Bardia Ekrami

Some Los Angeles homes have nowhere left to grow on the ground. The backyard is small, the side yards are tight, or you don't want to give up the garden. That's when many homeowners start thinking about going up instead of out. A second story addition in Los Angeles can add bedrooms, a primary suite or a family room without using more of your lot. It's also one of the most involved projects a house can go through. The roof comes off, a new floor goes on, and the house below has to be ready to...

Permits are the part of an ADU project that most homeowners worry about. The good news: California has made ADUs much easier to approve, and the City of Los Angeles has clear steps to follow. It still helps to know what's coming. This guide covers the general path for an ADU in the City of Los Angeles, where permits are handled by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). If your home is in a different city or in unincorporated LA County, the steps will be different. Step 1:...

Sometimes a home works well in every way except one: there just isn't enough of it. A growing family needs another bedroom. A parent is moving in. You work from home and the dining table has become your office. For many Los Angeles homeowners, adding on is the answer, because it lets you keep the street, the school and the neighbors you already love. A room addition is a real construction project, though, not a quick remodel. In this guide, we'll walk through what shapes an addition in Los...