So you want to add an ADU to your property or maybe lift your house to add space so you can stay in Berkeley, Rockridge, or another East Bay town.
When at the Rockridge Library, most visitors ask: How can I learn about building an ADU?
If you have a flat lot, you can potentially plunk down a pre-fab ADU or have a panelized ADU / studio — where the building panels are made off site — assembled along with adding all the required utilities and foundation, etc. However, before you get too excited, if you have electrical wires in front of your house, that could make or break the ability to use one of these pre-built ADU companies.
There is much to learn before taking action, especially if you are thinking of converting a garage to an ADU. Just one consideration is the local laws about who can / needs to occupy an ADU and how they can be rented, if that’s part of your plan.
You also want to make sure you locate the ADU in the optimal position.
And if you decide you’re going to add a story to your house or lift your house, you’ll want to consult early on with structural engineers and architects to get an idea of how feasible…and expensive…that really will be.
Here’s where I send people to get educated about building an Accessory Dwelling Unit or looking at options for remodeling your house:
- Maxable has made a business out of educating and connecting California home owners with resources. Their blog is full of great articles.
- New Avenue Homes is based in Berkeley and has extensive experience optimizing properties for density with ADUs, additional entire homes, etc.
- HDR Remodeling is another local builder you’ve probably seen around. They do a lot of kitchen and bath remodels as well as ADU building.
- MN Builders is doing a lot of jobs in the Rockridge area, so you might want to chat with them.
- Design Draw Build designs and constructs beautiful, modern structures. They built an ADU in Rockridge recently that I expect will win awards!
- My Workshed is based in North Berkeley and works from Alameda to Richmond on both residential and commercial building projects.
- Levitch in Berkeley is a long-time local builder worth exploring.
- Cerulean Builders is another. Luckily we have no shortage of great design / builders in the East Bay!
- Inspired ADUs offers architectural services as well as some pre-designed options.
- Studio Shed has those backyard she shed / studios you’ve probably seen at Costco as well as pre-fab ADU designs.
- Abodu has literally pre-constructed ADUs that I believe require the ability to drop the unit into your yard with a crane.
Note that I am not recommending these vendors but rather providing a handy, dandy list of companies I’ve seen around a lot or chatted with. Talking to contractors you see working on jobs is a great way to get to know new builders. You always want to take your time and check references. Just because they say “we’ll have an opening after this job” doesn’t mean they’re the right ones! Then again, you may just be lucky.
