Want to Build an ADU? Here’s Your One-Stop Shop

For homeowners considering building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) for rental income or to expand family-living space, American Helical is your ADU one-stop shop.

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4 Steps to Build Your ADU, from Consultation to Completion

As your general contractor, American Helical provides an end-to end solution to help homeowners confidently build accessory dwelling units (ADUs). A general contractor from consultation to project completion gives you the confidence and efficiency for a quality, lasting result that is budget-friendly.

1) Planning

Start with a free consultation, estimate, and resources to make an informed decision about building an ADU within your budget, needs, and timeline. Contact us today to get started.

It’s important to work with experienced, licensed professionals to plan and build your ADU. A licensed contractor, like American Helical CA LIC #1128975, will build your ADU, and it’s strongly advised that you also work with a designer, licensed architect, or engineer to customize a site-specific ADU design for your build. American Helical includes architectural designers through the entire process, beginning with planning, to ensure your experience is efficient and seamless.

2) ADU Design

Building an ADU with American Helical includes personalized planning and design. We offer pre-designs ADU models, pre-approved designs, and custom ADU concepts created with an Architectural Designer. We ensure your ADU plan, whether you create a custom design from scratch, use a pre-designed model or pre-approved plan as a starting point, or install a prefabricated unit, includes site-specific considerations important through permitting and inspections. Learn more about pre-designs here.

American Helical has pre-approved ADU plans for builds in multiple counties across California. And local counties often develop ADU plans for homeowners. For example, Stanislaus County in partnership with the cities of Ceres, Modesto, Oakdale, Riverbank, Turlock, and Waterford have seven (7) different ADU plans for detached new construction, each with multiple options for exterior finishes, available free to property owners. Contact us and let’s discuss pre-approved plans.

3) ADU Permitting

Once your ADU design is complete, we’ll steward your ADU plans through your local city or county review process to secure approval and permits.

Local municipalities have specific requirements for ADU permit applications. For example, the City of Modesto requires four (4) items in each Permit Submittal Package: 1) Complete set of Plans, 2) Energy Calculations, 3) Truss Calculations, and 4) Structural Calculations (see Step 3 on the Accessory Dwelling Units page at modestogov.com).

4) Construction

Once permits are approved, our team will begin building your ADU. American Helical is a 3rd-generation builder and general contractor with an experienced, full-time crew.

Inspections are required at multiple stages through ADU construction. We are experienced at delivering the quality and precision home inspectors require for approval - across all stages of building your ADU.

Learn more about American Helical’s experience and team.

“From start to finish, their team was professional, knowledgeable, and always kept us in the loop… The quality of work and attention to detail were outstanding.”

— Jessica M., Hilmar CA

5 Pre-Designed ADU Models

Pre-designed ADU models created by an Architectural Designers take key permitting requirements into consideration. Use ADU pre-designs as a starting point for planning and consultation. Call today for a free consultation.