Reasonable people may disagree, but here are the sequential steps in designing and building an ADU. This is an approximation of the steps for my ADU project, anyway.
Design Process
- Funding
- Brainstorm with other funder/executors
- Talk to City Planner
- Rough sketch some ideas with executors/friends
- Talk to neighbors
- Integrated Design Process
- Interview architects (test them with some questions from today: eg. What are a couple things that you would do to make this space feel and act bigger? tall ceilings, join living/dining room, high windows, coupling functionality
- Find builders and subs (ideally, you want to have identified a builder, plumber, mechanical, electrical subcontractor)
- Architect draws up schematics for consideration
- Have meeting- talk through design goals
- Schematic refinement
- 3D model (use SketchUp)
- Develop drawings for City
- Permit process- 10 days for New construction, then another 10 days for corrections
- Permits (see separate post about permitting)
Construction Process
- Break Ground
- Excavation
- Foundation
- Concrete Forms
- Pour Foundation Wall
- Concrete Slab Pour
- Gravel
- Water Barrier
- Rigid Foam
- Rebar (and PEX tubing for radiant floor heating)
- Pour Concrete for Slab
- Utilities
- Sewer, Electrical, Water, Gas
- Framing
- Balloon Framing
- Sheathing
- Roof
- Stairs
- Windows
- Roofing
- Weather Resistant Barrier
- Rain Screen
- Rough Plumbing
- Mechanical Sytems
- HVAC
- Lighting and Electrical
- Ambient
- Task
- Accent
- Perimeter
- Air Sealing
- Insulation
- Spray Foam, Blown-in Insulation, or Batt Insulation
- Drywall
- Sheetrock, Mudding, Sanding, Primer
- Siding
- Flooring
- Tiling
- Painting
- Cabinets, Shelving
- Finish Plumbing
- Finish Electrical and Lighting
- Certificate of Occupancy
- Modifications
- Moving In
Thank you sir