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Home Additions & ADUs in Pasadena & the San Gabriel Valley
Garage conversions, attached additions and detached ADUs, priced around the utility runs and the ground, not just the floor plan.
The short answer
The biggest thing that decides an ADU job is what you cannot see on the floor plan: how far water, sewer, gas, and power have to run to the new space, and whether your electrical panel can carry the added load. Type sets the baseline. A garage conversion is cheapest because the shell exists, an attached addition sits in the middle, and a detached new build costs the most. We build these across Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley.
The detailsWhat actually moves the price.
Type and utility runs set the number
Start with type. A garage conversion reuses the existing shell, so it is the cheapest way in. An attached addition sits in the middle, and a detached new build runs highest because you are pouring a full foundation and framing from dirt up. After that, the money hides in the utility runs. The farther water, sewer, gas, and power have to travel to reach the new space, the more you dig and pay. If your panel cannot carry the added load, an upgrade gets added too.
The San Gabriel Valley ground under it
Foundation type follows the soil, and a lot of this valley sits on expansive clay that swells when wet and shrinks when dry. That movement drives how the footings get designed, so we do not guess it. A flat lot may take a slab, a raised floor suits some homes, and a real slope can call for caissons drilled down to stable ground. Grading a lot or building a new foundation is real money, which is why we look hard at the ground before we price anything.
Permits run city by city
California loosened ADU rules statewide, with ministerial approval, lighter parking rules, and set size allowances. That helps. But every city still runs its own plan check with its own setback, height, and floor-area rules, so Pasadena and its neighbors will not read the same. If your parcel is unincorporated, you permit through LA County instead. And an addition that changes the roofline or the street-facing front in a historic district can trigger design review. We confirm your exact rules before design.
By cityHome Additions & ADUs near you.
We also cover Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Alhambra, Temple City, La Crescenta, Bradbury. Call for those areas.
QuestionsHome Additions & ADUs, answered.
Is a garage conversion cheaper than building a detached ADU?
Usually yes. A garage conversion reuses the existing shell, walls, and roof, so you skip a new foundation and framing. A detached ADU is built from the ground up, which costs the most. An attached addition lands between the two. Utility runs still swing the final number.
Will we need to upgrade our electrical panel for an ADU?
Sometimes. It depends on what your current panel can carry and the load the new kitchen, heating, and outlets add. If there is no room left, an upgrade gets built in. We check the existing panel on the walk so it is not a surprise later on the bill.
Do we still need a permit if California relaxed the ADU rules?
Yes. The state eased approval and size rules, but you still go through plan check and inspections. Your city runs its own setback, height, and floor-area review, and unincorporated parcels permit through LA County. We handle that process with you.
ReviewsWhat clients say.
Hired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 reviewHired Mike and his crew to redo our entire backyard and driveway. Removal of the asphalt and existing landscaping, running water lines and electrical, artificial grass, plant borders, a paver driveway, raised the patio gazebo, added a paver patio, landscaped borders, irrigation and outdoor lighting.
Teri CraftLocal Guide · 33 reviewsFrom start to finish the job was handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. What stood out most was their communication. Mr. Ward kept me informed every step of the way.
Angela Adams5 reviewsMKW Homes just painted our home. We are very satisfied with the work. During the process everything was clean and organized.
Jake Baloian3 reviewsMike and his crew were great. They did a wonderful job on the stucco patching and painting, and we were very pleased with the results.
Jen B1 review