Before & After Gallery - Fielding ADU San Diego

Recent Transformations

Detached Backyard ADU in North Park: From Overgrown Lot to One-Bedroom Rental

The homeowners had a long, narrow lot with side access that was doing nothing except collecting abandoned furniture. We surveyed, found the setback variance would be needed on the east wall, and handled the city paperwork before a single footing was poured. The result is a 640-square-foot one-bedroom with James Hardie plank siding, a galley kitchen, and a separate meter. Written price before we started. The number never moved.

Garage Conversion in Clairemont: Parking for Two Cars Became Income for a Family

Garage conversions in San Diego typically run $120,000 to $180,000 before permit fees, depending on whether you need sewer reroutes or structural upgrades. This one needed both. The slab was cracked and draining toward the house, which meant new plumbing and a partial re-pour. We insulated to Title 24, closed the roll-up door with a wall and window, and added a separate entrance off the driveway. The family now rents it to a nurse at Scripps. The Garrison Standard guarantee applies just like it does on a new build: one full year, in writing.

Room Addition in Mira Mesa: A Third Bedroom Without Losing the Yard

The owners had a two-bedroom and a third kid on the way. A full second-story addition was out of budget, but San Diego allows single-story additions that use the side setback if you keep under the height limit. We pulled the permit, matched the existing stucco texture, and tied the roof into the original hip line. From the street you’d never know it was added. Room additions like this typically land between $190,000 and $260,000 in San Diego when they include a closet and egress window.

Prefab ADU in Pacific Beach: Abodu Unit on a Tight Beach Lot

Beach lots don’t forgive mistakes. Tight setbacks, sandy soil, and narrow alley access meant a conventional stick build would have eaten the budget on staging and debris removal. We recommended a factory-built Abodu unit delivered through the alley. Site work, foundation, utilities, and finish work took 24 days from demolition to move-in. Prefab isn’t always the answer in San Diego, but on lots under 5,000 square feet with alley access, it usually saves 30 to 60 days versus conventional framing.

Garage Conversion with Permit Problems in Lemon Grove: We Fixed What the Last Guy Left

A previous contractor told these homeowners they didn’t need permits for a garage conversion. They lived with exposed wiring, no insulation, and no heating for two years before calling us. We brought the whole thing up to code, worked through the city’s as-built process to get it permitted retroactively, and finished the ceiling height and egress corrections. The price for a permit rescue like this in San Diego depends on what the inspector finds, but expect to pay $40,000 to $80,000 on top of the original build cost. Don’t skip permits. The repair bill is always more than the permit would have been.

Second-Story Addition in Normal Heights: Maximizing a View Lot

The lot sits above Mission Valley, and the owners wanted the view that was hiding behind a flat roof. We added a second-story primary suite with a west-facing deck, tied the new framing into the existing foundation with shear transfer, and matched the original Craftsman trim. Second-story additions in San Diego carry a wider range: $250 to $450 per square foot depending on structural upgrades. This one needed a new foundation under the old exterior wall, which we caught early because the price was in writing before we started.