ADU Contractor in

Alhambra CA

Alhambra ADU is a building and design company located in Alhambra that covers all throughout Los Angeles. Our team has vast experience in both construction and design, to provide everything you need for any and all construction and ADU projects. We cover all of the planning, permitting, and construction for your project while giving you our undivided attention and expertise. We stay up to date on all the local government construction standards and building codes, which is especially important when looking into the option of building an ADU on your property. Also fully licensed, bonded and insured to provide you with that extra layer of trust. We are truly a one stop shop when it comes to all of the designing and planning you need for any construction project. This can also include soil reports, surveys, T24 energy calculations, floor plans, and permits. So if you are thinking of adding to the value of your property with a new construction project or ADU construction, give us a call today so we can show you how we can deliver outstanding results for you. 

ADU Background

ADUs are Accessory Dwelling Units and are a secondary residence on the same lot as the primary home. Other terms that are commonly used are garage conversion, backyard house, granny flats, basement apartments, standalone cottages, or in-law units. This is basically just any secondary unit that is added on the same property or even as part of the original house as well. The main thing to know is the different codes and permits needed and how to legally build these additional units. By law this is still considered one property even though you may add this additional unit to be separate from your home. ADUs have been great ideas, especially in Los Angeles where housing shortages are very prevalent as well as increased cost of living. This can provide an extra income stream for a struggling homeowner, and flexible living arrangements for people throughout the area. 

01

Detached ADUs / Attached ADUs

Detached is probably the one that is most common and known throughout the area. It is building a completely separate unit typically in the backyard that is not adjoining to the original house. It is basically a small standalone house. 

Attached is just an addition to the main home. A few examples were mentioned earlier such as a converted garage, or by adding on an additional room or space. It also typically has its own entrance from the main house, but does have at least one shared wall with the house. 

02

Interior ADUs

This is similar to an attached ADU but is created by converting existing interior space within the primary house. Examples are converting a basement, attic or spare room into an apartment-like space. So this is entirely within the structure of the main house and does not require building new walls or additions, just reconfiguring the existing space. No separate entrance for this addition is usually needed. 


03

Permits

As we have mentioned throughout our work already, we work closely with regulatory agencies in the area to ensure everything is up to code and that all processes are approved and permitted. Not all companies can say the same though. And we know of some stories of our clients who dealt with someone who was local and said they were insured, however the resulting work was not properly permitted. Hopefully this at least saved you some money if this is the case for you, but in the long run this is not ideal and not a safe way to do business. So we always ensure full transparency with our clients and the local agencies to protect both our business and our customers. We can also help you update any work that was done without a permit. We provide remediation for unpermitted work, to help you out in this trying time. I know you may have some distrust with construction companies if you are in this situation with the work being completed without a permit, but trust us when it comes to helping you fix this problem. We will provide you all the documentation you need to provide proof of your permits, and get you compliant and back into safe standing with everyone.

04

Remodeling Projects

While this can be a bit different than an ADU project, it does take on a lot of similar tasks. The planning and preparation stage is still needed, to review our options and find an ideal solution for your space and what you are looking for in terms of results. Our expertise and knowledge come unmatched in the area, and our relationships with the city and local codes apply as well. Sometimes this type of work can involve more demolition than an ADU construction project would, since typically there are pieces already in place that we want to improve and remodel. By no means does that make it more difficult for us, as we are licensed and insured to handle all the remodeling practices you will need. So if you are taking on some construction work that is a remodeling project, know that your experts here can handle that as well. Roofing is another service that we can provide, if perhaps you have something specific to an existing home or something like that. Typically people may not refer to it as a remodeling project, but the results are similar. You need some work done to part of your home and we can get it done. So if you need a remodel job, or need some work done on your roof, just know that we are experts in all things construction so we can handle your remodeling project or any roofing repairs as well.

Additional Construction Projects

While we do specialize in ADU construction and renovation, our company is fully licensed to handle any and all types of construction projects. Our contractors have so much experience in the industry that they can handle any situation thrown their way. Working with the right contractors is crucial to have a good experience in any construction project. Reputation and experience are key, and that is what our company will provide. Specializing makes us unique to handle ADU projects extremely well, so if that is something you are looking for, let's get to work. We value communication above just about everything else, and we work closely with you to execute the project to your exact specifications. With our vast knowledge and experience, we can provide a lot of examples and suggestions after we do an initial walk through of your property. We like taking on work where we get to be creative, but we also work well with someone who has designs and ideas they already are interested in. This communication is key to success and to continue on our timeline and finish the job as expected on both our ends. 


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Perks of Building an ADU

ADUs have become extremely popular the last few years for a number of good reasons. Let's dive into a few of the main reasons here.

Affordability

Especially in this area of Los Angeles, the most common reason we hear from our customers and clients is affordability. This comes into play a lot with families as well. As prices just continue to increase, more and more people are living at home longer to avoid paying high rent prices. Building an ADU on your property would then allow your family or children to stay close by but with their own privacy and space. And this of course comes without an increase in the monthly payment since it is still on the same property, we can let you decide how much rent you want to charge your own family! So this is a great alternative to add living space to a property at a much more affordable rate than buying another home or renting an apartment. Some like to refer to this as multigenerational living, and our community values that a lot to stay close to family. So ADUs make for a great opportunity to do this while still providing security and privacy.

Potential Income

Another good reason for increased popularity is the potential for income for the homeowners. As we know the prices for homes and apartments are quite high, so this is a good opportunity for homeowners to take advantage of that for a little side income. And going back to the last reason, this could actually work out two fold for a homeowner. Initially you could build the ADU to provide extra space for your family, and then once they are ready to move out and buy their own home, then you have this extra space that you could rent out if you wanted. This versatility allows for extra space that can increase income or reduce the mortgage cost of your home. 


Sustainability

One other main reason and one that we really value as a company is sustainability. Obviously it is hard not to notice the extremely high number of apartments that are being built on every street corner throughout Los Angeles the last few years. We know this city is great and the weather is amazing, so more and more people continue to move here. But this results in needing more land to continue building. Apartments are nice and all, but it is still nice to have privacy and a yard, some things that typically can only come with owning a home. Apartments are great alternatives and are needed throughout a large city, but turning every small suburb into just apartments homes is not ideal. So we really like the idea of ADUs for that reason, to allow traditional homes to stay in place, but also provide some additional housing. The sustainability of it that we like is utilizing the existing space to build extra housing units, but without having to completely tear up land and take over to build a large apartment complex. 

ADU Regulations

Los Angeles has some specific regulations that apply to ADUs, and most of the laws have been changing in favor of homeowners to help increase the availability of ADU construction throughout the area. I think they realize some of the things we mentioned earlier that it would definitely help the area to allow ADU construction so that we can expand the available units for living but in a comfortable way. ADUs are allowed in most residential zoning districts in the area, it just needs to be a residential lot. The main few laws in Los Angeles are about the size of the ADU, which typically cannot exceed 1,200 square feet. This is typically not an issue though as that is plenty large enough and typically more than we need. If it is an attached ADU, it has a similar requirement but also cannot be larger than 50% of the primary home size, so that is also typically under 1,200 feet as well. There are also some requirements as to where it can be located, to ensure protection and privacy of neighbors. So it needs to be at least 4 feet from the property lines in the back and side to allow for that space and privacy. 


If you are unsure about anything, such as if you are even able to build an ADU on your property, just reach out to us and let us know. We have a page on our website where you can enter your address and it will let you know if you can build it or not. We partner with the city and entire county regarding building ADUs and the zoning requirements. We can also do this over the phone if you’d like, or you can submit the form above with your address and we can look it up for you. Obviously this is the first thing we ever do when we start any work, because if the city does not allow it then we cannot do anything. So just let us know if you are interested in moving forward with an ADU construction job and we will verify that it can be done at your specific location. 


Height requirements can vary based on building codes and the area, and can range from 16 feet for a single story and 25 feet for two stories. Innovative designs are welcomed and encouraged, and there are typically no laws that would govern the appearance of the ADU. Typically it looks similar to the original home, but we do full design as well so we can get as creative as you’d like. Los Angeles has also been working with us and similar companies to allow for expedited approval processes, to streamline the permitting process and simplify it to make it easier to build. They know that these extra units are helping out homeowners and renters alike, so it is getting easier to accomplish this new construction pretty quickly. California has a housing crisis so we are trying to help out homeowners to take this on! And Los Angeles is helping encourage it as well with their local laws, which is good. Some areas have even allowed additional freedoms such as removing the owner-occupancy requirement. This can lead to even more flexibility for a homeowner, so let's get on a call today to get started. This last potential regulation would be related to parking, but typically that is not much of an issue. That more applies to larger complexes like apartments, where parking is needed to be provided since there would not be enough street parking, especially in Los Angeles, for all the residents to park comfortably and nearby. This is just another reason that adding an ADU is great for both homeowners and the city, because it adds additional units evenly throughout the city, not requiring huge parking structures or complex construction to build underground or too high up. 

Larger Impact

We have talked a bit on some of the benefits to ADU construction, especially its positive long term effects for Los Angeles and California. But besides just helping with the housing shortage and providing assistance to the city with these new construction projects, there is more value as well.

  • Homeowner Benefits

    The first would be to you, the homeowner. This comes in multiple facets as well. The main reasons we encounter for building an ADU is to either provide additional living space to friends or family, or to create an additional stream of income. But adding an ADU provides even more than that to both you and your community. The main impact it has on you comes in the long run in the development of your property and the value added by constructing an ADU. By taking on this type of construction project, you are creating more livable space on your property, thus adding to the square footage and overall usability of it, which makes this more valuable to buyers. A buyer would be more interested in this either if they are buying for themselves, since now they have added space for friends or family. Or if they are utilizing this as a rental property and recurring income, now they get two units for one in the same deal. The main benefit here is that an ADU provides flexibility. This means that it adds even more value, because it can be utilized by multiple different people in various ways. For example, an office space is really only valuable to commercial companies that need space to work, which limits the clientele to one particular niche. Whereas a property with an ADU can benefit a number of different types of people for all sorts of reasons and ways. So this value is almost unmeasurable in that terms, because it could be used as a rental unit, a home office, a guest house, a studio, additional living space for you or another family member, and the list goes on. 


  • Positive Community Impact

    Besides having a positive effect on your property and value, this project also provides a great community and city impact, and if you work with us you can also create a sustainable and efficient addition to your home. We are specifically trained and knowledgeable about various energy efficient practices, so you can reduce your energy costs and also have a positive impact on the environment. We partner with local companies that can provide solar panels as well to help with this. Also sustainable building practices is something we take pride in, so our entire construction project will have an added emphasis in using sustainable materials. So with your energy efficient addition, you are also helping out your community and neighbors. By providing an ADU in your area, it will decrease the chance of a larger apartment complex being built since additional living space is being added by you. And if some other local neighbors get an ADU too, you could remove the need for any such apartment complex in the area. This provides you and your local homeowners comfort and privacy by keeping the area a local suburb that is meant for families and a great community. 


  • Construction Process

    Taking on an ADU construction project can differ quite a bit from a normal home construction or commercial project. One benefit that we have seen about this type of project is the financing requirements and ease of access. Typically when a homeowner requests for an ADU to be added to their property, they already have equity and value in their home and property since they own it themselves. This then allows for a quick asset that is available to get financing from, since the property itself is already worth a nice chunk of change, and as we mentioned before adding an ADU increases this property value even more. So utilizing the value of the property and existing home really allows for ease of financing. Another benefit of constructing an ADU is that this type of project is typically much quicker than a normal house. That is because there is already a lot of the infrastructure built to provide for the existing house, such as different utility connections. So these can be utilized for this new accessory unit pretty easily, and saves time in the development and building process. An ADU is typically a little bit smaller as well, and with our design expertise and experience, this process can be handled quickly and efficiently by our team to get you the results you want. With these designs we even offer pre-fabricated options which are typically not too usable for traditional homes, but these can save a lot of time as well for building ADUs. 


    The last main difference in constructing an ADU compared to a residential home is all of the zoning rules, land use restrictions, permit processes, and code compliance. Typically the zoning rules are more flexible with ADUs since they are smaller in size, and the use restrictions just determine the height and location of the ADU in relation to neighbors to ensure fair privacy for all. So the permit processes and fire and safety codes are something that can be concerning for homeowners, but that is why it is crucial to use a trusted and experienced ADU contractor like the one you get with our team and company. Los Angeles is also a great city to be constructing an ADU in right now, as they are relaxing some of the previously strict permitting laws. And with our experience you can expect this permitting process to be streamlined and efficient to get us into construction mode right away. Now that we have handled all of that for you, the last concern is the fire and safety codes. This is getting worse in Los Angeles now, as we all know of all the recent fires and continued increase in fire danger with climate change and droughts. But again, it is really nothing to worry about when you work with us. We handle all of this for you, but we can provide any information on this if you would like to know more. Detached ADUs typically require increased fire prevention measures, such as meeting certain requirements for distance from the main house and providing necessary evacuation routes. We have taken on an increased focus on this because fire issues are quite prevalent in the area now, so you can feel that extra comfort when you get assistance from us in relation to this process. 


Is Now A Good Time!?

The next question is if now is the time to get this project done. The fact that you are learning more about our company and the process to build an ADU means that you are definitely considering this right now. But is this the best time to get this done? Let us explore some good reasons as to why now may be the best time to construct a new ADU. If you are looking for a nice long term investment without too much risk and too much capital down, this is a great opportunity. If you have some spare time or do not have too much going on where you can afford spending some time working with us, and allowing us to make a little mess in your backyard for a few months. Now is a great time with the helpful incentives in the area, and the streamlined permitting process that used to take quite some time to get approval for. Other great considerations to take is the purpose of this addition, so obviously now is a great time to get this type of project done if you are needing extra space for someone you know, or if you are looking to start generating some additional passive income next year. All are great reasons but really now is an optimal time to get started, so just reach out to see how we can help make your dreams come true. If you live pretty much anywhere in our range of coverage, I would say now is a great time to do this. The entire Los Angeles area just keeps growing, and property values do not look like they are slowing down anytime soon. When you work with an expert like us who can handle all the zoning laws that are actually becoming more relaxed anyway, there really is no better time to do this than right now. This is a great investment that provides additional income and flexibility for you and your family now and in the future. As long as your finances and goals align, we can get this done. Give us a call today so we can get started. 

Moving Forward

Well there is not a whole lot more we can say or do to convince you, so hopefully you have gathered from our website here that we have a lot of experience in what we do, and we think it would be a great addition to your property. When we work with our clients we treat them like family, and we work with you every step of the way. So if you are ready, then let’s get started today. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us, we are always happy to assist. Or even if you just have more general questions about ADUs and construction projects. We enjoy talking about our work, which is why we do it! So please, do not hesitate to reach out. We value all our clients and we also value any feedback you have, which helps us and the entire company perform better and grow as well. We look forward to working with you on any upcoming construction project you may have!

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