5 Considerations Before You Build An ADU
If you’re wondering if building an ADU is the right move for your property, it’s important to research all aspects of this decision before making a final call. There are many things that you need to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to build an ADU. Here are five considerations before you decide:
1. Consider Zoning Laws When Building An Accessory Dwelling Unit
Before you build an accessory dwelling unit, it is important to check into local zoning laws. Zoning laws are put in place for a reason and vary by community.
Zoning laws regulate how you can use your property. The main purpose of zoning is to protect residential areas from encroaching commercial and industrial uses that would diminish the quality of life in a particular area. Zoning also protects the value of adjacent properties by preventing certain types, such as heavy industry or high-density housing, from being built next door.
2. Consider The Cost Of Building Your ADU Before Starting Construction
The costs associated with the building can be high, so doing research on what’s involved will help give you an idea of how much money you’ll need.
Consider if adding an ADU makes sense financially since part of the purpose behind creating more housing opportunities within cities especially where land costs may be high is about increasing density while also providing affordable options; including accessory dwelling units into homes with good access to public transportation could generate additional income on top of supplying larger families with much needed extra space.
However, when considering the economics of this project, it’s important to also take into account the costs. Are you ready for additional maintenance fees?
3. Have A Thorough Plan Before You Start Construction
Having a comprehensive and detailed plan will help ensure that everything in your ADU meets code requirements, which can save time, money, and frustration later on in the process.
If you decide against building an ADU at any point during or even slightly before beginning construction of your accessory dwelling unit, expect delays with obtaining permits for other projects because once they’ve been approved by city officials they cannot be undone without incurring costly fines from city agencies.
4. Consider The Materials To Use In Building The Foundation Of Accessory Dwelling Units
The materials you use in your ADU can have a big impact on how much it costs to maintain, the resale value of your home, and even where it is located.
The following are some considerations before building an accessory dwelling unit:
- Type of construction used for the main house and the existing foundation
- The layout or design that will work best with current surroundings
- What type of exterior material will be easy to maintain/repair if needed?
- Use energy-efficient appliances so they don’t need frequent repairs or replacement over time. It’s important to consider these things when building an accessory dwelling unit because not only does each one cost money upfront but also adds additional space that may affect your property value.
Concrete is a great material for exterior walls because it can bear high amounts of weight and it also blocks water effectively which prevents damage from weather elements such as rain or snow.
However, there are several disadvantages when using this type of material including higher costs compared to other materials used in construction plus pouring cement takes time thus slowing down production rates at work sites.
Another thing to keep in mind with cement is that making changes after completion like even changing something small could cost additional money due to its permanent nature once dried out.
It’s important to consider how often this space would be rented out and what kind of wear it might receive over time–if you expect regular renters who may stay for long periods of time each year, concrete could make sense.
If you are building an ADU with the intention to sell, later on, opting for something more temporary like wood floors can give your property some extra value during resale when looking towards potential buyers without sacrificing too much strength or durability that concrete adds.
5. Consider The Purpose Of Building An Accessory Dwelling Unit
It is because depending on the objective, it will change how you design an accessory dwelling unit. An important consideration should be who would likely use it as a primary residence. Consider anyone from aging parents or adult children to renters looking for alternative housing options.
An accessory dwelling unit can be an ideal space if you are looking for a place where your aging parents or adult children could live close by but still have their own private living quarters; alternatively, they may prefer to maintain privacy and would appreciate having more independence (like with kitchenette) while sharing common areas like bathrooms and laundry facilities.
If that sounds like something your family members might consider, then consider designing some type of private entrance so neighbors don’t know who is coming in and out unless otherwise notified.
For example, perhaps there’s already enough parking on-site – instead, maybe create one driveway off-street only accessible from the back of the house. This way your family members can come and go without impacting any other residents in the neighborhood or having to walk through a common area that everyone shares.
It’s also important to note that if you decide to build an accessory dwelling unit, it would be easier to do so while completely renovating the current home instead of building this separate living space from scratch on top of another structure because there will likely already be plumbing connections for water lines, sewer connections, etc., which are needed for these types of projects anyways; adding additional piping is often cost-prohibitive when starting with bare land.
However, even though they may seem like simple renovations, ADUs require their own set of special considerations whether its zoning laws or how much parking might need to be added.
If you are considering building an Accessory Dwelling Unit, there are many factors to consider. Our team is here to help! We have years of experience in zoning laws and can provide thorough plans for construction that will ensure your ADU fits into the neighborhood’s design guidelines. When it comes to materials, we know what works best on most soil types so you don’t have any unexpected surprises with the foundation. And lastly, our experts offer advice about having a clear purpose when deciding whether or not this type of home addition is right for you—and how it should be designed if it does align with your needs. Want more information? Call us today!
Are You Looking for a Company to Build a Foundation for Your New Home?
Spaulding Concrete has been the SF Bay Area’s top foundation builders for over 30 years. We’re here to fix your home’s foundation, no matter what problem may exist. We have the specialized equipment, services and professional experience that you need to make permanent improvements to your building’s foundation. To get you started on the right foot, we would be happy to give you a free quote for the repair of the foundation. When you reach out by phone or email we will have one of our foundation experts answer any questions you have and explain how we can restore integrity and structural stability to your home or company building permanently. Successful concrete projects require careful planning and thorough preparation. Spaulding Concrete reviews the site and designs to ensure that the concrete and base structure follows the criteria for the planned use and that the layout and finishes are suitable for the project. The qualified concrete experts at Spaulding Concrete will be on schedule, on budget and meet or exceed standards by careful planning, professional execution, and strict quality control.
To schedule your free quote, contact us today! We are proud to serve Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, Brentwood and the surrounding areas.
