The construction industry has been abuzz lately with the news that President Trump has announced another massive tariff on goods imported from China. This time, $200 billion worth of Chinese goods will face import taxes, with much of the goods being used specifically on construction projects.

This new tariff comes in the wake of a $50 billion tariff on Chinese goods earlier this year and additional tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum as well as Canadian lumber. These extra import taxes are putting pressure on construction companies to find ways to reduce costs, or else they will have to start charging higher prices for home remodels and builds.

In this post we’re going to dig into some of these rising challenges in the construction industry. We will also cover some of the top renovation trends of 2018 and tell you how the past and pending tariffs will affect any planned home renovation projects you have for 2019.

First, let’s give you a recap of the tariffs in regards to the latest construction industry news.

The Trump Tariffs on Imported Goods

During the Trump administration, the construction industry has become quite familiar with tariffs on imported goods.

During his “America first” initiative, aimed to promote American companies, jobs, and materials over foreign products, tariffs have been placed on goods used in the construction industry such as lumber, steel and aluminum, and dozens of others in recent tariffs imposed upon China.

The first domino to fall in this tariff frenzy was when the Department of Commerce placed import taxes on five Canadian lumber companies in March of 2017. This tariff ranged between three and 24 percent (an average of 20.83 percent) on all Canadian soft lumber and was placed in response to Canada’s import restriction of U.S. dairy products. The move was made to increase American lumber production and create jobs, but instead, it has caused lumber prices to go up 31 percent.  These added costs are often absorbed by the home buyer.

A year later on March 8, 2018, President Trump placed a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and a 10 percent tariff on imported aluminum. This order went into effect on March 23, and put the U.S. housing industry on notice, now that the majority of the main materials used in housing projects were having their prices raised. Trade organizations like the National Association of Homebuilders spoke out against the tariffs, claiming they could not have come at a worse time for the U.S. housing market.

This is because new home builds and home renovation projects were rapidly on the rise prior to the tariffs being passed. Home values were reaching all-time highs, making it a great time for homeowners to use the extra cash to boost their home’s value even further through a new kitchen, bathroom, addition, or other renovation.

These tariffs combined already hiked up prices on home construction projects for construction companies and consumers alike. Projects that were already signed into a contract before still need to be honored, with construction companies having to eat the extra costs of lumber and goods. Moving forward, this has forced many companies to place “escalation clauses” into their contracts, which allow for home renovation estimating costs to change should the price of materials go up when they are needed.

The cost of steel and aluminum is expected to rise but has less of an impact on residential housing than does the tariff on lumber, as most single-family homes are primarily built with wood.  Steel and aluminum account for just 0.5 percent to one percent of a home builder’s entire cost. Meanwhile, lumber is one-third or more of the cost of building a new home.

Where the tariffs on steel and aluminum will be felt the most is in construction projects to build apartment or condo complexes because these will use far more steel than a single-family home. Some of these extra costs may eventually be absorbed by the renters and buyers of these apartments and condos.

The combination of lumber and steel and aluminum tariffs will increase the cost of new homes. When you factor in other building materials and heating and cooling systems, you can see how the tariffs will really be adding expenses everywhere.

What is known is that the combined tariffs on everything from building materials to appliances will increase the overall cost of new homes. The true impact of this tariff won’t be seen until the next wave of home construction begins next year, when builders will be forced to pay for the higher material costs of Canadian lumber for construction jobs that are already contracted.

Cities also are having a tough time meeting demand for housing, because the tariffs on materials are sending the prices skyrocketing. This has caused a shortage of affordable housing in major cities across the country as companies either aren’t able to meet demand with their supply or can’t afford the material due to the new prices.

New residential construction also reached a 10-year high in 2017, showing that people are eager to build homes. However, the tariff on Canadian lumber has created a difficult market to build new homes given the extra costs associated. For example, the tariff on Canadian lumber added an average of $6,000 to $10,000 on top of the cost of a median-priced home.

The Canadian lumber duty is also projected to reduce its investment in American single-family homes by $1.1 billion. If this big of a reduction actually occurs, new homeowners would have to wait longer than usual for their homes to be built, as prices of lumber may be too high.

While the lumber tariff has more of an effect on home builds and renovations, the steel and aluminum tariff is raising prices in the commercial arena, plus for apartment buildings and multi-family condo communities. The tariffs against China, however, will affect construction projects of all kinds, but especially those to build a new home.

The Chinese Tariffs

Recently, President Trump announced tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and said he would place an additional tax on all imports. This was on top of the previous $50 billion tariff he had already placed earlier in 2018. At this point, roughly half of all Chinese imports to the U.S. face import taxes. Trump is calling for taxes on all of them.

While the first round of tariffs did not have a large impact on American consumers or construction companies, this second wave will end up raising prices, especially for home buyers. All building materials and housewares should see their prices rise.

Impact on Home Renovation Costs

Because of these tariffs, home renovation prices will rise at a time when renovation projects are in high demand. The latest round of tariffs includes roughly $10 billion worth of Chinese products that are exclusive to the homebuilding and renovation industry, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The tariff on these goods will begin at 10 percent but may reach 25 percent by the end of 2019. This would add up to a $2.5 billion tax increase in the industry. This tax would cause prices on construction materials to increase, which would of course be added to the price of homes or home renovation projects.

While putting it in numbers gives you an idea of the total price hike the country will be dividing up for renovation projects, it puts things further in perspective when you consider the types of materials that will soon have an increase in price. The Chinese goods that will now be taxed include walls, floorboards, cabinets, light fixtures, heat and cooling equipment, ceramic, natural stone, glass, tile, marble, granite, and quartz, among others.

Taking quick stock and you’ll see what kinds of projects can expect to see higher prices. If you are tearing up your carpet and putting doing a hardwood floor remodel, you can expect the prices to be higher. Simple renovations to update to LED lighting will have more expensive fixtures. The ever-important central air or modern heating unit will come at a heftier price as well.

Remodeling the kitchen, often one of the best renovation projects to boost the value of a home, will be much more of an investment since cabinets, tile for flooring and backsplash, and materials used for countertops are all under the tariff. Likewise, bathroom remodels will be more expensive thanks to import taxes on ceramics and tile.

Industry experts predict that the import duties on these items will rise at least 15 to 20 percent. With the costs of these materials that are often used in home renovation costs going up, so too will home renovation estimating costs, and the price for the completed job.

Effect on Current Home Renovation Trends

Many of these newly-taxed goods are involved in some of the more popular home renovation trends of the moment.

For example, bold-colored cabinets have become more popular to give a more modern look to the kitchen with a blast of color. Kitchen remodels are also proven to be one of the most impactful home improvements you can make to your home’s overall value. When you add in the price of tile and countertops to the cabinets, homeowners may think twice about investing so much money for the remodel, since they might not get as much of a return to their value given the elevated cost of goods.

Likewise, waterfall countertops have become very fashionable, but now will be much more expensive to install. Colorful or patterned bathroom floor tile also will now come with an added cost.

Summary

All of this is to say that home renovations will come at a higher cost for the remainder of 2018 and even more so in 2019. As the trade war rages on, each tariff seems to cause more and more damage to the wallet of consumers, rather than protect the American people as intended.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/11/business/dealbook/trump-tariffs-canada-lumber.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/24/new-chinese-tariffs-make-home-renovations-more-expensive.html

https://longroofing.com/blog/the-top-2018-home-trends-in-renovation-and-design

For millennia, craftsmen, builders and artisans have viewed marble as the consummate building medium. From Michelangelo’s Carrera Marble David, to Bernini’s massive marble colonnade at St Peter’s Square, marble has been venerated and cherished because of its brilliance, beauty and malleability. Two things specifically distinguished marble from other stones: the way in which it’s stunning white or blue-grey hues were able to capture and reflect light, and then, marble’s distinct offsetting veins. The Italians would say about a stunning block of Carrara marble, “Il marmo canta,” the Marble sings.
 
Five hundred years later and not all that much has changed with the way humans regard marble, be they architects, interior designers or consumers. Although the custom usage for marble has changed, it has become one of the most popular choices for kitchens, countertops and bathrooms. Today especially, marble is widely considered to be a status symbol of luxury, elegance and wealth.  
 
While no one denies the stunning beauty of gleaming marble countertops, what many bemoan is its fickle nature and how readily it shows wear and tear: blemishes, discolorations, blots, soils, and spots. Some love the fact that marble wears its scars like tattoos, its surface marred and indelibly marked by past use, each stain or scratch a memory of a meal prepared or drink shared. Others, however, prefer for surfaces to be clean and pristine with nothing detracting from the marbles exquisiteness. As a result, they spend a lot of time, money and attention on upkeep of their marble surfaces.
 
If you are considering having marble installed in a new house or in a kitchen remodel, you will likely ask friends their advice on whether or not you should. Depending on which type of person you ask, you may receive conflicting stories or advice. They might say they love the way it looks and how pretty it makes the kitchen, but on the flip side, they might relay their annoyance with its durability and how easily the surfaces gets dirty. As mentioned, some really don’t mind marble aging, others will give your horror stories that push the message that it is not worth the cost or the hassle. While it is wise to speak to others about their past experience and take their advice into account, do not let that detract from your desire for marble countertops or bathrooms. Rather, simply take these things into consideration, know what you are getting in for, prepare for it and take preventative measures. If you do not let these problems catch you off guard, if you nip stains or blemishes in the bud, you can have beautiful marble and keep it immaculate without breaking the bank.
 
What Is Marble?
 
One of the more underrated aspects of marble is its texture and feel, cold to the touch, whether polished or honed, and how austere it is in its age. In order to treat and upkeep marble, and in order to choose the right cleaning products and utensils, it is important to fully understand what Marble is and why it reacts to substances the way it does. There are two general categories into which natural stone is classified: calcareous stone and siliceous.
 
Siliceous stone is predominantly made up of silica or quartz-ish particles. As a result of its chemical make up, Siliceous stone is strong, durable and quite easy to treat with mildly acidic cleaning solutions. Your typical siliceous stone found in a home would be sandstone, brownstone, bluestone, granite, slate and quartzite. Calcareous stones are predominantly comprised of the mineral calcium carbonate. Calcareous stones are sensitive to acidic solutions and require different treatments than Siliceous. Examples of Calcareous stone being, limestone, onyx, travertine and of course, marble.
 
Marble, specifically, is very porous on a micro level, which means it absorbs liquids quite easily and can be damaged by spilling acidic substances on it. Common acidic items you might find in the house being things such as, wine, lemon juice, tomato juice, sodas or milk. One spill from these acidic substances can damage the marble, leaving an enduring scar. The damage occurred in the reaction between acid and calcium carbonate is known as etching.  Calcareous stones are not recommended for kitchen countertops because of how common acidic substances are in day-to-day life. Even water can stain a marble countertop, so you can imagine if you use your kitchen regularly how easily the marble could wear or accumulate imperfections. There are two important steps to take when dealing with marble in your home: prevention and maintenance.
 
Sealing Marble Countertops
 
Sealing your countertops falls into the preventative side of protecting the marble’s long-term aesthetic. Because of marble’s porous nature, the stone must be sealed in order to help protect the marble from undesired blemishes or etchings. A sealant can prevent spills and stains from digging deep into the stone and give you more opportunity to clean up any spill.  
 
Before we continue it should be noted that many are under the understandable false perception that a sealer provides an impermeable shield. In reality, a sealant simply slows down the natural absorption rate of liquid in the stone. A good sealant gives you precious extra seconds to clean the spill and keep the stain close to the surface, so it can be removed far easier. The deeper a substance stains, the harder it is to get out.
 
Before you do seal marble surfaces, be sure to consider these various factors and more to determine which sealant to use. Is the marble expected to be in common contact with acidic substances? How porous is it? How fast does it absorb liquid? What is the finish of the surface? A honed surface is less resistance to stains than a polished one. Will the sealant change or alter the color or aesthetics of the marble?  
 
Some marbles also do not need sealing or would react poorly with them, damaging the stone even more. If you do not know how to find the answers, speak to professionals or hire them to do it on your behalf. They have years of experience working with this delicate stone and if you are already investing in the marble, it could be cheaper, in the long run, to make sure it is done the right way.
 
For those of you who want to save money and do it on your own, it is fairly easy to do and the small cost and time drain are worth the long-term benefits to the health and quality of the stone. Before we begin, if you are sealing marble for the first time, multiple coats may be required in order to successfully seal the pores.
 
How many times you may need to reapply sealant depends on several things: the porousness of the stone, the quality of the application and the quality of the sealant. Contingent upon these factors, the effectiveness of the sealant could last anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. Darker colored marble will need to be re-sealed less often than white marbles, which wear their scars far more visibly.
 
There are five easy steps when it comes to sealing marble counter-tops:

• Step 1 – Selecting the sealant: It would prudent to select a high quality sealant, they last longer and are less likely to react bizarrely with your countertops. It is also important to know the difference between Topical Sealers and Impregnators. According to the Marble Institute: “Topical Sealers are coatings (film formers) designed to protect the surface of the stone against water, oil, and other contaminants. They are formulated from natural wax, acrylic, and other plastic compounds. When a topical sealer is applied, the maintenance program often shifts from a program focused on stone care to a program focused on the maintenance of the sealer (for example: stripping and reapplication). Impregnators are water- or solvent-based solutions that penetrate below the surface and become repellents. They are generally hydrophobic (water-repelling), but are also oleophobic (oil-repelling). Impregnators keep contaminants out, but do not stop the interior moisture from escaping. These products are considered “breathable,” meaning they have vapor transmission.”

If you need help, ask for assistance at the hardware store when purchasing.

• Step 2 – Cleaning Off the Countertop: Remove everything from the marble counters, including cookware, food, appliances etc. Use a soft rag to remove any crumbs, dust or other substances from the countertop. Once cleared, clean the surfaces thoroughly with a cleaner made for marble and let it sit for at least a minute.  

Remove everything off of the top of the counter-top including all appliances, spices, and everything else. Next, using a soft clean rag and remove all of the dust and crumbs that might still be on the counter-top. After sitting for the appropriate time, dry off the countertops with a clean towel.

• Step 3 – Sealing the Countertop: It is up to your discretion whether to apply the sealer with clean cloth or a brush, either will do the trick. Carefully go over the entire countertop with a thin and even layer of sealant. Repeat if needed. Once you have finished, let the sealant dry for roughly five minutes. It is advised to do this in sections. After at least two levels of sealant, once again let the countertop dry before putting anything on the surface. It is better to err on the side of caution, so you do not need to re-do anything.
• Step 4 – Surface Dressing: Once sealed, a topical polish or shine enhancer can also be applied, providing a thin extra layer of protection while helping the stone really shine and sing.
• Step 5 – Reseal when necessary: In order to help your marble last longer and keep looking great, countertops should likely be re-sealed on an annual basis. Again, it’s a little bit of money and time in the short run that will pay off big time in the long run.

 
Marble Countertop Maintenance Do’s and Don’ts
 

• Do- Clean spills posthaste: Even with a proper sealant, Marble is very sensitive to acidic products and will absorb them rapidly. To avoid etching, clean any type of spill, oil or liquid, as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the deeper the solution can sink in.

• Do not – Use the wrong type of cleaner: Because of marble’s reaction to acidic compounds, use mild or neutral pH detergent or stone soap when cleaning the countertops. The vast majority of common household, name-brand cleaners are too harsh on marble and will damage it in the long run. Avoid using abrasive cleaners such as alkaline cleaners, acidic cleaners (lemon juice, vinegar), ammonia or bleach. Consistent use of cleaning solutions will dull the marble’s luster so it is wise to use hot water when cleaning regularly and be sure to buff dry with a soft cotton cloth or chamois. You likely paid a hefty price for the marble, do not scrimp by using a cheap or universal cleaner. In the long run the price you will play on maintenance, repairs or restoration is not worth the couple of dollars saved.

• Do- Take preventative measures to avoid spills: Put glasses on coasters, and coasters on table settings or napkins. The vast majority of drinks we consume are acidic in nature, juice, soda, and alcohol; all of these can harm marble or cause it to etch.

 
Work on cutting boards. They protect marble from scratching and marring and prevent any acidic juices from the food that could lead to etching.  
 
Place silverware and other kitchen items on placemats to also avoid scraping.  
 
Heats absorbing pads or trivets are recommended for hot dishes. Placing them directly on the countertop could damage the marble.  
 
For marble floor tiles, rugs or doormats placed at entryways can help prevent, dirt, mud, sand or grit from accumulating.
 

• Do not- Treat your countertops like you would other surfaces: Marble is not durable. It is soft so you should never use it as a workbench, tools can scratch or gouge the marble and pressure can cause it to break. Do not stand or sit on marble countertops, they are not flexible and generally do not have plywood backing beneath. As a result, too much pressure or weight can lead to cracks.

 
If you treat your marble with the respect it needs and deserves, you can extend the life and quality of your countertops for years. Simple maintenance tasks and preventative measures such as sealing can make or break the longevity of your marble and save you money in the long run.

Did you know that it’s illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor in the state of California? It’s true! And yet it happens all the time.

California’s “underground economy” is booming, and lawmakers have taken notice. In response, they have put legislation in place to protect both state homeowners as well as licensed construction and trade workers.

In this post, we’ll dive into the laws that exist to help protect homeowners against unlicensed contractors in California, as well as covering the potential penalties that contractors face for operating in the state without a license.

Is Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor In California Illegal?

The homeowner assumes many risks when they hire an unlicensed contractor, but the contractors themselves are sharing some of the burden. This is because it is technically illegal to hire an unlicensed contractor in California.

Many contracting jobs in the state of California will require the contract to have a currently valid license given through the Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB). More specifically, all contracting jobs that cost $500 or more in labor and materials require that the contractor has a license. The contractor must provide their license number on any construction contract.

Homeowners continue to hire unlicensed contractors in California because they are either unaware of the risks involved, or are willing to take the risks to get a lower rate. Unlicensed contractors are often able to charge much less than their licensed counterparts because they don’t have many of the overhead fees that come along with working as a licensed contractor.

Hiring a licensed contractor does not necessarily guarantee that the work will be better than an unlicensed contractor, but having a license will protect you against problems that might come up, leaving you, the homeowner, liable for some major financial risks when hiring an unlicensed contractor.

However, despite the risks, that low rate keeps unlicensed contractors working in California.

What are the Advantages of Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor?

Well, there is really only one advantage to hiring an unlicensed contractor, and that is the price. Hiring an unlicensed contractor in California is typically much cheaper because they don’t have to pay many of the fees that go along with doing a job up to code, with a license.

Getting a contracting license in the first place is expensive for these trade workers, who then have to pay annual fees to keep their license active. They then need to acquire the necessary permits for certain jobs and make sure their work is up to code. They also need liability and workers compensation insurance to protect themselves and their employees.

Unlicensed contractors don’t have any of these financial burdens. They are uninsured, are not able to require permits, and may not even do the work to code specifications. More risk is involved, but there is much less overhead they need to pay, which enable them to charge a much lower rate.

An unlicensed contractor may be someone you found online, but is often a referral through a friend, family member, or neighbor. Someone “knows a guy” who can do the work for you for much cheaper, and the desire to help a friend while also getting a lower rate often leads to the unlicensed contractor being hired.

Maintaining, updating, and repairing a home is expensive enough, so it makes sense to want to find the lowest price to get the job done. However, when you consider the financial risks you are taking by using an unlicensed contractor vs. a licensed contractor who has no workers compensation or liability coverage, you may find that if something goes wrong, it isn’t cheaper at all in the long run.

Protecting Homeowners: The California Contractors’ State License Law

The California Contractors’ State License Law (“License Law”) was created to protect homeowners and the general public from incompetence and dishonesty by those who provide construction services in the state. According to the Law, all contractors who do business in California must possess a valid contractor’s license unless that are able to meet a few narrow statutory exceptions.

There are more than 40 types of licenses that are recognized under this law. These licenses primarily cover electrical, roofing, and plumbing contractors. Any contractor working on these types of projects must have the appropriate license in order to legally complete the work. The licenses are specific to certain types of work, so one license cannot be used for another activity that requires a different license.

Within the law, a “contractor” is a broadly defined entity, more determined by the conduct, activity, and work that the person offers to undertake. To find out if a contractor is licensed to take on your renovation project, you can file a simple inquiry with the Contractors State License Board to confirm whether or not they are appropriately licensed.

Which Contractors Must Be Licensed Under The California Contractors’ State License Law?

The “License Law” also applies to the provision of so-called “home improvement goods,” which are goods that are used in a construction project and affixed to the real property in a way that they become a permanent part of the home. Some examples of these goods include carpeting, fencing, heating and air conditioning equipment, and more. Even certain pest exterminations fit under this provision.

The License Law also applies to workers such as gardeners or tree trimmers, interior decorators, painters, and sprinkler system installers. This shows that the Law is not limited to the structure of the home itself, extending out to the driveway, yard, pool, hot tub, porch, garage, gazebo, or anything else adjacent to the home that is part of a homeowner’s property.

What Workers or Situations Do Not Need to Be Licensed?

However, the Law does not apply to any construction, alteration, improvements, or repair made to personal property. For example, this would include the repair of your TV or computer. Any contractor who does this work for you does not need a license.

The Law also does not apply to the sale or installation of any items that are already finished products, materials, or merchandise that will not become a fixed part of the home. Therefore, a supplier who delivers finished cabinets to your home but does not perform the installation is not required to have a license. Likewise, anyone who sells a patented prefabricated kitchen to you does not need a license either.

Finally, those who perform cleaning work, such as house cleaners or chimney sweepers, also do not need to be licensed.

What is the Penalty for Contractors Who Are Caught Operating Without a License?

Every year, hundreds of workers are arrested for contracting without a license in California. This is a criminal charge that can even come with a potential jail sentence.

The License Law states that no person in the State of California may perform any construction services billed over $500. This applies to smaller handyman fix-it services all the way up to building a house. The Law penalizes those who are caught operating without a license as well as those who are licensed for one classification, but bid on or work on a job in another classification in which they do not have a license. (For example, an electrician working on a roofing job.)

Getting caught contracting without a state license is typically a misdemeanor that comes with a maximum sentence of six months in jail and/or a $500 fine. A conviction may also carry with it some administrative fines of up to $15,000. Repeat offenders are subject to a mandatory 90-day jail sentence plus steep fines.

The offense for operating a license can become a felony if the offender uses someone else’s contractor license when they bid for a job or attempt to falsely represent in any other way that they have a contractor license. The offender could even be charged with identity theft if they are using someone’s contractor license number without the actual contractor’s knowledge. This conviction could lead to a lengthy stay in state prison.

There are also very serious charges for those who take advantage of the elderly. If the customer is over 65 years of age and the prosecution finds that the unlicensed contractor took advantage of them financially, then the offender could be facing more jail time and stiffer fines.

How Are Unlicensed Contractors Caught?

California state authorities will often conduct sting operations to catch unlicensed contractors. A typical sting will involve soliciting bids for construction or handyman work and then arresting everyone who is unlicensed and puts in a bid over $500. In the sting, this will be every unlicensed bid they receive, as the nature of the work will purposely call for a high price.

Authorities may also scan through online ads on sites like Craigslist and look for people advertising their services as handymen, plumbers, painters, etc. The authorities will then call the creators of the ads and get a bid for work that they know will be over $500. On top of the charge for operating without a license, these offenders may be on the hook for illegal advertising charges if their ad did not explicitly state that they are unlicensed.

The illegal advertising charge is an additional misdemeanor and applies to any job, even if it is under $500, as state law requires that any unlicensed person who advertises for a service that requires a contractor license must state that they are unlicensed. Unlicensed contractors are allowed to perform jobs under $500, but must state in their advertising that they are unlicensed.

The specific codes for these infractions are as follows:

Business and Professions Code section 7028 – contracting without a license. Penalty is up to six months in jail and/or a fine up to $5,000.

Business and Professions Code section 7027.1 – illegal advertising. Penalty of a fine from $700 to $1,000.

If this all wasn’t cause for alarm enough to any contractor operating without a license, perhaps the next bit of law will be…

Unlicensed Contractors Have No Legal Recourse To Enforce Work Contracts

A big part of this growing issue with unlicensed contractors is that many unlicensed contractors are unaware that operating without a license in California is a misdemeanor. However, those who do may be shocked to learn that they cannot legally recover any damages that they may have incurred as part of a contract for work that requires a license.

In layman’s terms, this means that a homeowner is under no legal obligation to pay an unlicensed contractor. The homeowner can even sue the unlicensed contractor for all payments made, and the unlicensed contractor will have no legal recourse. So no contract between an unlicensed contractor and a homeowner is legally enforceable from the contractor’s perspective, however, the customer still has the right to sue for any and all payments made even if the work was performed in accordance with the contract.

This might seem a bit messed up, but it shows how serious California is about having contractors operate with a license and not operate in the “underground economy.”

Not only is operating as an unlicensed contractor illegal for any project over $500, but the contractor can do all of the work, and then the customer can refuse payment, and there is nothing the unlicensed contractor can do about it.

A guest house, regularly referred to as an ADU (accessory dwelling unit), is a secondary housing unit on a single-family residential lot. Generally, a guest house is completely detached from the main house, although that is not always the case. In the last decade, building guest houses or granny flats on a property has become a more common trend in the country. What with seemingly ever-rising housing and rental rates, many have found it convenient to create a space on their property for their elderly parents, children out of college, visiting friends, or as a rental unit.

In January of 2016, California enacted granny flat laws that were intended to make it simpler and more cost effective to build a guest house on their land or to convert an illegal additional dwelling unit into a one that is now legal. The three bills were:

• Senate Bill 1069 which decreases or eliminates parking requirements and utility hook-up fees, and quickens the approval process for second units attached to a primary residence.
• Assembly Bill 2299  requires local second-unit ordinances to include ministerial, non-discretionary approval for any second unit that meets city requirements.
• Assembly Bill 2406 streamlines the process for homeowners converting an existing bedroom into an attached studio living unit.

Homeowners will still need to hire a contractor and obey local building codes, but these new regulations make it better for those who wish to build a guest house no bigger than 1,200 square feet. Although building a new detached guest house can be quite an expensive undertaking, there also may be opportunities to save money by converting a pre-existing structure into a legal permitted guesthouse at a much lower cost than an entirely new dwelling. Regardless, if you are looking to add a guest house to your backyard, you should know the types of ADU’s, the guest house costs to build, and the benefits of building a guest house.

Types of Guest Houses

If you are wondering how much it costs to build a guest house, much of that will have to do with the structure you chose. Although one might typically think of a guest house as an entirely separate unit, there are a variety of additional dwelling unit designs and concepts, depending on your property, budget, and existing home. It is important to note that the secondary housing unit is what really defines a guest house, at least more so than its specific structure. That said, some features that help define guesthouses are:

• Guest houses are add-ons and or adjacent to the central housing unit.
• Guest houses are considerably smaller in size than the average home in the states. As mentioned, in California they may be no bigger than 1200 square feet.
• Guest houses are generally developed at a later point than the original construction of the primary residence

Types of guesthouses include:

• Detached new construction guest houses – Often referred to as granny flats, casitas, backyard cottages or laneway houses. Detached guest houses are the most common type of ADU. They are stand-alone structures that, as their name implies, are entirely apart from the primary residence. They can be constructed over an existing building, like a detached garage, or built separately. The cost of building a granny flat or guest house is typically more expensive than other builds since you are going from scratch and not utilizing any pre-existing structures.  
• Garage conversion guest houses – Some homeowners decide that they do not utilize their garage space enough, or just fill it with junk. In such cases, the garage area may be remodeled into a new attached guesthouse.
• Above garage or workshop guest houses – Sometimes referred to as carriage houses or garage apartments, these guesthouses are commonly built above a detached garage although in some cases it may be attached to the primary residence.
• Bump out guest houses – Some homeowners find it more convenient to add additional space to their already existing home. This add-on or bump-out will often still have its own private entryway and kitchen or kitchenette.
• Modular guest houses – With modular guest homes, the vast majority of the construction occurs in a factory, and only the finishing work and foundation work is done on site. These types of guest houses are popular since they are far less expensive and take less time to install.  Typically, the average modular guest house that is approximately 1,200 square feet would cost $65,000 to build and install.

What Size Guest House Should You Build?

When estimating the likely average cost of your guest house, it is important to remember that they are more expensive per square foot than building a primary residence. This is because a much more significant percentage of the house’s blueprint is meant for features that cost more, like a kitchen or a bathroom. One also has to figure in the average cost of permits, fees, utility hookup, hardscaping, and landscaping. In California, where building is expensive, the cost of a guest house build can be anywhere from $200 to $500 per square foot in addition to all those fees mentioned above. Therefore, a 1,200 square foot guest house that costs $200 per square foot would end up being north of a quarter million dollars. Even if this is within your budget range, you also need to consider that a 1,200 square foot guest house may be too large for your property and might dominate the extra space. If you do not have a big backyard, you have to weigh how much of that space you are willing to sacrifice for this new guesthouse.

Before you ever break ground, you should have a good idea of what the purpose of the guest house is for, and who is planning on using it. If it is for older in-laws, you may need features that accommodate elderly with disabilities such as ramps, wide doors, or special bathrooms. If it is a rental, it should have all the features and amenities of a house, but just on a smaller scale. If it is for personal use and occasionally for guests, then that guesthouse likely does not need its own kitchen. By having a solid grasp of your intentions behind building the guest house, it is easier to decide what features you want to be installed and how large you want to make it.

The Benefits of Building a Guest House

When weighing the potential costs of building a guest house, it is crucial to keep in mind the potential benefits that might outweigh the costs of construction. They include:

• Additional space – The most obvious benefit of adding a guest house is the fact that you have extra space for either family members, in-laws, guests, renters, or yourself. For those who will only occasionally use it for housing, a guest house is a perfect space to utilize as an office, music studio, or an adult clubhouse.
• Additional income – If you decide to use this space as a rental, a guest house can generate extra income for your household. The great thing about the guest house is that most of the cost is upfront. Once it is built, the additional $10,000-$30,000 of annual rent money comes to you without much effort or cost at all. This piece of space that was previously just sitting there can now be used to help you increase your wealth.
• Hardscaping and landscaping upgrades – Often times, it takes a large project such as constructing a guesthouse to get around to addressing your out-of-date hardscape or landscape. Maybe you want to remove your lawn because of the cost of upkeep, or you want to fix your driveway that is cracked. A guest house gives you the opportunity to make alterations to the exterior of your property that you otherwise would not address.
• Future non-rental use – There may reach a point when you no longer need all the space of your current residence. The kids are grown up and out of the house, so now you are not utilizing your home as it is meant to be used. A future option might be to use the guest house as a retirement spot, while you rent out the primary residence to a family that can use the space. You still get to remain on your property but make even more money than you would by renting the guest house.  
• An introduction to being a landlord – For those who are interested in possibly investing in real estate, a guest house provides a much lower cost opportunity to see if you have the disposition to be a landlord.
• Increases the value of your property – Like a new paint job or a remodel, a guest house home improvement project naturally increases the value of your home. Although it does not count towards the total square footage of the primary residence, a guest house is a great incentive for someone looking to rent or to have a separate space for adult children or in-laws.
• Comfortability – When hosting visitors, a guest house gives them a space that is private and allows them to feel more like they are at home. While it is lovely to have friends and family, especially for any time longer than a few days, you want your space and privacy, and they likely desire their own privacy as well. A guest house allows you to host without feeling overwhelmed or crowded in your home.
• Privacy – Guest houses can be fantastic spaces for your kids to play or spend time in when you feel like you need time alone. It also offers a safe haven, if you need some time to yourself and want to get out of your house.

What you need to know before building your Guesthouse

Before you break ground, consider the following questions to save you from paying more in the future for changes, remodels, or fixes.

1. Would I live in it? This is the very first question you should ask yourself when designing your guest house. It should be an extension of your house’s feel and design, even if it is not physically attached to the house. You should build a guest house that you would want to stay in and make it a space that you would like to utilize.
2. How is the lighting? It is all too easy to forget about the lighting of a space, until it is too late, but it is such an essential factor to consider. If your main house is on a different part of your land, it may receive more or less natural light. If it has less, you may need larger windows, skylights, or additional lighting to prevent the guest house from feeling like a dungeon.  
3. Is the floorplan intuitive? Even though the space is tiny, there should be a natural flow and logic to the design of a guesthouse. If there is a kitchen area, it should be easily accessible and have plenty of room to navigate as well as ventilation or windows nearby for smoke or the inevitable smells of cooking. Because a guest house’s space is so tiny, there must be storage spaces in creative or unique places.
4. Have you handled all the necessary paperwork? – A mistake that property owners all too often make is to begin planning the guesthouse with an architect without first meeting with a real estate attorney and getting approval from either the city planner or the homeowner’s association. If you act without making sure all your permits and paperwork is accepted, you may have to destroy any work that is done prior to approval. As you might imagine, acting before you have the green light could exponentially increase the costs of building your guest house.

Conclusion

Building a guest house can be an expensive undertaking, but one that is well worth it in the long run. Such an investment can provide you with extra space, a source of income, and increase the value of your home. Be sure to plan thoroughly and know exactly what you want so that the cost of building a guest house, tiny home, in-law suite, or backyard cottage fits your budget.

When it comes to home improvement projects, you may be interested in the “DIY” route and make the repairs yourself, but what if you don’t have the appropriate skills or trust yourself enough to learn from a YouTube tutorial? In these cases, you’ll have to hire a contractor.

The first thing you’ll need to do is to conduct research to find a contractor that specializes in your area of need, whether that be a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, replacing windows, etc. From there, you’ll look at their portfolio of work, read reviews, and of course, check their pricing.

But there’s one important part of the evaluation process that you might be leaving out — whether or not they have a license. It can be easy to hire an unlicensed contractor by accident, or even purposely because you couldn’t pass up on their (typically much lower) proposed rate, however, this could put you in a dangerous situation. You, the homeowner, can be held liable in certain situations and be on the hook for some potentially expensive damages.

In this post, we’re going to discuss the importance of hiring a licensed contractor vs. an unlicensed contractor and potential risks involved in hiring unlicensed contractors.

Why Would You Hire an Unlicensed Contractor?

It’s expensive to maintain a home, and those needed repairs and updates can really add up over time. That’s why the price will always be one of the main deciding factors when it comes to choosing who will complete the work on your project. Your goal will be to find the best mix of price and proven success rate in your contractor.

The biggest draw for using an unlicensed contractor is the fact that they are usually able to offer a much lower price. Since you may have a tight budget for your home improvement project, this can often be a powerful draw indeed, as an unlicensed contractor will sometimes be able to significantly outbid the competition.

Other times, you may hire an unlicensed contractor not just because they are cheaper, but because they are someone you know, such as a family member, neighbor, or friend. Often, unlicensed contractors gain work through referrals from the same groups of people as well.

However, regardless of how you find an unlicensed contractor or your motivation behind hiring one, you should know that the reason they can quote the work at such a low rate is because of all the corners they have to cut to operate without a license. Like with most things in life: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

But the temptation of the potential savings is a common trap that people fall into. The unlicensed contractor offers their much-lower quote while promising to give you the same results as their licensed competition. And then they end up getting hired.

Things may start off smoothly and all of the work appears to be just as you pictured. But then something goes wrong. Then something else happens.

This is where using an unlicensed contractor may come back to bite you in the end — because if and when things do go wrong, you could be held liable in certain situations. This will end up costing you much more in the long run, eliminating those savings you were hoping to gain by going with the unlicensed contractor. And it’s because those corners unlicensed contractors cut are actually important in the construction process, no matter what they might try to tell you.

How Can Unlicensed Contractors Offer Lower Prices?

There are a few different reasons as to why unlicensed contractors are able to outbid licensed contractors.

The first is that it is actually a rather expensive investment for a contractor to get their license to operate. Once they go through the initial licensing procedure, they will also have to maintain their license and pay annual fees to their licensing board throughout the year. This, of course, cuts greatly into their profit margin.

Since unlicensed contractors do not have to pay these fees, they are able to offer you a lower bid, as they do not have to factor in these overhead costs. Unlicensed contractors also will not obtain a bond that protects their work, which we will get further into later on.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, unlicensed contractors will not have liability insurance or worker’s compensation. These are additional overhead costs that a contractor without a license will not be able to attain, so they simply move forward and do the work without these measures of coverage. However, if your contractor does not have liability insurance or workers’ compensation, the liability to fix any shoddy workmanship, or for any incidents on the job will fall on you, the property owner.

This is one of the biggest risks you will take on should you choose to hire an unlicensed contractor.

Risks of Hiring Unlicensed Contractors

There are several risks involved when using unlicensed contractors, starting with the fact that working on large projects without a license is illegal in many states, including California. However, for the property owner, the financial liability risks are of much greater concern, as they could be incredibly costly.

This is especially true if a worker is injured on the job and your unlicensed contractor is without workers compensation.

Homeowners Can Be Held Liable for Injuries Sustained on the Job

The biggest risk involved in hiring unlicensed contractors comes down to liability.

When you hire an unlicensed contractor, they actually are not a contractor at all — they are your employee. Therefore, it is actually your responsibility to provide them with a safe workplace and cover them should they be injured.

An unlicensed contractor can sue you for damage if they sustain an injury while working on your project and you could be on the hook for expensive medical bills, legal fees, and also have to pay for their lost wages for as long as their injury holds them out of work. These financial damages can amount to thousands of dollars, far more than the initial savings you thought you were getting by using an unlicensed contractor.

When you hire a licensed contractor, they will have workers’ compensation for themselves as well as any employees they hire to assist with the job. If your contractor is unlicensed, he or she and anyone else that is brought on to work on your remodel are all considered to be your employees. This makes them all your responsibility to insure.

It actually doesn’t even matter if you knew that the contractor was licensed or not when you hire them, as many homeowners are in the dark about the consequences of hiring an unlicensed contractor. You, the homeowners, and employer, carry the burden of determining whether a worker is licensed. This means you could be held liable whether you knew they were licensed or not.

Many assume their homeowner’s insurance policy will cover them in an instance where an unlicensed contractor is injured on the job, however, this usually isn’t the case. Your homeowner’s insurance will not cover you in these cases, leaving you vulnerable to have to pay out of pocket. However, if you have a licensed contractor and one of their subcontractors are injured on the job, you will be protected by the contractor’s worker’s compensation insurance should that worker try to sue for damages.

The best thing to do to protect yourself against this potentially financially crippling situation is to hire a contractor who holds the appropriate license to do the work you need to be performed. This way you will not unwittingly become an employer and the target of a costly personal injury lawsuit.

Homeowners May Have to Pay for Additional Repairs

Beyond assuming the responsibility for injured workers, you also need to be wary of shoddy workmanship.

While there is no guarantee that a licensed contractor’s work will be any better than that of an unlicensed contractor, their work will at least be protected by liability insurance and legally enforceable contracts called bonds.

A bond will protect the homeowner should there be any damages caused to your home during the remodel, Contractor license bonds will state that your contractor will work within certain regulations and protect you against the risk of financial loss.

The bond and the licensed contractor’s liability insurance both exist to cover you in the instance that the work done is unsatisfactory. You can have language that requires the contractor to fix any mistakes in construction, or at the very least get financially reimbursed so you don’t have to pay someone else to come and handle repairs.

However, an unlicensed contractor is bound by no such agreement. If their work is unsatisfactory, they are bound by nothing to fix their mistakes, and you may have to pay someone else to come and make the necessary repairs. These repairs may be more expensive than hiring the licensed contractor in the first place.

Using Unlicensed Contractors Could Hurt Your Property Value

You read that correctly — using an unlicensed contractor can actually hurt your home’s property value. How?

Well, remember how the unlicensed contractor has to cut corners in order to complete your project? This includes acquiring the proper building permit for the job.

Certain home renovation projects require a building permit from the city, county, or state. Licensed contractors will always attain them, however, unlicensed contractors cannot, and so they skip this step and do not apply for them. Since the proper permits were not acquired, it can impact your overall property value.

This can become an issue when you decide to sell your home, as you will be required to disclose certain information to your buyers. Failing to disclose this information could actually come back on you and become your liability later on, so making sure you have the right permits, and that work is done up to code, will be of vital importance for any home improvement project.

You Could Even Be Held Liable for Damage to Third Parties

Not only do you need to worry about the safety of your unlicensed contractors and subcontractors, but also that of a third party. This can be a neighbor or anyone who happens to pass by your work site. Should they sustain an injury due to a sloppy work site or falling debris, this is another area for which you could be held liable.

Your unlicensed contractor’s negligence is your responsibility as well, and as their employer, you are responsible for their actions during their tenure as your employee(s). If you don’t see yourself cleaning up your contractor’s worksite so you won’t get sued by a neighbor after their child steps on a nail, you may want to protect yourself and hire a licensed contractor.  

Conclusion – Hire a Licensed Contractor

To avoid being held liable for the hefty costs of medical bills and lost wages as a result of an injury sustained working on your home renovation, avoid hiring an unlicensed contractor. They’ll surely tell you that the risk of something going wrong is very low, but should something bad happen or if they do shoddy work, paying for these damages will be well beyond the potential savings of hiring them in the first place.

Always hire a licensed contractor who has workers compensation and liability insurance. The licensed contractor will acquire any necessary permits and will always make sure that their work is up to code. This is the best way to ensure that your project is done correctly and that you will not be held responsible should anything go wrong.

At first thought, the guest house serves one purpose; to comfortably and efficiently house any guests visiting the property. Often adjacent to the main property, the guest house is a structure built specifically to feel just-isolated-enough that the guest(s) is part of the home but disconnected in a way that they’ll experience ample privacy. Typically, a guest house will have, if not most, all the functionality of an actual home; running water, electricity, bathroom, living room, bedroom, and a kitchen. An accessory could be a washer and dryer machine, although many guest houses include these as well.

Yet, beyond being a structure designed for visitors, guest houses or granny flats are the perfect home improvements that add major value. For one, if designed correctly (we’ll go into this), a guest house can add value to your home. It should be commonsensical that the same sized home with a guest house would be more valuable than one without. Still, homeowners don’t tend to regard guest houses in this light, as it can be hard to view them as an investment on the property in its entirety.

Further, a guest house can optimize the aesthetic of a property by filling space otherwise empty, complimenting the original architecture, and creating more room for the everyday needs of the homeowner. If you’re currently on this page because you’re considering building a guest house, then rest assured that you are in good hands. As with any home design, building a guest house takes careful consideration, a thorough understanding of the proper guest house layout design, and patience.

Simplicity & Minimalism

Before we continue, it is paramount that we speak on simplicity and minimalism. When it comes to guest house plan designs, the rule of thumb is that—despite the bells and whistles or scope of the design—it is best to keep the layout simple and minimal. This is a structure that will serve as a temporary home, like a hotel, for your guests.

The space should be open, full of light, and unspecific. You want the house to have just enough style where a guest would be comfortable hosting their own visitors but not so much that they feel out of place. Every room should be easily accessible, with the least amount of clutter possible (you want your guests to envision themselves in the space rather than staying in someone else’s). The kitchen should be open and functional, the bathroom separate enough from the rooms, and the front door positioned to retain privacy but allot accessibility.

We’re not trying to go into specifics just yet but remember, as you begin to think through your guest house building plans, simplicity should be at the heart of every decision made.

Things to Consider

Before deciding on a guest house layout, it’s important to answer a host of questions that could dictate the way in which you decide to construct the property. These questions will help shape your idea of the home both creatively and functionally.

Location

First and foremost, you’re going to want to place your guest house somewhere that offers privacy without sacrificing accessibility. This may take hiring a surveyor or seeking professional advice from a home designer. The point here is to position the property in a way that it still feels ‘part’ of the main house, yet secluded enough that a guest can comfortably live in their own world.

Dependent on the most optimal location on your property, this can dramatically affect the layout of your guest house. Say, for instance, the most optimal location happens to be the area with the least space, then that one story guest house layout may just add a second tier.

How Can it Help the Property?

A common mistake with guest houses is building it specifically for visitors. Sure, the guest house—by its very name—is a part of the property meant for your guests. As we stated before, however, it can become an incredibly valuable asset to your original property, further increasing the value. More livable space is important. It’s also coveted.

Furthermore, how can this structure assist your needs as a homeowner during downtime? We mean to say, when there’s no one staying in it, what’s it doing for you? Plenty of homeowners will decide to add storage space to their guest house, space not meant for the visitors themselves, and they’ll utilize the new addition by filling it with stuff that clutters their own home.

They can also be a fantastic tool for renovation. What happens when a house is renovated? The tenants or homeowners must leave the property and stay elsewhere. With a guest house, say goodbye to squatting at the parent’s or paying for a hotel, as the home can be used a temporary stay while the main house is renovated.

These are only a couple facets of a guest house’s attributes (additional rental income, anyone?) but are worth considering before tackling design. The best guest house will complement both the homeowner and the visitor.

The Guest House needs to be Autonomous

The place in which you’ve chosen to build your guest house, has there been anything built there previously? Is there piping (both gas and water)? How hard will it be to run electricity to the property? Depending on the budget you have for your guest house, choosing the most optimal area to build the property atop is also advised.

Given it is not in a location that renders the functionality and accessibility of the property inefficient, then why build over a piece of land where conduits will need to be dug, landscaping will eat through your wallet, and all new piping will have to be run? This, of course, is dependent on the budget you have set for your guest house but thinking through options that will dramatically cut costs can greatly affect the layout of your new tiny house.

Floor Plan for a Guest House

When it comes to addressing the ‘best’ floor plan for a guest house, we won’t be able to advise you accurately. This, of course, is due to the nature of home design and how it’s always specific to the homeowner and property. A two-story guest house may be perfect for a certain property but not for another. It also may fit well within one budget while destroying another.

Thus, the best floor plan for a guest house is entirely dependent on your overall objective, the size of your space, and the amount of money you have to put towards the casita addition. With that being said, there are generalities when it comes to floor plans that can be addressed and they’ll help shape your perspective and possibly inspire your own ideas!

The Generic Guest House

The generic guest house is best thought of as a one bedroom apartment. Typically, the square footage will range anywhere from 450-1000 sqft. The front door will connect directly to the living room, which will then open up to allow access to two other rooms; the bathroom and bedroom. Typically, kitchens are attached to the living room itself or tucked away in a corner, sometimes even having their own room.

Thus you have three rooms in total:

• Living room
• Bedroom
• Kitchen

This guest house functions exactly like a ‘mini’ property or tiny house, providing perfectly livable conditions in a consolidated space. For inspiration, one must simply research single bedroom apartments or homes to identify a given layout they desire. This leads us to our next guest house design.

The Single Bedroom Loft

When building small homes, the priority is always to utilize the limited space available. A home designer or architect will ask: how can I make this feel open, utilizing every square foot possible? A fantastic way to open space for the interior amenities is to build a loft. This will isolate the bedroom to an upstairs location, providing more room for the floor below.

This is also a great option if the space you’ve chosen does not have the room to include everything you want in only one story. By building vertically—with the decision to do so made before the structure is built—you can vastly change the amount of livable space there is in your small house.

Again, simplicity is key here. The loft need be nothing scant more than a place to sleep, or it can be fleshed out like an actual bedroom. The choice is yours dependent on your specific situation, but by all accounts, a loft (or simply adding a second story) can greatly optimize the design of a guest house. Sometimes, it is the only option that will fulfill a homeowner’s given needs.

Note:

An important note when it comes to the loft or second story is that, if the people visiting are elderly, it may be difficult for them to use the space. Being that these structures are usually smaller, a spiral staircase (or a ladder—even though these are the least stable) are most often chosen to bridge the gap between levels. Adding an actual staircase in a one bedroom eats up a significant amount of space and isn’t always preferred. By cutting this corner you could limit the type of person that’s going to be able to enjoy the home, or part of your renter’s demographic.

Renting Out Your Guest House

The guest house we’re detailing above is the full package. It’s built so that any of your visitors can experience a livable property with all the amenities offered by the main house (just in a consolidated manner). This means that, if you were to choose to rent out your guest house, which is a decision that could prove to be quite lucrative, then you’ve built a property which supports that pursuit.

However, by no means does a guest house have to include the every facet of the ‘full’ design. A guest house can complement your original property and provide the ideal sleeping situation for your visitors, but require them to use the main property for anything additional.

This could take the form of a one bedroom with no kitchen. Or a one bedroom with no washer and dryer. Even a one bedroom with no bathroom, although this is rarer. Our point here is that the guest house does not need to have the full range of amenities and can be nothing more than comfortable living quarters—like a basic hotel room—for anyone that visits the property.

The Micro Guest House

A new trend, one both innovative and DIY-focused, is the addition of a micro guest house. By the name you could guess that this type of structure is smaller than even your ‘generic’ guest house. These properties usually range from 80-400 sqft and are often products of a homeowner’s innovation. From building a small cottage, renovating a little trailer, insulating a shed, to just about any structure that could be lived-in, the micro guest house says: we’ll give you a place to sleep that feels private and disconnected from the property.

Rarely does a micro guest house provide more than a bedroom and electricity. Still, they’re a creative and fun (often DIY) way of providing a bit of privacy for your guests without having to actually erect an entirely separate home. If you’ve been thinking of making a conversion, know that you’re not alone, and a bit of research will shine a light on all the innovation being executed in the micro guest house space!

Conclusion

Guest houses are an accessory to a property that could be deemed a necessity. From providing a quiet and personal space for guests, opening up livable room for the property as a whole, increasing property value, and allotting a space disconnected from the house that can be rented, they’re by and large a fantastic addition to any home.

Choosing the best layout for a guest house is a decision that will be specific to your wants, needs, space, and budget. However, in this guide we hope to have pointed you in the right direction or at least sparked some ideas. As with most home design, the do-it-yourself model can be viable, but if you’re not a professional it’s best to consult one for their opinion and expertise. At the end of the day, you want to choose the best layout that complements both you and your guests!

A current trend in home design spurs from the interest in tiny house living. What we’re talking about here is the granny flat, which, by the name, you could assume would mean a space fit to house the elderly. The name ‘granny flat’ derives from the fact that these flats, often connected or near to the main house, are built for the grandparents to move into.

By and large, these structures are self-sustainable, small, and a perfect home to a couple’s aging parents. You could best think of them as a detached or attached unit that is built upon the grounds of the property. In other words, a guest house or casita addition aimed specifically towards complete sustainability. They will have all the proper amenities of a larger home consolidated into a smaller space.

The real estate industry calls them ADUs (accessory dwelling units), which then adopts terminology like casitas, in-law units, in-law apartments, father-in-law apartments, carriage units, accessory homes, and more. Being that in today’s’ age multigenerational housing is quite accepted, a granny flat is regarded as a home improvement project that raises the total value of the property.

Our point: the granny flat is a popular addition to the main house.

Three Types of The Granny Flat

In-Home Granny Flat

One of the most sought-after types of granny flats is the in-home version. Reason being—although the governing laws for construction vary dependent on the property and location—this type of granny flat is the least costly, easiest to build, and least restricted. Think of it as a separation within an existing primary residence, with the main difference being that typically a granny flat begets a new entrance (the point is for those living in the space to remain with autonomy).

Once this separation is made, new amenities are often added to the granny flat, allowing for the area to operate as its ‘own house.’ Structurally, this also makes it easier for the property owners to check on their parents or anyone living in the house, although it’s not usually used as a rental space, being that the degree of separation is dismal.

Home-Extension Granny Flat

This type of granny flat falls along the lines of a renovated home—with the aim of extending the property. The restrictions that tack along with this type are dependent on the space of the property and the city in which it resides. However, it is what you would consider a renovation, with a new granny flat being added to an existing home.

Typically, this means another room, living room, bathroom, and kitchen, with a separate entry door. Again, this type of granny flat does not have the degree of separation most property owners would like between them and renters, so it’s usually built for the in-laws, as a guest home, or for another live-in family member. Due to the nature of renovation, it is costlier than the in-home granny flat.

Detached Granny Flat

A detached granny flat is exactly as it sounds; detached from the original home. This can accrue more costs as conduits must be dug and piping run to the area (if they are not preexisting) and typically, city ordinances will limit the types of building possible. Still, they are sought after because not only do they provide a sustainable living situation for the grandparents, but the degree of separation provides full autonomy.

What Are the Benefits of a Granny Flat?

To speak on AUDs as a whole, the benefits are somewhat endless. At the very least they’re more space and at the very most they’re a home for your aging parents or a lucrative source of rental income. They haven’t quite taken off in the US due to zoning laws that vary depending on the location. However, with their growing popularity, the states are seeing a rise in this type of housing and are witnessing community leaders rally to question zoning laws that prohibit them.

Outside of personal benefits, they’re great for communities. Being that they’re smaller buildings, they require fewer resources than the primary residence or apartments or apartment complexes. They provide those not wealthy enough to rent a ‘full’ home the ability to have their own independent property, and because they’re often placed in walkable or bikeable locations, the tenants tend to drive less, further having less of an impact on the environment.

By most accounts, the granny flat is a fantastic accessory to a home and a great trend in modern real estate. Within the new few years, expect a massive rise in this type of housing. California is the current leader in reducing statewide regulations to allow ADUs the flexibility to grow in presence.

How Do I Build a Granny Flat?

Before pouring in a ton of research into building a guest house or an AUD, it is paramount that you identify whether or not your city will give you the permit to build it. If you live in California, you’re going to have a better chance than other states. Still, it’s important that you reach out to a construction company that focuses on building and remodeling, as they will provide all the information required.

How Much Does A Granny Flat Cost?

The cost of a granny flat depends on a host of variables; the type, where you’re building, and the scope of the project. It is impossible to provide a base cost that is ubiquitous across the industry, as different housing markets vary in pricing and projects will be different than others. A detached granny flat will obviously cost more than separating an already-constructed home to serve as ‘two homes.’

With that being said, a recent report published in Portland, Oregon, states that a granny flat costs $75 per square foot. That means that a 1000 square foot dwelling unit (the general size of a two bedroom apartment) will cost around $75k. While that may seem steep to you, building a detached (or extending a home) unit anywhere costs money.

This price can fluctuate drastically but—even if it’s high for your area—at least it’s a median to reference.

An Investment

Spending money on an already-existing home can be scary. Without knowing what the future holds, a renovation that costs tens of thousands of dollars can occur simultaneously to a massive drop in the market, rendering the ‘investment’ to hold no merit as the value of the property plummets. AUDs, fortunately, are different.

Being that they’re an add-on to the home, they create more livable space which will increase the property value despite the market (we mean as a whole, here). Furthermore, they can be used as rental housing which will generate income that will go towards the mortgage or property tax. They add versatility, livability, and another option for guaranteed income (so long as you can find a renter).

When Should I Build a Granny Flat?

Taking the granny flat cost into consideration, the timing in which you should build one depends on your overall goal. Are your or your spouse’s parents in need of assisted living? Or do they simply need to be closer? Are your kids moving out soon and in need of their own living space? Do you plan on using your property as a source of income? If you’re currently purchasing your home to be used as a source of income, could a granny flat increase revenue?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is likely the timing is right (regarding objective). However, the finances might not be in order. In which case, see below:

How Can I Finance my Granny Flat?

The middle-class homeowner doesn’t have an infinite bank account capable of shelling out a hundred thousand dollars for a granny flat. That’s simply not a reality. Still, being that these additions are certainly investments, there exists an array of different financing methods.

A Traditional Loan

Being that the granny flat trend has not ‘taken off’ per se, finding someone that will back the finances may prove difficult. There are development fees mixed into projects like these—set forth by the city—which work to mitigate any new building in certain neighborhoods and communities. With that being said, now that they’re becoming popular, and now that you can make the ‘investment’ argument, it is not out of the realm of possibility that you could land a traditional loan for your new AUD.

This is where research comes into play, as you’ll need to see just how high-interest rates are going to be, and exactly what ‘type’ of project your loaner considers the granny flat to fall under.

Innovative Alternatives

Being that by default, the granny flat is defined as an alternative, there are now alternative methods in funding their development. Take the Palo Alto profit share model, for instance, where a builder helps cover the cost of an AUD in return for a percentage of the rental profit. Research your specific area to see if anyone else is trying to build a granny flat and identify their successes in doing so.

There might be an option limited to your city or county that could prove worthwhile. At the end of the day, the very fact that they’re now considered an investment helps shape the overall perspective of the addition. Again, reach out to construction companies in your area as they can point you in the right direction for financing.

The more this trend evolves, the easier it’s going to be to finance the projects.

Calculating Your Risks

With all the above being said, when it comes to building a granny flat, it’s important to measure your risk versus your reward. Timing is one thing but a cost-benefit analysis can solidify your decision. Are you planning to sell the home soon and want to increase value? Are you parents in a condition where they will need a comfy place to live in the near future?

Both of these motivations stem from two different places; financial gain and love. Still, both attribute to the cost-benefit analysis as a whole. On one hand, if the risk is worth the reward then the cost of the AUD is an investment. On the other, if it is reasonable to spend the money, you’re giving back to your parents and investing in your property.

Of course, calculating the risk is solely dependent on your specific situation. We write this for the purpose of encouraging you to think through every facet of building a granny flat.

The Process

To summarize the entire granny flat process, here’s an overview that could help shape your perspective. You know how much building a granny flat costs—if that’s within reason, see below.

Determine If You Can Build One

Do your research. Determine if your property can be a host to an AUD.

Identify Goals

Is this for financial gain (investment or rental)? Or is this to house loved ones?

Find A Builder

Reach out to someone that focuses on these specific projects. They should provide you with an architect and the know-how to execute.

Financing

If you haven’t secured financing, now is the time to do it. Research alternative methods.

Secure Permits

Your general contractor or construction company should handle this. However, you’ll need to have the proper permits in order to build.

Don’t Neglect the Building Process

Once the AUD is in construction, do not step away. Stay attentive, involved, and on top of it.

Conclusion

The granny flat could very well be the housing trend of the future. Particularly in big cities, where finding an affordable standalone one or two bedroom is nearly impossible. It is an investment in the property as a whole and an asset for your loved ones, particularly those grannies! The cost of a granny flat addition should be anywhere from 40k-150k and if that’s within your budget, then become part of a growing trend here in the US.

When it comes to renovating or remodeling a home, instead of saying ‘out with the old and in with new,’ sometimes it’s best to take a good hard look at the old to ensure it’s worth getting ridding of. Too many times homeowners will look at, say, a kitchen and decide to scrap the entire thing when components are structurally sound, materials are in good shape, and there’s a ‘fixing up’ opportunity present.

What we’re speaking towards here is cabinetry. The kitchen overhaul is one of the most symbolic and popular types of renovation. Who doesn’t love a wonderful kitchen? One that blossoms with light, welcomes the home together, and provides a room suitable for cooking all things? Often, this starts with cabinetry, as replacing this part of the structure is typically less costly than rearranging the room.

But why tear down an entire home when all it needs is some TLC and some new veneer? The same concept applies here; sometimes refacing your cabinets, rather than replacing them, is the perfect way to spruce up your kitchen without burning a hole in your wallet. So if you’re looking for the average cabinet refacing cost, then look no further, we’re going to break it down for you.

For starters, let’s identify exactly what goes into refacing cabinet doors and drawers, as this will further inform what’s behind the cost to change kitchen cabinets.

How It Works

Think of refacing as a full cycle of shedding until a thick, healthy coat of skin grows in. First you need to exfoliate, then you build. It’s essentially stripping away the old layers (without damaging the quality of the wood) until the skin is ready to be restored. This covers everything from replacing the handles, to adding new veneer.

Essentially, the existing skeleton remains intact but everything it supports is subject to change. The base wood and structure don’t move but the hardware, veneer, coloring, and the cabinet doors are switched out. There is no one way to reface a kitchen—albeit some are less extensive than others—but typically the process looks like this:

• Goodbye, cabinet doors! The cabinet doors are removed along with the drawers. However, the drawer is then separated from its front, where the rest of it is preserved (there’s no reason to replace the entire drawer if it’s still healthy).
• The front of the cabinetry is covered with veneer (sometimes Rigid Thermofoil). This assists with the cabinetry’s coloring, providing that natural glow it had when it wasn’t as weathered.
• Then, the sides of the cabinet are skinned with either laminate or wood veneer.
• Hardware is then replaced, starting with the door hinges (sometimes, if the hinges are in good enough condition, they’ll simply be reused).
• The faces come back! The doors and cabinet fronts are replaced with brand-new ones.
• After the face takes shape, we move onto the rest of the hardware; handles, kobs and pulls, smaller hinges, etc. Also, these smaller pieces are subject to being reusable dependent on their condition.
• Lastly, we have the accessories. As with most accessories, these are, of course, optional. This could be anything from crown molding, custom lighting, to glass panels for your kitchen remodel.

How Long Does It Take?

Cabinet refacing won’t take nearly as long as a full replacement. This is one of the reasons they’re sought after, as their budget-friendliness and timely delivery are appealing to homeowners that don’t want to render their kitchen obsolete while paying an arm and a leg to do so. Again, every cabinet refacing project is going to be specific to a given homeowner’s circumstance, but to generalize this is a generic timeline:

Usually, professional cabinet refacing can take anywhere from 2-4 days. A three-day structure will then go as follows:

Day 1

This is when the major prep work begins. The faces are stripped (doors and drawer fronts), veneer is added, hardware is removed, and the entire area is cleaned and readied for tomorrow’s continuation. This is when most of the ‘heavy lifting’ is done, as removing the pieces is more arduous of a task than installing them.

Day 2

Once again, the veneer continues. The entire kitchen needs to be finished before they can continue to day 3. They ready the area for the following day.

Day 3

As you could imagine, veneering eats up the most amount of time, and the renovators continue to veneer on the third day. However, this is also when the new doors and drawer faces are installed—and the hardware either returned or replaced.

DIY (do-it-yourself)

Now, if you plan on refacing your cabinets on your lonesome, you should expect double or at least triple the time. As there are kits meant specifically to help homeowners DIY the kitchen refacing project, they often adopt a 1-2 week long structure. With that being said, this might not be a bother for you at all. Tons of people do these projects themselves because they love the challenge, work, and idea of it all.

DIY cabinet refacing is just as much about the experience as it is about saving costs. Thing is, it just might take you longer!

Evaluation

Perhaps there’s a reality in which you’re looking at cabinetry refacing costs but you’re unaware whether or not your cabinets are a prime candidate for such a project. First and foremost, the honest opinion of a contractor will guide you in the right direction. A professional will know, within a matter of moments, if it’s a good idea to reface instead of fully renovate your cabinetry.

Regardless, there are still a few guidelines that you can follow if you’re trying to evaluate them on your own. See below:

Sturdiness, durability, and smoothness. The box construction needs to be strong and durable, with a surface that is smooth and in good condition. A new veneer should be placed over a perfectly smooth surface in order for it to solidify properly.

Solid wood. Your face frames, are they made out of quality material? Are they smooth? Can they accept a veneer and hold a brand-new door? If the answers to these questions are yes across the board, then you could be in business. Poorly constructed and fickle door frames are the death of cabinetry refacing. A door is easy to replace, the surrounding structure which supports it, not so much.

The inside hardware. What we’re talking about here are things like shelves and drawer tracks—more importantly, are the insides of your drawers and cabinets in good shape? If so, then this is another massive selling point for refacing, as a solid internal foundation does not need to be replaced. Now all you need to do is renovate the outside, AKA refacing!

How Much Will It Cost Me?

Now that you understand the basic principles of cabinetry refacing, you’re probably wondering what it costs to replace kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts. As with any home renovations, providing you with a perfectly accurate estimate is impossible. The price will vary project to project. However, there are some generalities that will serve as a point of reference.

First and foremost, let’s not run with the notion that cabinetry refacing is always going to be less expensive than any other alternative. If you adopt that mentality and decide to be bold with your material choices, you can find that you paid the same price of replacing the whole kitchen.

Despite, as a whole, professionals speculate that a refacing project costs around half of what it would cost for a full overhaul. Then around 70-80% of what it would cost to replace the cabinetry with stock options sold at home improvement outfits. Which means, the speculation always places the refacing project behind any alternatives.

It’s important to note that sometimes, because it’s such a ‘cheaper’ alternative, homeowners will neglect to stay on budget by being overzealous with their purchases, which can easily drive the price upward. While you’re not paying for a new structure, the faces, hardware, and labor can easily add up. But just remember, this small home improvement can add major value to your home later when you’re ready to sell.

The Numbers

Again, this is a complete generalization but costs for refacing your average 10×12 foot kitchen generally start at around $1k and can head north up to $7k dependent on the type of material chosen. The price makes a decent jump once you start considering real wood veneers. Then, hardware can range anywhere from $2 to $500 a piece, dependent on what sort of materials you’re using.

Now, refacing your ‘average’ kitchen can also cost upwards of $9k if you’re using top quality materials and the best real-wood veneers. But these are in special occasions. Regardless, in contrast to the generalized $20k projected cost of a kitchen remodel, then refacing is certainly the more cost-efficient option.

Another factor that can dramatically drive the price down is DIY. By doing it yourself you remove the need for any labor and often pay for the entire project in ‘wholesale,’ being that you’re buying the supplies from a manufacturer and completing the project without the help of a contractor.

Lastly, we want to mention that there are some instances where refacing a kitchen will eventually cost more than overhauling. These are rare circumstances—and often occur when the materials needed and labor involved supersedes that of a full renovation. Think about an engine. Sometimes it’s too complex and time-consuming to fix a broken one, in which buying a new unit becomes a more cost-efficient option due to labor. The same phenomenon is at play here.

Average Costs

As stated by HomeAdvisor—with data collected by homeowners across America that completed their own refacing projects, the national average comes out to $6735. Most homeowners spend somewhere between $4175 to $9321 on their refacing projects. If you fall more along the median line, then these numbers apply to you. If you’re renovating an upscale, top-of-the-line kitchen, then they’ll be low. If your kitchen is say—one found in an AUD, your project might cost less.

Veneers

With all the above being said, when choosing a veneer material, there is a ‘least-to-greatest’ chart to follow. See below:

• Rigid Thermofoil: $1-3k
• Laminate: $2-4k
• Wood Veneer: $2-6k
• Solid Wood: Upwards of $6k

Rigid Thermofoil (RTF)

The most economical choice of the litter, RTF comes on a medium-density fiberboard (MDF) rather than real wood. It takes many different shapes and molds—including arched and cathedral doors. It offers the warm and crisp look of real wood without costing the same price.

Laminate

Plastic laminates are quite versatile materials. They can come in either high or low pressures and are built with a sturdiness that lasts. Typically, low-pressure laminate (melamine) is a less water-resistant and cheaper material. This is something to consider when purchasing a laminate veneer.

Wood Veneer

Wood veneers are exactly as they sound, wood. The sheets and strips of thin wood can be anything from oak, cherry, walnut, pine, to maple and birch and any sort of wood tones. This type of material is significantly more expensive than laminate but once installed, is often a lot more durable and easier to sustain.

Solid Wood

Solid wood is our most expensive option because, of course, the entire veneer is a solid chunk of rich, beautiful wood. Typically, these are for homeowners that won’t settle without having that lush, authentic, custom look of a solid-wood kitchen. Thing is, despite it being the costliest choice, many would argue it’s also the most optimal, as real wood can be cured and repaired in the future, while other materials need to be replaced entirely.

Conclusion

If you’re trying to renovate your kitchen and refacing your cabinetry is an option, then we encourage you to consider it. A refaced kitchen can be the cost-efficient way to spruce up the space and create a kitchen you love. We hope this guide helped you understand the cost of kitchen cabinet refacing and pointed you in the right direction!

For more information on kitchen or bathroom remodels, please contact Remodel Works today.

As you begin or move down your path towards retirement, you may consider building a casita for your house. In Spanish, casita is translated as “tiny house,” and it denotes the little additional suite that comes with a single-family home. Such an extra space can be extremely useful if you have family who needs a place to stay or wish to host guests for an extended period of time while still giving them a sense of luxury and privacy. Sometimes referred to as additional dwelling units, these separate abodes grant you an ability to host friends and loved ones without feeling as if you are filling up one another’s space.

So, do you know what is a casita in a home setting? If you are from the Southwest, then you are probably acutely aware of the term casita as it relates to homes. They are popular enough that many homes in the region will come with a casita, or developers in adult communities may offer models with a casita option. In most cases, casitas are disconnected from the main house and situated on the back part of the property. In warmer areas where pools are common, the casita is often times referred to as the pool house. Regardless of where you are from, building a guest house is a worthwhile investment that not only makes it easier to host guests but also gives you the option to make money by renting them out and utilizing a part of your property that otherwise would go unused. Because Casitas are so versatile, they can be fine-tuned to fit any property and serve as a valuable home improvement project as a result.  

Before you dive in though, it is essential that you are aware of the costs and benefits of building a casita. In this article, we will delve into those topics and give tips for building your very own casita.

Characteristics of a Casita

Casitas are self-contained units that are generally built on a residential property in addition to or alongside a single-family home. Typically, a casita can be erected as a supplement to the main house or in the side yard or backyard. The original casitas from the 1920’s were a simple lodging space for migrant laborers, so as you might imagine, they were spartan in their design and accommodations. These days, however, casitas retain their small stature, but now offer a plethora of guest house layout design options, innovative features, and accommodations tailor-made for the desired occupant. Whether you want to host your in-laws, your older children, rent it out, or utilize that space as an office or a “man cave,” a casita can be custom fitted to your exact specifications. The trend of people building micro homes shows that a small space is only as limited as the imagination of the designer of the area.

Although, in most cases, a casita is intended to be a detached dwelling unit, there are some casitas that are attached living quarters supplemental to the main home. What with the trend of multigenerational housing becoming more commonplace once more, the demand for additional, granny flats for older children or elderly parents is also increasing.

The rule of thumb for determining the size of a casita is it should be no larger than 1200 square feet or half the size of the original home, whichever is smaller. As mentioned, some designs are minimalistic and compact, while others can be quite spacious including a bedroom, a bathroom, a separate living room, and kitchen area. The flexibility of this space should be ideal accommodations for one person or a young couple. For those simply looking for additional space, and a place to put a pull-out when guests come, a casita can be turned into an office, a music studio, or a game room.

Planning the Build

While you may feel inclined to just dive right into the construction aspect of your casita, it is essential that you and your team thoroughly plan out this stage. If you jump in blindly, without having a solid understanding of what you want, what you need, and what fits into your budget, this can lead to mistakes, higher building costs, and could leave you unhappy in the end. Few things are worse than dumping thousands of dollars into a project only to wind up unsatisfied and looking to change it all once more.

Before you begin, discuss with your loved ones and create a list of everything you regularly do in your home on a daily basis. Ask yourself the following question:

• What is your budget? – Casitas, especially those with bathrooms and kitchens, are not cheap builds. While they can be done in a cost-effective manner, an additional dwelling unit typically costs anywhere from $100 – $500 per square foot just for construction. This square footage cost does not account for the additional tens of thousands for permits, foundation, and installation. The cost of a casita can be a substantial investment, and there may be features you want but find out mid-build that you cannot afford them. Before you ever begin, you should obtain a detailed estimate of the total costs of construction and make sure you have room in your budget for more than that figure.   
• Consider Legal Logistics – Rules for casitas will naturally vary by region, county, and state. It is vital that you know your city’s zoning and building laws. When building a casita, you still must submit plans, obtain permits, abide by regulations, and incorporate standards that address waterlines, sewer lines, and fire safety. While your contractor should be aware of these, it is best that you do your due diligence as well. Further, if you are in a newly built community, or have a homeowner’s association, casitas may not be allowed to be made.
• Who is this space for? – If it is for your parents in their old age, you may need to build special accommodations or safety features. If they have disabilities, you may desire to have features such as ramps, wide hallways or bathrooms. If it is a temporary solution for your child out of college and then meant to be rented afterward, consider how that will change the features you desire. If it is to be meant as an additional room, office, or music studio, then perhaps a kitchen is not necessary.
• What is the purpose of this space? – If you want to make it a music studio, then maybe it will need special soundproof walls. If you’re going to rent it out as a way to make money, then perhaps it would be best if it was detached from the house, and had its own entrance, bathroom, kitchen, etc. If it is only meant for visitors, then a full kitchen is an unnecessary addition. While such a room can obviously be multipurpose, it is best to have a solid idea of the reason why you are adding the space, rather than simply adding it.
• What are your favorite features of your home? – What space do you utilize the most in your home right now, where do you spend time with family, where do you eat? Think about ways you can incorporate these things into this new space.
• What are your least favorite features of your home? – What about your house do you not like, or features do you not fully utilize? Consider ways you can avoid falling into the same traps of your current home. If you find your house does not have enough natural light, you can remedy this by making sure it is not an issue with the new space.
• What is the exterior and interior design of your home? – Although a casita does not necessarily have to match the interior and exterior of your home, having similar décor grants a feeling of continuity and class to the additional unit. It gives a sense of planning involved that does not make it seem like the project was a tacked on or cheap addition.  This is especially important if you ever wish to put your home on the market since it will affect the value of the house and may turn off potential buyers if the property seems discordant.
• Where is the sunlight coming from? – While this may not seem like a big deal, understanding how much natural lighting the space gets is absolutely critical for determining the interior design. Perhaps you want your guests to be able to watch the sunset from the front of the casita. If so, the front needs to be situated to the east. Depending on where the sun is shining on the structure, there will naturally be areas of the casita that are low on sunlight.   
• What type of floor plan do you want? –Consider how you like to enter the house and store your shoes and coat. Think about when you are cooking, where do you like things to be? How much storage space or cabinet space do you need? Where do you want the bed? Do you want the room to have a view? A deck and hangout area? You should discuss and know how you want the space to feel and function. Your interior designer or architect can help you come up with a flow and design that is ideally suited to how you wish to utilize this space. There are also a variety of pre-designs available that you can select from in order to find one ideal for your goals and budget.

Casita Construction Steps

Once you have approved the design and budget, it is time to build.  

Step 1: The Paperwork – Once the ball gets rolling, you have to submit all the paperwork about the casita to the city to receive approval and begin construction. This stage requires patience since, as with all things bureaucratic, it takes time. Plan for this waiting period to take at least twenty days, if not significantly longer. If given approval, you will be required to inform your neighbors of your desire to build a casita.

Step 2: Site Clear – After the paperwork is approved, the real work on the casita begins. This starts with a site prep whereby those working on the build clear the area of debris and obstacles that may impede the construction. If there are existing structures, they will require removal, but its best to do this beforehand since demolition is not typically included in pricing.  

Step 3: Slabbing the Foundation – After the site is clear for construction, surveyors mark the boundaries of the casita. If any excavation is needed, it will occur at this stage. Then the framework for the building is laid with the pouring of the supportive slab and the erection of piers. At this point, you will already begin to see the framework for what the casita will look like. This framework will typically involve termite proofing as well.

Step 4: Erecting the Frame – The frame of the casita is erected as well as the internal and external bearings. At this stage, you will see the skeleton of the casita and be able to distinguish the various areas from one another.

Step 5: Enclosing the Casita – At this stage, the vertical roof and guttering are installed, enclosing the structure and protecting it from the elements. While it is still not finished, this will be the first time you get a solid feeling for what the space will end up looking like and can begin planning the aesthetics of the yard and exterior.

Step 6: Utilities – Now that the structure is covered the interior work truly begins. This starts with lining the walls with insulation and plasterboard mounting. Installation of the main utilities such as the electrical systems and plumbing will also take place during this stage.

Step 7: Kitchen – At this point, the kitchen appliances, cabinets, and storage are installed.

Step 8: Flooring – The final stage of the project involves tiling, flooring, painting and adding or fitting any other accessories. If you choose to use a carpet, it will be installed at this time.