Articles
Notes from the wall, not the brochure.
High-level pieces on ADUs, permits, and remodels in Los Angeles — written the way we talk on a site visit.
ADUs · 6 min
What an LA ADU actually costs in 2026
Not a national average. The number that moves is the sewer tap, the setback, and whether the unit has a real kitchen.
Conversions · 5 min
Garage conversion or ADU? The Valley decision
One reuses a box you already own. The other is a new building. Los Angeles treats them like different jobs — because they are.
Baths · 5 min
When a bathroom remodel needs a permit in LA
Swap a toilet, maybe not. Move a drain, yes. The line is not “cosmetic vs not.” It is whether you touched the wet wall.
Kitchens · 5 min
The island is why your kitchen bid jumps
Cabinets are not the surprise. An island sink and a dishwasher that were “undecided” on day one are.
ADUs · 6 min
Why backyard ADUs fail inspection
It is rarely the paint. It is slope, the stack, and a wet wall that was treated like decoration.
Additions · 6 min
Adding a bath to a 1950s Valley ranch
The house is a slab, a low roof, and a stack that was never meant to grow. The new bath has to respect all three.
Additions · 5 min
How long a Valley addition really takes
Build time is not the whole clock. Plan check is. Anyone who quotes a finish date before the permit path is selling you a feeling.
Process · 5 min
One B license, or five phone numbers
A general building contractor is not a lead-gen network. It is one license, one scope, and one person who shows up when the wall is open.