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Custom Adu in Kensington

Kensington Custom ADUs

Tailored design-build ADUs for Kensington’s unique historic and hillside properties.

Whether you are adding a detached guest house to a historic property or engineering a hillside unit to maximize panoramic views, we design ADUs around the realities of your specific structure and lot. By integrating architectural design and heavy construction management into a single service, we ensure a smooth, predictable build experience.

Adding Accessory Dwellings in Kensington

Building an ADU in Kensington requires specialized expertise. The area’s steep terrain presents complex engineering challenges when trying to pour new foundations. Furthermore, seamlessly blending a modern unit into a neighborhood of historic homes requires an artisan’s attention to detail. We start every project by peeling back the layers to understand exactly what your property requires to safely support a new dwelling.

Geotechnical Hillside Engineering

Building a unit on a slope requires deep caissons, robust retaining walls, and extensive soil testing. We conduct this structural planning immediately to ensure the new ADU is safe and up to code.

Navigating Winding Roads

Kensington is known for its steep, twisting streets which make construction logistics incredibly complex. We meticulously schedule lumber deliveries, concrete pours, and crew parking to navigate these narrow thoroughfares safely.

Fire Safety and Wildland Codes

Many Kensington properties border wildland areas, triggering strict fire safety codes. We design with WUI-compliant materials, ensuring your ADU is beautiful and heavily protected.

Architectural Blending

An ADU shouldn’t look like a dropped-in box. We specify exterior finishes, roofing materials, and window styles that perfectly complement the historic architecture of your primary residence.

ADU Design / Build Process

1. Initial Site Visit: 1 to 1 ½ hrs

Every ADU starts with a vision, and this starts with a walkthrough to see what you have and understand what you want. By listening closely to your goals, vision, questions, and budget, we help you unlock the full potential of your ADU. With so many creative ways to configure compact spaces, whether it is a rental, guest suite, or a small home, it all starts with understanding how you want to live.

Step 1 – What To Expect

On site walkthrough to evaluate the starting point and discuss the overall goals of the project.
We provide a free ballpark construction cost, which will be a significant range.
This ballpark helps us understand if a client’s budget aligns with our estimated construction cost.
To proceed, we sign our preconstruction agreement (PCA), which includes the various services you will need to design and ultimately acquire the building permits.

2. Design & Material Selection: 3 - 4 weeks

Once the vision is clear, the design process brings it to life on paper. From countertops to cabinet layout to lighting, we’ll plan each detail with precision. A thorough design phase is key to staying on budget. Also, it’s often the fun part!

Consultations for all project goals and design considerations.
Some common design goals include careful attention around kitchen and bathroom design, lighting options, fixture selections, as well as exterior hardscape and landscape. The contractor creates an all-inclusive list of all project selections for client review and interaction. This single tool will be used to guide the project to the finish line.

3. Permitting: 2 - 3 months

Once the design is complete, it’s time to submit the plans to the city for approval. Approval time for an ADU can vary, but generally this will take around 2 – 3 months to get approved. The good news is that you can still keep the project moving! While most product selections will have already been considered, this is the time to actually start finalizing selections and shopping for items. Top on that list will often be key components for kitchen and bathroom, flooring, appliances, and fixtures.

4. Construction: 4 - 8 months

Finally, our team begins by carefully protecting your home and the surrounding areas. For attached ADUs, we install dust barriers with zipper doors and run HEPA air filtration to keep the air clean and the rest of your home undisturbed. Floor protection and other precautionary measures are also put in place. A dedicated team and project manager will carry out the work in coordination with the residents, with clear working hours established from the start.

5. Move In!

Upon passing our city final inspection, we will then do a thorough walkthrough, to ensure everything is just right. We will also provide and go over all of your new documentation, including manuals, warranties, etc., as well as provide a long term maintenance plan to help you make sure your ADU stays beautiful for years to come!

Our Custom ADUs

A look at recent Custom ADUs work from Beyond Green Construction.

What Our Clients Say About Us

Ready to start planning your Kensington Home?

FAQ

You Ask We Answer

How long does a custom ADU typically take to build? +

A comprehensive hillside ADU takes roughly 4 to 6 months of active construction. We provide a highly detailed, day-by-day project calendar before any excavators arrive.

Can we attach the ADU to our existing house or garage? +

Yes. If local setback rules or slope grades prohibit a detached structure, an attached ADU or a lower-level conversion can be an excellent alternative.

Do you handle Contra Costa County permits for ADUs? +

Yes, we act as your sole representative with Contra Costa County, managing all complex hillside permit applications, structural revisions, and site inspections from start to finish.

Can our current electrical and plumbing support an ADU? +

We routinely handle the heavy lifting of modernizing older utilities to support a new unit. If your current systems are inadequate, we will install new electrical panels and dedicated sewer tie-ins.

How do you handle privacy and access during construction? +

We work with you to establish secure dust barriers, temporary fencing, and clear access paths, ensuring the active job site remains isolated from your day-to-day life.