Frequently Asked Questions

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We primarily serve the Paducah, Kentucky region and surrounding areas within approximately 90 minutes, including McCracken, Marshall, Graves, Calloway, Ballard, and Livingston counties. Whether your lot is within city limits, in a subdivision, or on a rural county road, we have experience building in a wide range of settings across Western Kentucky.

We specialize in custom new home construction, multifamily dwellings such as duplexes and fourplexes, major additions, and full-scale remodels. Every project is managed with the same level of professionalism and attention to detail, whether it's a 1,500 square foot starter home or a 4,500+ square foot custom estate.

The process begins with our New Home Project Pre-Qualifier, a short form designed to help us understand your vision from the start. Once we review it, we'll reach out personally to schedule a consultation. If your project is a good fit, we'll provide our comprehensive Preconstruction Questionnaire, which covers everything from site conditions and budget to design preferences and finish selections. This ensures our first real conversation is focused, productive, and tailored to your vision.

Not at all. Many of our clients are still searching for the right property when they first reach out. Whether you already own your lot, have one under contract, or need help finding the right piece of land, we can guide you through the process. Understanding your lot early helps us evaluate factors like topography, utilities, foundation requirements, and flood zone status—all of which directly affect your construction budget.

No. Clients come to us at every stage—from a general concept or Pinterest board to fully permitted construction drawings. If you don't yet have plans, we can connect you with architects and designers who work well within your budget. If you already have plans, we'll review them for constructability and cost efficiency before moving forward.

The Preconstruction Investment is a paid planning phase where we develop a detailed, line-item budget for your project. This includes soliciting trade partner bids, coordinating with your architect, reviewing site conditions, and conducting our thorough Preconstruction Questionnaire. The investment ensures you receive an accurate cost picture before committing to full construction. Best of all, 100% of this fee is credited back to you at contract signing, so it effectively costs you nothing if you move forward.

Our questionnaire covers 15 detailed sections including site and lot information, budget and financing, design preferences and square footage, foundation type and site conditions, exterior and interior finishes, kitchen and bath specifications, mechanical systems, flooring selections, windows and doors, stairs and millwork, landscaping, and your project timeline. Think of it as your project wish list—the more detail you can share, the more accurate your budget will be. Our team personally walks you through every section, helping you navigate decisions and prioritize what matters most. Guiding clients through this process is one of the most valuable parts of what we do.

A typical new home construction project takes approximately 10 to 14 months from groundbreaking to move-in. This timeline can vary based on the size and complexity of your home, weather conditions, material availability, and the timeliness of owner selections and decisions. We provide a detailed phase-by-phase schedule through our project management platform so you always know where things stand.

Your home will progress through approximately 11 key phases: site preparation and foundation, framing, roofing, exterior finishes (siding, stone, brick), rough-in of mechanical systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC), insulation, drywall, interior finishes and trim, cabinetry and countertops, flooring, and final inspections with punch list completion. Each phase has specific milestones, inspections, and payment draws associated with it.

Communication is a cornerstone of how we operate. You'll have real-time access to your project through JobTread, our project management platform. Through JobTread, you can view your schedule, track costs with full open-book transparency, review invoices, and communicate with our team. We also provide weekly schedule updates and are always available by phone, text, or email for anything urgent.

Cost-plus means you pay the actual cost of labor, materials, and subcontractor work, plus a transparent Construction Management Fee calculated as a percentage of the total cost. Unlike a fixed-price contract where the builder bakes in hidden profit margins, our model gives you complete visibility into every dollar spent. You see exactly what each trade partner charges, what materials cost, and where your money goes—all tracked in real time through JobTread.

The Management Fee covers our professional services: project scheduling, trade partner coordination, quality control, weekly progress reporting, permit management, budget oversight, lender coordination, and overall construction supervision. Our general overhead, administrative costs, office expenses, and vehicles are not billed to you—those are covered by the Management Fee. This keeps your Cost of Work limited to expenses that directly build your home.

New construction budgets in the greater Paducah area typically range from $250,000 to over $1,000,000 depending on size, site conditions, and finish level. We encourage all prospective clients to be upfront about their budget during the preconstruction phase so we can provide honest guidance about what is realistically achievable. We'd rather have a candid conversation about budget early than waste anyone's time.

Yes, we strongly recommend maintaining a contingency reserve of 5–10% beyond your construction budget. Even with the most thorough planning, unexpected conditions can arise—unforeseen soil issues, material price changes, or design adjustments you want to make during the build. A contingency fund provides peace of mind and flexibility without derailing your project.

Payments are structured around construction milestones rather than arbitrary dates. The typical draw schedule includes: a deposit at contract execution (approximately 10%), followed by draws at permit submittal, foundation completion, framing and roof completion, mechanical rough-in, insulation and drywall completion, and a final draw at punch list completion and Certificate of Occupancy. Each draw request is due within five business days of issuance, and every dollar is supported by open-book documentation.

Most clients finance their build through a construction loan, which converts to a permanent mortgage upon completion. Some clients use cash or a combination of cash and financing. We recommend getting pre-approved or pre-qualified with your lender before beginning preconstruction, as this helps us build a realistic budget from day one. We coordinate closely with your lender throughout the project, providing draw documentation, lien waivers, and inspection certifications as needed.

We build on all common foundation types: slab on grade, crawlspace, full basement, and walkout basement. The best option depends on your lot's topography, soil conditions, water table level, and your personal preferences. We install a perimeter drain system on all foundation types as a standard practice—slab, crawlspace, and basement alike—and this is included in your budget regardless of foundation selection.

A soil test and property survey are essential steps. The soil test determines bearing capacity and drainage characteristics, which directly affect foundation design. The survey confirms property boundaries, setbacks, and easements. If you haven't completed these yet, we'll guide you through the process and can recommend trusted local professionals.

We have experience building on lots with a variety of challenges, including flood zones, steep slopes, heavily wooded parcels, and sites with high water tables or unusual soil conditions. These factors affect costs and foundation design, but they don't necessarily prevent construction. Early evaluation during preconstruction helps us plan and budget accurately for any site-specific requirements like retaining walls, additional grading, or specialized drainage systems.

We strongly recommend full encapsulation with spray foam on crawlspace walls for all crawlspace homes. Encapsulation protects the structural integrity of your home, dramatically improves air quality, and increases energy efficiency. We also recommend considering a dedicated crawlspace dehumidification system for long-term moisture control. These upgrades provide significant long-term value and protect your investment.

We build across a wide range of styles popular in the Western Kentucky region, including traditional and craftsman, farmhouse, modern and contemporary, transitional, Southern and colonial, and ranch-style single story homes. Our Preconstruction Questionnaire helps us understand your aesthetic preferences, design inspirations, and non-negotiable features so we can match you with the right design direction from the start.

Selections are made during the preconstruction phase, well before construction begins. Our detailed questionnaire walks you through every decision—from exterior finishes like siding, stone, and roofing to interior choices including flooring, cabinetry, countertops, fixtures, paint, and tile. Making these decisions upfront allows us to build an accurate budget and order materials with sufficient lead time, helping keep your project on schedule.

Yes, but all changes must be documented through a formal written Change Order signed by both parties before the work begins. Verbal requests are not binding. Changes are priced at actual cost plus the agreed Management Fee—we do not apply any additional premium or markup to Change Order work. We do ask that you respond to Change Order requests within 48 hours to avoid project delays.

Because we use a cost-plus model, you pay the actual cost of materials. If material prices rise within the original contract scope, our Management Fee does not increase on the cost difference—we absorb that on our end. The same applies if you upgrade a material within the same scope category. Our fee only applies to genuinely new scope added through Change Orders.

We provide a 12-month workmanship warranty covering all work performed, beginning from the date of your Certificate of Occupancy or Substantial Completion. If any defect in workmanship appears during that period, we'll repair or replace the defective work at no charge within a reasonable time after written notice. In addition, we assign all applicable manufacturer warranties and subcontractor warranties to you at project closeout, with complete documentation.

You are required to obtain a Builder's Risk (Course of Construction) insurance policy before any on-site work begins. This policy covers the full insurable replacement cost value of the project against fire, wind, theft, and vandalism from the start of construction through Certificate of Occupancy. Morreau Construction and our subcontractors must be named as additional insureds on this policy. This is a standard requirement and your insurance agent can assist with setup.

We maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, as well as Workers’ Compensation Insurance at statutory limits required by Kentucky law. These policies protect you from liability during the construction process.

JobTread is our professional project management platform that gives you real-time access to every aspect of your build. Through your personal login, you can view the construction schedule, see exactly where your money is going with open-book cost tracking, review and approve invoices, communicate with our team, and access project documents. It’s your window into the project—24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We welcome owner involvement, but for safety and coordination purposes, site access follows specific guidelines. The job site is accessible Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We ask that all questions and communications go through our team directly—not to subcontractors. This chain of command ensures consistency, prevents miscommunication, and keeps your project running smoothly.

We ask that you provide decisions and approvals within 48 hours of our request, unless otherwise agreed. Timely decisions are critical to maintaining your construction schedule. Delays in owner decisions can result in schedule extensions and may affect the cost of work, so we work hard to give you advance notice whenever possible so nothing catches you off guard.

Since our founding in 2021, we have completed over 25 new home projects and continue to grow. As a proud member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), we hold ourselves to the highest standards of quality, professionalism, and client communication. Our tagline says it best: we manage the job so you don’t have to babysit it.

At the end of your project, we complete a thorough punch list walkthrough to address any remaining items. We then conduct final cost reconciliation, collect lien waivers from all subcontractors and suppliers, compile manufacturer warranties and product documentation, provide a contact list for all trade partners, and coordinate all final inspections leading to your Certificate of Occupancy. Our goal is to hand you the keys with complete confidence and documentation.

You can reach us by phone at (270) 816-4959, by email at ryan@morreauconstruction.com, or through our website at morreauconstruction.com. Ryan Morreau, Owner and Project Manager, personally oversees every project. We’re always happy to answer questions, whether you’re in the early stages of thinking about building or ready to break ground.