Expert ADU Construction Near You
ADU construction is where a good plan either becomes a great home or an expensive lesson. H&A My Design is a licensed design-build general contractor, family-owned for more than 20 years, with our own project managers running every site from foundation to final inspection. Serving Southern California and the surrounding areas.
Licensed & bonded California general contractor — CSLB #999603. Fixed, property-specific proposals after a free on-site audit.
What ADU Construction Involves From Start To Finish
An accessory dwelling unit is a small house, and it is built like one: foundation, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, insulation, drywall and finishes, each inspected before the next can start. The difference is that it happens a few steps from where you live, often on a tight lot with limited access.
Sequence Matters More Than Speed
ADU construction cannot be rushed by working in parallel. The foundation has to pass before framing starts, and rough-in has to pass before walls are closed. A missed inspection window idles a crew; a missed order stalls the finishes.
Planning Before Mobilising
Before a crew arrives we locate utilities, confirm access for equipment, order long-lead materials and map inspection points against the calendar.
Why That Protects Your Budget
Idle crews, re-mobilisation and rush shipping are pure waste. Planning them out is the least glamorous and most valuable part of professional ADU construction.
Inspected At Every Stage
Every permitted ADU is inspected by the local building department as work proceeds. We schedule those inspections, walk each stage before calling them in, and keep the record for your files.
- Foundation and underfloor inspections
- Framing, shear and structural inspections
- Electrical, plumbing and mechanical rough-in
- Insulation and energy compliance checks
- Final inspection and sign-off for occupancy
Six Stages Of Professional ADU Construction
Stage lengths vary with the type of unit and the site. The order never changes.
Site Preparation
Protection of the main house and yard, layout, excavation and utility trenching to the new unit.
Foundation
Forms, reinforcement and pour, designed to the soils conditions and structural drawings for your lot.
Framing & Roof
Walls, floor and roof structure go up and the unit takes its real shape for the first time.
Rough-In
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems routed and inspected before anything is covered.
Envelope & Interiors
Windows, doors, insulation, drywall, cabinetry, tile, flooring and fixtures installed.
Final Inspection
Punch list completed, final sign-off obtained and the keys handed over with warranty documents.
What Our ADU Construction Service Includes
One contract covering the trades, inspections and coordination an accessory dwelling unit actually requires.
Site Work & Utilities
Excavation, trenching and new connections for sewer, water, power and gas where needed.
Engineered Foundations
Slab or raised foundation designed for your soils and structural requirements.
Expert Framing & Roofing
Framing, sheathing and roofing built to the structural drawings and inspected at each stage.
Electrical, Plumbing & HVAC
Systems sized for an independent home, including panel and meter work where required.
Energy & Insulation
Insulation, windows and systems that meet California Title 24 energy standards.
Premium Interior Finishes
Cabinetry, counters, tile, flooring and fixtures chosen in our Canoga Park showroom.
How We Keep ADU Construction On Track
The controls that keep scope, cost and schedule visible from the first trench to the final walkthrough.
A published schedule
You see what happens this week, what happens next, and which decisions we need from you and by when.
Change orders in writing
Every change is priced and approved before it is built. Nothing appears on a final invoice unseen.
Materials ordered early
Windows, cabinetry and fixtures are ordered against the schedule so they never hold up the trades.
One project manager throughout
The same person knows your drawings, permit status and selections from day one to handover.
Verifiable licensing
Licence CSLB #999603 — check it, and check any contractor you are considering for ADU construction.
What ADU Construction Means For Your Household
Unlike most construction, an ADU is usually built while you live next to it. Planning for that is part of the job, not an afterthought.
Access And Staging
Materials, equipment and workers need a route to the back of the lot. We agree that route, where deliveries land and where materials are stored before work begins, so your driveway and garden are not improvised into a staging yard.
Utility Shutdowns
Connecting a new unit sometimes needs brief interruptions to water, power or gas in the main house. We schedule them in advance and keep them as short as practical.
Panel Upgrades
If the electrical service needs upgrading to carry a second home, coordination with the utility company happens early because it depends on their schedule, not ours.
Noise, Dust And Neighbours
Excavation and framing are the loudest stages. We work within permitted hours, keep the site contained and give neighbours notice before the noisiest work.
Keeping The Main House Livable
Protection for paths, landscaping and entrances stays in place throughout. Daily clean-up keeps the site safe for children and pets, and the work area is secured at the end of every day.
ADU Construction Projects Near You
Completed accessory dwelling units, each permitted, inspected and finished by our own crews.
Ready To Start ADU Construction?
Send your address and we will check utilities, access and site conditions, then give you a fixed, property-specific proposal instead of a guess.
ADU Construction Questions
How long does ADU construction take?
As a guide, garage conversions typically take three to five months to build and ground-up detached units five to eight months, depending on size, site conditions and inspection scheduling. You get a project-specific schedule after the audit.
Can I live in my house during construction?
Almost always, yes. Most ADU construction happens in the yard or garage, with only short, scheduled utility interruptions to the main house.
Do you use subcontractors?
Specialist trades are part of any build. What matters is that one project manager of ours coordinates and supervises every one of them, and that we stay accountable for the result.
What happens if something unexpected is found?
We explain it, price it and agree the fix with you in writing before continuing. The on-site audit exists to reduce these surprises in the first place.
Is ADU construction inspected by the city?
Yes. Every permitted unit is inspected at foundation, framing, rough-in, insulation and final stages. We schedule each inspection and walk the work before calling it in.
Where do you build?
We handle ADU construction throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Westlake, Pasadena, Glendale, Culver City, the South Bay, Santa Clarita Valley, Ventura County, Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, Burbank, Granada Hills, Canoga Park, Reseda and the surrounding areas.
Related Pages
Questions To Ask Before You Hire Anyone
Whoever you end up hiring, these questions separate a professional operation from an optimistic one. Ask them of us, and ask them of everyone else you are considering.
Licensing And Insurance
Ask for the licence number and look it up. Ask who carries liability and workers’ compensation insurance for the people on your property. A reputable builder answers both without hesitation.
Who Actually Runs The Site
Find out whether the person who sold you the project will ever visit it. You want a named project manager who knows the drawings and will be there at every inspection.
A Warning Sign
If nobody can tell you who supervises the trades day to day, nobody does.
How Pricing Really Works
Ask what is included, what sits in allowances and what is excluded. A low number that leaves out utility connections, permit fees or site work is not a low number at all.
- Is the proposal specific to my property?
- How are changes priced and approved?
- When are payments due, and against which milestones?
What Happens After Handover
Ask what warranty documentation you receive, how snags are handled and who you call in the first year. The answer tells you how a company expects to be judged.
Homeowner Experiences
Hear directly from Southern California clients who trusted H&A My Design with their custom homes, ADUs, and additions.
Walk the finished home — navy kitchen with brass fittings, an open living space and a new double-vanity bathroom.
“We’re extremely happy with the results. Without a shadow of doubt, we’ve already recommended them to other neighbors.”
“Everybody was phenomenal to work with, a pleasure to have. Totally fair and wonderful company and great family.”
“H&A made the entire process transparent. Having one GC manage blueprints, city permits, and the build was night and day.”
“Their Canoga Park showroom made selecting our cabinets, quartz, and fixtures so easy. Finished right on schedule.”
“Converted our garage into a 2-bedroom rental. Flawless craftsmanship and leased immediately after final inspection.”
See the full before and after — the original kitchen, the opened-up living space and the finished bathrooms.
“From 3D plans to final city sign-off, H&A handled everything. No surprise change orders, no stress.”
“Built a modern ADU for my parents. The accessibility and aesthetic details exceeded all our expectations.”
Serving Southern California
Licensed throughout Los Angeles & Ventura Counties. HQ Showroom at 6723 Variel Ave, Canoga Park, CA.
MORE SPACE.
MORE VALUE.
Design, permits, showroom selections, and master construction—managed by one accountable team.