All Forum Posts by: Yi Chung Chen

yup, pulled owner permit on the main home remodel and all inspections passed and closed.

and now in the process of getting owner permits for legalizing the garage -> ADU conversion as well as the new garage/office/storage.

have got to know a lot of the city people, Sarah Shull (DM me for her email) is suuuupppppperrrr helpful.  She even got a senior permit specialist to help and upload all my docs for me so that I didn't have to sit through one of those virtual appointments.  She's so amazing!

contractor is unlicensed, before you hate on him, he's very skilled, here are some images of his work on my main home

In terms of the ADU, we even valued the kitchen/family room, and bath is very luxurious :P

yea, we actually converted our existing garage into a 425sqft ADU for around $50k including labor and materials
and now we're going to build a 650sqft new more modern looking garage/office/storage for ~$150k
so all in around $200k invested, but we're adding 625sqft total.  which would've cost us around $450k going with any of those ADU companies out there right now.

new construction.  

Concreate Natural Grey wall tiles were used on a 13.5' high vertical wall in our half vault family room as you enter the house.  And also used as the legs of our shadow line peninsula island. 

 
Windows were not the Renewal, they were the Andersen Windows 100 Series and I got them from Home Depot.  highly recommended as they have great post-sale service.  Our house is small, 11 windows in total.  $11k was only for the windows.  actually it was much less since the $11k included 3 Velux skylights.  Labor was $200 per window from my unlicensed contractor.  

done 😉

Yea, I think a lot of those shows are flips?  So the materials they're using are probably lower end.

Other factors for my high costs are:
- we're going to live here for 2yrs at least, so kind of wanted higher quality stuff.  We used brands like Cabinet Joint ($20k), Cafe Appliances ($8.5k), Porcelanosa ($10k), Concreate ($3.5k), Andersen Windows ($11k)
- technical details: vaulted our ceilings from 8' to 13.5', that was expensive structural work, had to add a 15' long / 2' deep beam, all new plumbing and electrical, all new insulation.
- design details: flush baseboards with shadow line reveal, some interesting LED lighting, 4mm wear layer eng. hardwood, level 5 drywall, custom trim-less doorframes, pivot doors, and even one hidden door
- I'm newb: this was our first remodel, so costs and schedule far from optimized 

but yea, process was hella fun.  Highly recommend giving it a shot if you have the opportunity.  

Thanks Nick!  yea, it was one heck of a remodel.  let me know if you have any questions.  

Quick update.

6mth later, the main house is basically done.  We're just waiting on landscaping now.

probably 7-8% over my high end budget and took 2-3mths longer than planned, but overall very happy with how it turned out.

some before and after pics for your viewing pleasure.

i used Behnamnia Home Inspections, should be able to find them on yelp.

$600-800 for a 1200sqft home built in 1948.