Planning the Build - ADU in San Diego County
My head is filled with numbers, new information, schedules, names of contractors and my dear mom's garage is filled with windows, doors, sinks and more for our new home.
We have designed our home and redesigned it several times over, for one reason or another. The drafter, Ed loves us. He is making some money. I wanted to save some money on the construction part in any way we could. While securing the mortgage an issue with an unforeseen bill popped up that had to be dealt with. That sent me into cost saving mode even further.
My idea was to keep the existing secondary garage, use it as part of the home and add onto the back of it which is currently a shed that was once where Mom and Dad's RV was housed. Dad built it years ago. The garage has the same terra cotta tile roof and stucco siding as the house, a toilet and sink that I was hoping was permitted for the property and would allow me to not have to change the septic system. My fingers were crossed on that one.
The garage will become the laundry room with a dog wash and a bathroom with a big walk-in shower. A hallway will be created on the the existing back wall of the garage that will open up into our new open beam ceiling, 10 ft tall walls, open floor plan, light filled kitchen and living room. An open beam ceiling bedroom, and an office will finish off this home for us. On the back side of the property an easement driveway was permitted for the neighbors behind us, and that will be our new driveway to our home. So, we will have a different entrance to the house and garage.
Garage, yeah we are building that too. A 2 car garage with extra space in back for my stained glass studio. What we found out about that.....originally we wanted to have it attached to the house, but I didn't like the code requirements and it would cost more. Changed that to having it as a seperate building, which creates a gated passageway to the backyard. Cool! Code: Garage and house have to be at least 4 ft apart.
In the process of doing our design we found out a few things from the county......1) We have to update the septic system..........existing toilet is not permitted......approximate cost $11,000. 2) There is an emergency power line running through the property and requires a 15 ft easement access for SDG&E......the existing design is in the path....bummer 3) The Casita has to be called and labeled as an ADU to qualify for our build. 4) The square footage has changed. The new number is 1200 sq ft. The ceiling height allowanceare has changed to 26 ft.
I called the Fire District and was told that we do not need a fire sprinkler system because, the existing main house does not have one. YAY!
Because of 2) above, we had to go back to the drawing board and redesign part of the house to make allowance for the easement requirements.
Notice the difference in the plans. We moved back the front wall 10 ft and widened the floor plan of the front part of the house.
And through all of this so far, Tim and I are still on speaking terms and enjoying this adventure.
Next......where are we going to live in the meantime. It is June and we have not even gotten a building permit. Our lease is up the end of August.
And what and where we have bought the coolest, best deals on windows and doors and more for our new house.
We have designed our home and redesigned it several times over, for one reason or another. The drafter, Ed loves us. He is making some money. I wanted to save some money on the construction part in any way we could. While securing the mortgage an issue with an unforeseen bill popped up that had to be dealt with. That sent me into cost saving mode even further.
My idea was to keep the existing secondary garage, use it as part of the home and add onto the back of it which is currently a shed that was once where Mom and Dad's RV was housed. Dad built it years ago. The garage has the same terra cotta tile roof and stucco siding as the house, a toilet and sink that I was hoping was permitted for the property and would allow me to not have to change the septic system. My fingers were crossed on that one.
The garage will become the laundry room with a dog wash and a bathroom with a big walk-in shower. A hallway will be created on the the existing back wall of the garage that will open up into our new open beam ceiling, 10 ft tall walls, open floor plan, light filled kitchen and living room. An open beam ceiling bedroom, and an office will finish off this home for us. On the back side of the property an easement driveway was permitted for the neighbors behind us, and that will be our new driveway to our home. So, we will have a different entrance to the house and garage.
Garage, yeah we are building that too. A 2 car garage with extra space in back for my stained glass studio. What we found out about that.....originally we wanted to have it attached to the house, but I didn't like the code requirements and it would cost more. Changed that to having it as a seperate building, which creates a gated passageway to the backyard. Cool! Code: Garage and house have to be at least 4 ft apart.
In the process of doing our design we found out a few things from the county......1) We have to update the septic system..........existing toilet is not permitted......approximate cost $11,000. 2) There is an emergency power line running through the property and requires a 15 ft easement access for SDG&E......the existing design is in the path....bummer 3) The Casita has to be called and labeled as an ADU to qualify for our build. 4) The square footage has changed. The new number is 1200 sq ft. The ceiling height allowanceare has changed to 26 ft.
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| Original ADU design |
Because of 2) above, we had to go back to the drawing board and redesign part of the house to make allowance for the easement requirements.
Notice the difference in the plans. We moved back the front wall 10 ft and widened the floor plan of the front part of the house.
And through all of this so far, Tim and I are still on speaking terms and enjoying this adventure.
Next......where are we going to live in the meantime. It is June and we have not even gotten a building permit. Our lease is up the end of August.
And what and where we have bought the coolest, best deals on windows and doors and more for our new house.
 |
| Rough draft of new ADU layout |
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