Frequently Asked Questions About ADU Builders in Los Angeles
Homeowners call us with the same handful of questions before they commit to anything, and most of them are about money, timelines, and whether we’ll actually come back if something goes wrong. So we put the answers here in plain language, with real numbers and real commitments, instead of making you sit through a sales call to find out. Lodgewick ADU Builders is the ADU company of the Kingswell family, and every answer below reflects how we actually run our jobs in Los Angeles.
Quick answer: A garage conversion in Los Angeles typically runs $65,000 to $140,000, a new detached ADU runs $180,000 to $400,000 depending on size and site conditions, and a junior ADU (JADU) often lands between $45,000 and $95,000. Every project gets a written price before work starts, and that price doesn’t change at the door.
Key Takeaways
- Written price before any work begins, on every project, no exceptions.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work isn’t right, we come back and make it right, in writing.
- Live person answers every call, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Free estimates, background-checked crews, uniformed technicians.
- We build garage conversions, JADUs, interior conversions, and new detached ADUs across Los Angeles.
Pricing & Estimates
How much does an ADU cost in Los Angeles?
An accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles generally costs between $45,000 for a small junior ADU and $400,000 for a large custom detached build, depending on type, size, and site conditions. Here’s how those numbers break down by project so you can see where your budget might land.
| ADU Type | Typical Size | Typical Cost Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior ADU (JADU) | Up to 500 sq ft, within main home | $45,000 – $95,000 | 4-7 months |
| Garage conversion ADU | 400 – 600 sq ft | $65,000 – $140,000 | 5-8 months |
| Interior conversion ADU | 400 – 800 sq ft | $70,000 – $150,000 | 5-9 months |
| New detached ADU | 600 – 1,200 sq ft | $180,000 – $400,000 | 9-14 months |
Site conditions move these numbers more than anything else. A flat lot in Van Nuys with existing sewer access costs far less to build on than a sloped property in the Hollywood Hills that needs retaining walls and a new sewer lateral. If you want the actual price for your lot, we put it in writing before any work begins, which is the whole point of how we operate.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes, every estimate is free, and ours comes with a written price rather than a verbal ballpark. We walk the property, note the site conditions that affect your specific lot, and hand you a document that stays the same from the day it’s written through completion. No price changes at the door, no “we found something unexpected” conversations after the crew has already started demolition.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept check, ACH bank transfer, and major credit cards, with a payment schedule tied to completed milestones rather than calendar dates. You’ll know before signing exactly what triggers each payment, so there’s no ambiguity about when money changes hands. We also walk you through financing options for larger detached builds if you’d rather spread the cost.
Is it cheaper to convert a garage or build a new detached ADU?
A garage conversion is usually cheaper, often by $100,000 or more, because the foundation, roof, and three walls already exist. But a conversion only works if your garage is structurally sound, has enough ceiling height, and isn’t sitting on a slab that needs replacing. A new detached ADU costs more but gives you full design control and typically adds more rental value, especially with detached units that rent for a premium in Los Angeles neighborhoods like Eagle Rock and Highland Park.
Are there hidden costs I should budget for?
The most common surprise costs in Los Angeles are utility upgrades, sewer lateral work, and soft costs like plan check fees and school district fees. We surface all of these in the written price before work starts, so you’re never guessing. If something genuinely unexpected comes up during demolition, that gets handled in writing before anyone proceeds, not after.
Service & Scheduling
How fast can you respond?
For most service calls and site visits, we can get someone scheduled within a few business days, and larger project consultations usually happen within a week. For urgent matters, a live person answers our phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you’re never routed into a voicemail loop when you have a question about an active build. If you’re mid-project and something needs attention, we respond the same day whenever possible.
Do you offer emergency ADU service?
Yes, we handle emergency calls on active builds and recently completed projects, and a live person picks up around the clock. An emergency usually means water intrusion, a structural concern, or an electrical issue that can’t wait until Monday morning. Because every project carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise, if something we built fails within the guarantee period, we return and fix it at no charge, whether that’s a scheduled visit or an urgent call.
What areas do you serve?
We serve homeowners across Los Angeles and the surrounding communities, including the San Fernando Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, and neighborhoods throughout the city. That covers places like Sherman Oaks, Encino, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Culver City, and the South Bay, along with the older housing stock in neighborhoods like Echo Park and West Adams where garage conversions are especially common. If you’re not sure whether your address is in our service area, call and ask; we’ll tell you straight.
How long does an ADU project take from start to finish?
Most ADU projects take six to fourteen months from the first site visit to final inspection, with permitting eating up a significant chunk of that time in Los Angeles. Here’s roughly how the process flows on a typical job:
- Site visit and feasibility check – We look at your lot, your garage or footprint, and your utility access, usually within a week of your call.
- Written price and scope – You get a document with the full price and scope before any work begins.
- Design and engineering – Plans are drawn and stamped, typically four to eight weeks depending on complexity.
- Permitting – We submit to the city and manage plan check, which in Los Angeles can run three to six months.
- Construction – Once permits are pulled, most conversions take three to five months and detached builds take five to nine months.
- Final inspection and handoff – We walk the finished unit with you, then hand over your written guarantee.
We give you a defined arrival window for every phase and stick to it. If something shifts, you hear it from us first, not from a subcontractor’s voicemail.
Can you work around our family while construction is happening?
Yes, we build around occupied homes all the time, and our crews follow what we call The Kingswell Way on every job. That means the price gets said before the work, we show up in the window we gave you, and we leave the site cleaner than we found it at the end of each day. Background-checked, uniformed technicians work every job, so you always know who’s on your property, and there’s no rotating cast of unknown faces digging through your backyard.
Licensing, Guarantees & Trust
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes, Lodgewick ADU Builders is fully licensed and insured, and we’re happy to provide current documentation before you sign anything. We’re the ADU company of the Kingswell family, which has been operating home-service companies since 2010. If a contractor hesitates to put licensing and insurance paperwork in your hands up front, that’s your sign to walk away.
Do you guarantee your work?
Yes, every project is covered by our 365-Day Done Right Promise, and that commitment is delivered in writing on every project before work begins. If the work isn’t right, we come back and make it right, and if a repair or build fails within the 365-day guarantee period, the return visit is free. This isn’t a vague promise printed on the back of a business card; it’s a written document specific to your project that names what’s covered and for how long.
Who actually shows up to work on my home?
Background-checked, uniformed technicians show up to work on your home, and the same lead crew typically stays with your project from start to finish. That consistency matters, because ADU work involves multiple trades, and the person who framed your unit should be around to answer questions during finishing. You’ll never come home to strangers in your backyard with no idea who they are or why they’re there.
What does “The Kingswell Guarantee” actually cover?
The Kingswell Guarantee covers four things on every job: a written price before work begins, a defined arrival window you can plan around, a clean job site at the end of each day, and a written guarantee on every project. The 365-Day Done Right Promise sits behind all of it. So if we quote you a number, that’s the number. If we say we’ll be there Tuesday at 8, we’re there Tuesday at 8. And if something we built fails inside the first year, we come back and fix it for free.
How many ADU projects have you completed?
We’ve completed ADU and home addition projects across Los Angeles as part of the Kingswell family of companies, which has been operating since 2010. Rather than quote a number on this page, we’d rather show you finished units near you and let you talk to homeowners who have been through the process. Ask us for local references when you call, and we’ll connect you with people in your area.
Design, Permitting & Specific Services
Do you handle ADU design and permitting?
Yes, we handle the full design and permitting process, from the first sketch to the final stamped plan and city approval. We work with drafters, structural engineers, and energy consultants who know the Los Angeles ADU rules, and we manage plan check so you’re not the one chasing the city for answers. That includes understanding state ADU law and how it interacts with local zoning, height limits, and setback requirements.
Do you handle garage conversion ADUs?
Yes, garage conversions are one of our most requested services, and they typically cost $65,000 to $140,000 depending on size and existing conditions. The big gain with a conversion is that you’re reusing the foundation, framing, and roof that are already there, which shaves both cost and build time. The main things we check up front are ceiling height, the condition of the slab, and whether your sewer and electrical can support a kitchen and bathroom. On many lots in neighborhoods like Van Nuys and Reseda, the garage sits at the back of an alley-accessed lot, which makes for a clean, private unit with its own entrance.
Do you handle new detached ADUs?
Yes, we build new detached ADUs from the ground up, typically in the $180,000 to $400,000 range for units between 600 and 1,200 square feet. A detached build gives you full control over layout, ceiling height, and finishes, and it tends to draw higher rent than an attached unit. We also work with leading prefab and panelized ADU manufacturers, including Abodu, Cover, Dvele, Mighty Buildings, Boxabl, and Plant Prefab, along with siding and material suppliers like James Hardie. Depending on your lot, budget, and how fast you want the unit standing, a prefab route can be the faster path, and we’ll tell you honestly when it is.
Do you handle junior ADUs and interior conversions?
Yes, we build JADUs and interior ADU conversions, which usually run $45,000 to $95,000 for a junior unit and $70,000 to $150,000 for a larger interior conversion. A junior ADU, or JADU, is a small unit up to 500 square feet carved out of your existing home, often from a spare bedroom, basement, or attached garage, with a small efficiency kitchen and its own entrance. It’s the least expensive way to add a legal unit, and in Los Angeles it can be a strong option if your yard is too small or your lot is fully built out.
Do you also handle room additions and home extensions?
Yes, we handle home additions alongside our ADU work, and many clients start with an addition and add an ADU later, or vice versa. If you’re expanding your main house for a growing family or aging parents, our Home Addition Contractor in Los Angeles team handles the design, permitting, and build under the same written-price, written-guarantee approach. You can also start at our home to see everything we do.
What’s the difference between an ADU, a JADU, and a garage conversion?
An ADU is a full second dwelling unit on your property with its own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance; a JADU is a smaller unit up to 500 square feet built inside your existing home; and a garage conversion is exactly what it sounds like, turning an existing garage into a legal living unit. All three are allowed in Los Angeles under current state and local rules, with different size limits and requirements for each. The right choice depends on your lot, your budget, and how much rent you’re hoping to generate.
Will an ADU increase my property value?
An ADU generally increases property value and rental income potential, though the exact amount depends on your neighborhood, unit size, and how the unit is used. In high-demand Los Angeles areas, a well-built one-bedroom ADU can rent for a meaningful monthly figure, which helps offset construction cost over time. The bigger value driver is that a legal, permitted unit is counted in your home’s usable square footage, unlike an unpermitted conversion that can create problems at resale.
Can you help if a previous contractor left the job unfinished?
Yes, we regularly step in to finish or correct ADU work that another contractor abandoned or did poorly. We start with a written assessment of what’s actually there, what’s permitted, and what needs to be redone before we quote a price. It’s rarely the cheapest call we get, but it’s often necessary, because unpermitted or half-finished work creates real liability for a homeowner.
What should I have ready before the first site visit?
Have your property survey or plat, any prior permits or plans, and a rough sense of your budget range and how you want to use the unit. None of that is required, but it speeds up the process and helps us give you a more accurate written price on the first visit. If you don’t have those documents, don’t worry, we can pull most of what we need from public records.
Is there anything about my lot that could block an ADU?
Yes, the most common blockers in Los Angeles are sewer capacity, slope, and setback conflicts, and we check all three before quoting a price. A steep lot may require retaining walls, an older sewer lateral may need replacement before the city will sign off, and every lot has specific setback rules for where the new unit can sit. We identify these during the feasibility visit specifically so they show up in your written price instead of surprising you mid-build.
Why does the name Lodgewick matter?
A lodge is a small house on a larger property, which is exactly what an ADU is, and that’s where our name comes from. It’s also how we approach every build: a smaller, well-made structure that sits comfortably on the land you already own. The name is a promise about the kind of work we do, not a marketing label.
What if I just want a ballpark before committing to anything?
Call us and we’ll give you a real range based on your address, lot type, and the kind of unit you’re considering, with no obligation and no pressure. We don’t do artificial urgency or “only two slots left” pitches; that’s not how the Kingswell family operates. You get straight numbers, a written price when you’re ready, and the space to decide on your own timeline.
If you have a question about your specific property, call Lodgewick ADU Builders at (254) 602-5618 for a free estimate. A live person answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so there’s no voicemail to leave and no wait until Monday. We’ll walk your lot, tell you what your ADU options actually are, and put a written price in your hands before any work begins. Every project carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise, backed in writing, and the written guarantee is on the job from day one. Call today and get a real number for your Los Angeles property.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Call Lodgewick ADU Builders at (254) 602-5618.
Written by Russ Delmar, Owner at Lodgewick ADU Builders, serving Los Angeles since 2010.