There are some important mistakes to avoid when building an ADU. I touched on a few during my presentation with the Pasadena City Council. There were also some guests in the chamber and some people on zoom participating in the meeting. I believe the meeting was also recorded live to be broadcast on TV, but I don’t have that information at this time. I will update this when I get that.
The regulations for an ADU differ significantly from those for a single-family home. Your designer must incorporate all essential features of a standard home into a much smaller area. They need to fit an ADU onto a lot that already has an existing house, ensure privacy for both the main house and the ADU, plan street access to the ADU, and maximize natural light in the ADU. All of this must be done while complying with state, local, and neighborhood regulations.
Change orders can significantly hinder the cost-effectiveness of building an ADU. Due to the small size of ADUs, even minor modifications, such as enlarging a closet by a foot, can require relocating plumbing, electrical systems, framing, and drywall, followed by repainting. The most efficient strategy is to finalize all changes during the design phase before submitting permits, rather than during construction.
In most garages, the wall with the garage door is non-load bearing, making it the least expensive option for extension since minimal demolition or structural reinforcement is needed. Extending through the wall opposite the garage door is also relatively inexpensive, as it is likely non-load bearing, though some demolition will be required.
Extending to either side, however, involves load-bearing walls, necessitating additional reinforcement and higher costs.
It can cost anywhere from $2000 to $5000 to install separate utility meters for an ADU, which seems like a lot, but it makes financial sense down the road if you are renting to tenants, so they can pay their own utility bill.
Garage conversions are not required to have solar panels , but new builds are. The only exception is if the site is too shady for solar panels to be effective. The building inspector will be checking on that. The good news is that there is a federal tax credit for solar panels.
ADU Design pros know that the most economical way to design the plumbing in an accessory dwelling unit is to put the kitchen, bath and washer/dryer along the same wall. Of course they can be on different sides of that wall. It’s a single wall through which all the pipes run. Fresh water and sewer pipes come up through the foundation beneath the wet wall.
Standard roofs, such as hip, gable, or shed roofs, can be constructed using prefabricated trusses, which are typically more cost-effective than rafters built on-site. Prefab trusses are often stronger as well.
Exercise caution when hiring the contractor with the lowest bid. Choosing an unlicensed general contractor can result in extended construction times, substandard work, or, in the worst case, someone who absconds with your money, leaving you with an unfinished project. Thoroughly vet your contractors by checking their license number with the state board, obtaining references, and, if possible, selecting someone with experience in building ADUs.
At Decor Revolution we help you select all your fixtures, finishes and furnishings and we work with a team of architect, structural engineer and general contractor to get your ADU designed, permitted and built in a timely fashion. We also procure all your products and manage your project from start to finish, handling all the details for you. This is our Full Service Design. Let us know if you are thinking about constructing an ADU on your property. We would love to help you with your project!