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Garage ADU Conversion Services Designed for Rental and Residential Use
Licensed Garage Conversion ADU Contractor in Antelope, CA Converting an existing garage is often the most cost-effective way to add a legal secondary dwelling unit to your property. To see how this project fits your budget, check our comprehensive garage conversion ADU cost calculator for local Sacramento estimates. Our team manages the structural upgrades, insulation, plumbing, and permitting needed to make the conversion fully legal.
We manage every phase of the conversion, from feasibility review and architectural planning through Title 24 energy compliance, permitting, construction, and final inspection. The result is a legal, livable ADU that is ready for rental income, family housing, or extended residential use.
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Why Antelope Homeowners Choose Burnette Construction for Garage ADU Conversions
- 5+ years of licensed garage ADU conversion experience serving Antelope, CA and Sacramento County
- Local contractor with hands-on knowledge of Antelope City and Sacramento County plan check requirements
- Fully licensed, insured, and California Building Code-compliant ADU construction team
- Title 24 energy compliance integrated into every garage conversion project from the start
- Clear written scopes, transparent pricing, and defined construction milestones
- Coordinated in-house trades for efficient, organized conversion timelines
Garage ADU Conversion Services in Antelope, CA
Garage to Bedroom Conversion
This service converts an existing garage into a legal bedroom that meets California habitable space standards and passes all required inspections. It is commonly used for family expansion or as part of a broader ADU layout that includes additional living spaces. We address bedroom egress compliance, insulation and ventilation, and all required electrical and structural improvements. Egress compliance is the defining requirement for any legal bedroom conversion. We install single-hung egress windows sized to a minimum 5.7 square feet of net clear opening, confirming exact frame-to-glass dimensions with a digital caliper gauge before materials are ordered. Every opening is placed and documented to satisfy Sacramento County’s IRC Section R310 residential egress requirements, ensuring the project passes rough-frame inspection on the first submission.
Garage to Living Space Conversion
Sloped garage floors and unsealed concrete slabs require structural remediation from a licensed ADU general contractor in Sacramento, CA before laying finished flooring. Crews grind surface irregularities using a Diamatic concrete floor grinder and pour Henry 555 self-leveling underlayment over an epoxy vapor retarder. Finished subfloor elevation must sit above exterior grade to comply with California Residential Code Section R506 damp-proofing standards. Building a complete thermal envelope is the foundation of any livable garage conversion. We apply closed-cell spray polyurethane foam insulation at the existing garage door header and all perimeter wall framing before closing. An infrared thermometer is used to scan all surfaces after application, confirming zero thermal bridging across the converted envelope before the insulation inspection. This achieves California Title 24 Part 6 continuous insulation compliance for residential living spaces without additional furring layers.
Studio ADU Garage Conversion
Studio ADU conversions are designed for maximum efficiency within the garage footprint, combining living, sleeping, and kitchen areas in an open-concept layout with full bathroom integration. This configuration is ideal for rental use or guest housing and delivers strong return on investment relative to conversion cost. Fitting a full kitchen and bathroom into a compact garage footprint demands precise MEP coordination within the existing slab. We route PEX-A flexible water supply lines through core-drilled openings in the concrete to reach the new kitchen and bathroom positions. Before slab work begins, we run a drain camera inspection scope through the existing drain stub-out to confirm the line is clear and properly graded — satisfying the Sacramento County plumbing permit pre-inspection requirement for new kitchen rough-ins before the slab is disturbed.
Full Garage ADU Conversion
Our full ADU garage conversion service transforms your existing garage into a complete, independent accessory dwelling unit. To protect the living space from Sacramento County’s expansive clay subgrades, we coat the garage slab with an epoxy vapor barrier membrane before installing subflooring. Plumbing lines for the kitchen and bathroom are laid using a pipe laser level to ensure a perfect 2% slope grade.
Junior ADU Garage Conversion
Junior ADU garage conversions meet California JADU regulations while creating an efficient, code-compliant living space within the existing structure. To satisfy local Title 24 energy requirements, we install high-density R-19 fiberglass wall batts and a high-efficiency ductless mini-split HVAC system. We utilize a digital air-balancing hood to verify airflow rates pass the final building inspection.
Two-Story ADU Garage Conversion
For homeowners who want to expand vertically, we design and build second-story additions above existing garage structures. We install engineered LVL headers and structural steel posts to support the second-story vertical load, utilizing a laser transit level to ensure perfect alignment. This guarantees structural stability under local seismic zone guidelines.
ADU Garage Conversion Design and Plans
Burnette Construction prepares permit-ready architectural drawings tailored to your existing garage conditions and Sacramento City or County requirements. Every plan set includes structural engineering, Title 24 energy documentation, and full MEP coordination to support a clean plan check submission. Every plan set begins with a site-specific subgrade assessment rather than a template submission. We use a soil probe sampler to collect perimeter subgrade samples beneath the garage slab, generating a geotechnical profile that directly informs foundation upgrade specifications in the structural drawings. The completed package is assembled to satisfy the Sacramento County Building Department’s ADU conversion plan check submittal checklist — including the HERS verification documentation required by SMUD’s interconnection standards for ADU electrical connections.
HOW IT WORKS
Clear Communication Every Step of the Way
Building your dream space shouldn’t be stressful. Here is how we turn your vision into reality with a smooth, predictable process.
1
Initial Call
Confirm service fit, property location, budget, and readiness
2
Site Review
Review conditions, acess, objectives, and existing documents.
3
Scope Development
Define include work, assumptions, exclusions, and allowances.
4
Proposal
Present a clear written proposal and next-step requirements.
5
Preconstruction
coordinate selections, plans, permits, schedule, and mobilization.
6
Construction
manage trades, inspections, updates, chnages, and quality control.
7
Closeout
Complete walkthrough, punch list, documentation, and trunover.
Local Service Area
Garage Conversion ADU Service Areas
Burnette Construction provides garage ADU conversion services throughout Antelope, CA and the surrounding Sacramento region, including Land Park, Natomas, Elk Grove, Folsom, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights, Arden-Arcade, Curtis Park, Midtown Sacramento, and Downtown Sacramento.
- Antelope
- Sacramento City
- Rancho Cordova
- Roseville
- Folsom
- Citrus Heights
- Davis
- Rocklin
- Lincoln
- Land Park
⭐ INSTANT SACRAMENTO COST ESTIMATOR
Planning Your Garage Conversion ADU? Calculate Accurate Costs in 60 Seconds
Get instant Sacramento County permit-ready estimates based on square footage, finish tier, and site conditions. Real builder pricing with transparent budgeting.
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Schedule Your Garage Conversion ADU Consultation
If you are considering a garage conversion ADU in Antelope, the first step is a property and feasibility review. Burnette Construction will walk through your garage, review your goals, and provide a clear cost and timeline estimate based on your actual site conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a garage conversion ADU cost in Antelope, CA?
Garage conversion ADU costs in Sacramento County typically range from $80,000 to $175,000 depending on garage size, existing slab condition, whether a full kitchen and bathroom are included, and Title 24 compliance requirements. We provide a detailed line-item estimate after reviewing your specific garage.
Do I need permits to convert my garage into an ADU?
Yes. All garage-to-ADU conversions in Antelope and Sacramento County require building permits covering structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and energy compliance. Burnette Construction manages the full permitting process.
Is a garage conversion considered an ADU or JADU?
It depends on the scope and your property status. A full garage conversion with a complete kitchen and bathroom qualifies as an ADU. A conversion with an efficiency kitchen and certain ownership requirements may qualify as a Junior ADU. We confirm which classification applies to your project during the feasibility review.
How long does a garage conversion ADU take?
From design through final inspection, most garage conversion projects in Sacramento County take 4 to 8 months depending on plan check timelines and site conditions.
Can a converted garage be rented out legally?
Yes. A fully permitted and inspected garage ADU can be rented under California law. Burnette Construction delivers every conversion to legal occupancy standards so you can rent immediately after final inspection.
Do garage conversions require HVAC systems?
Yes. California Building Code requires all habitable spaces, including converted garages, to have code-compliant heating systems. Most ADU conversions also include cooling. We integrate HVAC planning into the design phase to ensure compliance and comfort.