Does An Accessory Dwelling Unit Need A Concrete Foundation?
What are the ways to build an ADU?
Building auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) is a common approach to make better use of a garage or an underutilized area of your home. This can be used for extra living space or as a source of income. There are several methods for constructing these ADUs, the most prevalent of which being traditional stick framing, framing packages, and prefabricated units. Find out what each of them entails, as well as its benefits and drawbacks, to determine which strategy is best for you.
Conventional Stick Framing
Stick framing refers to when a builder purchases lumber in standard industry dimensions from a hardware shop and assembles it on site. This is the more traditional method, which has been used for hundreds of years. Each piece is measured and cut to the required dimensions before being assembled using the recommended attaching methods. Individual components must be measured, cut, and put in traditional stick framing, which requires a lot more labour than alternative methods. This technology is still widely employed by builders since it allows for easy alterations during construction in the event of unforeseen problems or for design adjustments.
Stick framing takes longer to put together and requires more supervision. Longer periods of time mean higher overhead costs, changing weather conditions, and increased safety threats. Because all “sticks” would be cut on site, site cleanliness is also a consideration. Despite these drawbacks, stick framing provides the most flexibility in terms of ADU design and layout. This option is likely to be the best choice if you want to convert an existing garage into an ADU or even add on to an existing structure.
Framing Package
All or part of the framing components are pre-cut in the factory and delivered to your home as part of a framing package. These can come in either loose components with instructions on how to put them together or pre-assembled portions of wall, floor, and roof frames that can be put together on site.
A structural engineer creates a construction structural plan that is provided to a frame engineer to decide how individual sections will be produced or pre-cut. Together with the project structural engineer, the framing engineer will determine which parts of the framing plans can be pre-assembled in the factory or sent as individual pieces, taking into account the ease and manner of assembly as well as the costs and labor involved in storage, packaging, transport, and production. They’d then go over the framing plan and decide on the assembly method and sequencing on the project.
Prefabricated Units
Prefabrication of your entire accessory dwelling unit is another option to explore as an alternative to traditional framing if you’re building a new additional dwelling unit from the ground up. While this option is the least flexible in terms of style and choices, it does provide you with the convenience of having your ADU completely manufactured in a factory and delivered to you as a full unit or with minor assembly. For months, no one will be coming in and out of your home, interrupting your or your neighbors’ schedules, privacy, or security.
Are You Looking for a Company to Build a Foundation for Your ADU or Building?
If you’ve been researching building a foundation for your ADU or home, then chances are that you already know about the different types of foundations available. Depending on your goals and budget, there may be several solutions available to you. Spaulding Concrete has been the SF Bay Area’s top foundation builder 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. If you have an ADU and want a new one built, then take care in finding someone who understands what is involved and who can get it done right! 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 Alameda and Contra Costa County, including projects in Orinda, Lafayette, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch, and Brentwood.
