor plan, orientation, insulation, window placement, and budget allowances are all set during design.

This page covers what to think through during that phase. Epic Construction has built custom homes in St. Joseph, Missouri since 2010. Finished projects are on the new homes page.

What Custom Building Gives You

A production home is designed for a general buyer and built to a fixed plan. A custom home is designed for a specific household on a specific lot.

• You choose the floor plan rather than selecting from a set of options.
• Room sizes and traffic flow are planned around how your household actually uses space.
• You decide where to spend on higher grade materials and where to economize.
• Energy performance is specified during design instead of retrofitted later.

Design Considerations for St. Joseph

Climate and Energy Performance

Northwest Missouri runs hot and humid in summer and cold with ice and wind in winter. Both ends of that range are worth designing for.

Insulation levels, window glazing, roof ventilation, and HVAC sizing are the decisions that follow from it. Getting them right during design costs far less than correcting them after move-in.

Site and Neighborhood

Lot slope, drainage, tree cover, and which direction the house faces all affect the design. So do neighborhood character and any applicable covenants.

A home that fits its surroundings tends to hold value better than one that does not.

Long-Term Needs

Think past your current situation. Growing children, aging parents, working from home, and mobility later in life all change what a floor plan needs to do.

Single-level living, wider doorways, and a flexible room near the entry are common ways to build in that adaptability without adding much cost.

Outdoor Space

Decks, patios, and covered porches are easier and cheaper to integrate during design than to add later. Epic Construction also builds decks and additions as standalone projects.

Planning Your Budget

Custom home budgets are usually organized around allowances: a set dollar figure for categories like flooring, cabinets, fixtures, and lighting. Selections above the allowance raise the total.

Ask for these things in writing before construction starts:

• What each allowance covers and what it excludes
• The payment schedule and what triggers each draw
• How change orders are priced and approved
• What is excluded from the contract entirely, such as landscaping or window coverings

Epic Construction provides detailed written estimates and offers financing options that spread project costs into monthly payments.

How the Design Phase Works

1. Consultation. Discussion of your goals, site, and budget.
2. Concept design. Initial floor plan concepts developed against those goals.
3. Plans and selections. Floor plans finalized, materials and finishes selected, estimate detailed.
4. Permitting. Epic Construction handles the required permits and approvals.
5. Construction. Subcontractors coordinated and schedules managed, with updates through the build.
6. Walk-through. Final walk-through before handover.

You can bring your own plans, or work with the Epic Construction design team from a blank sheet. Interior design guidance and custom cabinet construction are available as part of the project. See the kitchen and bath page for interior work.

Why Use a Local Builder

A builder working in St. Joseph regularly knows the local permitting process and the code requirements that apply. They also have existing relationships with area suppliers and subcontractors, which affects both scheduling and cost.

Accessibility matters after the build too. A local company is still reachable when a question comes up two years in.

Remodeling Instead of Building

If the location works and the structure is sound, remodeling is often the better use of the budget. Epic Construction handles kitchen and bath remodels, room additions, and whole-house renovations.

Completed builds and remodels are shown in the project gallery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need architectural plans before contacting a builder?

No. You can start with a rough idea and develop plans with the builder’s design team, or bring finished plans if you already have them. Both paths work.

What is a construction allowance?

An allowance is a budgeted dollar amount for a category of selections, such as flooring or lighting. If your choices come in under the allowance the total drops, and if they come in over it the total rises. Ask what each allowance covers before signing.

How do change orders work?

A change order documents a change to the agreed scope, its cost, and any schedule impact. Get every change in writing and approved before the work happens.

What design decisions are hardest to change later?

Anything structural. Foundation type, floor plan, ceiling heights, window and door placement, and stair location are expensive to alter once framing is up. Finishes and fixtures are comparatively easy to change.

Who handles the permits?

Epic Construction handles the necessary permits and approvals as part of the project.

How long has Epic Construction been building?

Since 2010. The company is family owned and operated in St. Joseph, Missouri, and owner Lucas Weaver works directly with custom home clients.

Is financing available?

Yes. Financing options spread project costs into monthly payments. Terms are discussed during the consultation.

What areas does Epic Construction serve?

Epic Construction serves St. Joseph, Missouri and surrounding communities in Buchanan, Andrew, DeKalb, Clinton, and Platte counties, including Savannah, Country Club Village, Agency, Cameron, Maryville, and Plattsburg. Service also extends into northeast Kansas, including Elwood, Wathena, and Atchison. The office is located at 4704 St Joseph Ave, St Joseph, MO 64505.

Areas We Serve

Epic Construction builds custom homes throughout St. Joseph, Missouri and the surrounding communities.

Buchanan County

• St. Joseph, MO
• Country Club Village, MO
• Agency, MO
• DeKalb, MO
• Easton, MO
• Faucett, MO
• Rushville, MO

Andrew County

• Savannah, MO
• Amazonia, MO
• Cosby, MO
• Fillmore, MO
• Rosendale, MO
• Bolckow, MO

DeKalb and Clinton Counties

• Maysville, MO
• Stewartsville, MO
• Union Star, MO
• Clarksdale, MO
• Plattsburg, MO
• Gower, MO
• Cameron, MO

Platte County and Northwest Missouri

• Dearborn, MO
• Edgerton, MO
• Camden Point, MO
• Weston, MO
• Maryville, MO

Northeast Kansas

• Elwood, KS
• Wathena, KS
• Troy, KS
• Atchison, KS

Epic Construction
4704 St Joseph Ave
St Joseph, MO 64505
Phone: (816) 749-4168
Website: https://trustecc.com/

Business Hours

Monday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Schedule a Consultation

Call (816) 749-4168 to discuss your custom home. You can also contact Epic Construction online.