Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
An ADU is a smaller, self-contained home we build on the same lot as your main house — a high-end backyard guest house for family, or a steady rental. It has its own entrance, kitchen, and bath, and it adds real living space and value.
A few ADU directions to consider
Start with the feeling you want — we'll shape the plan around it. These are directions to spark ideas; your finished project is built to your lot and your life.
Backyard Studio
A warm wood-sided studio that opens onto a patio.
Coastal Guest House
Light, breezy, and tucked into the landscaping.
Garage Conversion
Turn an underused garage into a bright, livable space.
What's included
- Backyard guest home or rental
- Its own entrance, kitchen, and bath
- Designed to fit your lot and your main house
- Permits and city approvals handled for you
Start to finish
From the backyard to move-in ready
An ADU is a complete home in miniature — its own foundation, kitchen, bath, and systems. Here's exactly what we do on an ADU, from the first sit-down to handing over the keys to a turnkey little home, so the small build gets the same care as the big one.
- 01
Sit-down planning with the architect & engineer
We design the ADU around the main house and the lot — size, setbacks, and the California ADU rules that decide what fits. The engineer signs off on the foundation and structure so the little home is built to the same standard as the big one.
- 02
On-site walkthroughs to measure the yard
We walk the lot and measure the real setbacks, the utility runs, and where the ADU connects to the main house — so the design fits the yard you actually have.
- 03
City & state ADU permitting
We pull the ADU permit, handle the utility connections, and answer the city's plan-check questions. California made ADUs legal on most single-family lots — we do the paperwork so you get the permit.
- 04
Demolition (garage conversions)
For a garage-conversion ADU we demo the garage interior, haul off the debris, and prep the shell — turning an underused garage into a clean, permitted living space. On a new backyard ADU, this is light site clearing and pad prep.
- 05
Site prep & utility tie-ins
We grade the ADU pad and run the power, water, and sewer ties from the main house — the connections that turn a backyard box into a real, livable home.
- 06
Foundation & framing
We pour the foundation and frame the walls and roof — the ADU becomes a real building on your lot, built to the same code as the main house.
- 07
MEPS — electrical, plumbing & HVAC
We rough-in the kitchen, bath, and heat for a self-contained unit — its own meter in some cases, its own systems, all inspected before the walls close up.
- 08
Insulation, drywall & lath
We insulate for sound and comfort, hang and tape the drywall, and run the lath for the exterior finish. The ADU turns from a frame into a finished room.
- 09
Roofing & waterproofing
We roof the ADU and flash every valley and opening — the layer that keeps the new space dry for decades.
- 10
Solar-ready & energy systems
We wire the ADU solar-ready and tie in any battery or energy system the lot calls for — a high-end guest home should be efficient, not a power hog.
- 11
Exterior finishes & siding
Stucco, siding, and the doors and windows that tie the ADU's look to the main house so the two read as one property.
- 12
Interior finishes, kitchen & bath
We install the cabinets, counters, tile, and fixtures that make a small space feel custom — then hand over the keys to a turnkey little home.
Scope we handle
Detached backyard ADU
A stand-alone guest home in the backyard with its own entrance, kitchen, and bath.
Junior ADU (JADU)
A smaller attached unit converted from existing living space — a lighter permit path.
Garage conversion ADU
Turn an attached or detached garage into livable, permitted square footage.
Two-story ADU
Add living space above a garage or first-floor ADU when the lot allows it.
Aging-in-place & rental ADUs
Built for family, a long-term tenant, or a home office that pays for itself.
Where we build in Orange County
We build ADUs across Orange County — backyard guest homes in Costa Mesa and Irvine, garage conversions in Laguna Hills, and coastal guest houses from Newport Beach down to Laguna Beach. California's ADU rules make most single-family lots eligible, and we handle the setback, parking, and permit questions so you don't have to.
Why homeowners trust us
- 30+ years building in Orange County under California's ADU rules
- California CSLB License #957315
- Setbacks, utility connections, and city permits managed for you
- A turnkey little home — ready to move in or rent
Not sure what you want?
A few questions to get you started
Most people don't have a finished plan yet — that's normal. Think through these while you look at the pictures above, then tell us where you land.
01
Who's going to live in it?
A family member, a tenant, a home office, or a guest space — each shapes the layout.
02
Where on the lot could it go?
Backyard, over the garage, or a converted space — we'll check setbacks and access.
03
How connected should it feel to the main house?
Fully private, or linked by a path or shared yard?
04
Rental income, family, or both?
Each use shapes the layout, the finishes, and the permitting path.
How it works
From idea to handed over
We plan it
We fit the ADU to your lot, price it, and handle the city permits.
We build it
Our crew builds it — foundation, shell, systems, and finishes.
We hand it over
A turnkey little home, ready to move into or rent.
Backed by our 1-year build warranty
Per the board of contractors and our own standard, every new home we build is covered by a one-year warranty. If something we built isn't right in the first year, we come back and fix it — that's our promise on every ground-up build.
- A full 1-year warranty on the workmanship and materials we install
- If something we built fails in the first year, we come back and fix it — no charge
- One in-house team to call — not a chain of subs to chase
- Backed by 30+ years and California CSLB License #957315
Talk about your accessory dwelling units (adus)
Tell us a little about your project and your lot. Bryan Reed will call you back to talk it through.