In-law suites
A home inside the home, with a door that closes
An in-law suite uses space the house already has: a spare bedroom, a den, a lanai that was closed in. It gives a parent or a grown child privacy without a second building on the lot.
Not included unless the scope says so: appliances, furniture and changes to the rest of the house.
What an in-law suite includes
A bedroom, bath and kitchenette with their own door
A step-free path from the driveway to the suite
A shower you can walk into, with room for grab bars
Lighting and switches placed for people who don't see as well
Sound insulation between the suite and the main house
What changes the cost
What an in-law suite's price follows
Less is built than in a new unit, but more is rearranged.
Plumbing
A bath near existing plumbing costs less than one across the house.
A kitchenette
A cooktop and sink need venting, a circuit and a drain. A full kitchen is its own project.
Accessibility
A curbless shower, wider doors and a ramp are part of the plan when the person needs them.
Walls that move
Moving a wall that carries the roof needs a beam and a permit.
Separate entry
A new door and path add to the job. They also add the most privacy.
What ships
Doors, windows and cabinets carry lead times and are ordered from the plans.
We print no figures here. The written estimate lists each of these for your lot.
How it goes
A sample suite, after the permit
Mostly interior work, and the quickest of the five.
- 01Weeks 1 to 2
Step 1: Protection and demolition
Floors and furniture covered, a dust wall up, walls opened where needed.
- 02Weeks 2 to 6
Step 2: Framing and rough work
Doors, walls, plumbing and electric, then the inspection.
- 03Weeks 6 to 10
Step 3: Finish
Drywall, floor, cabinets, paint, fixtures and the accessible bath.
- 04Weeks 10 to 12
Step 4: Final and walk-through
Final inspection, then a walk-through with the person who will live there.
Sample content.
Permits and rules
What the city and the house decide
Inside the house, the questions are about what makes it a separate home.
What counts as a unit
A kitchen and a separate entry may turn a bedroom into a second dwelling in the city's eyes. We tell you where the line is.
Exits and alarms
A suite needs smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and a way out that doesn't pass through the main house.
Older house, older wiring
A suite on an old panel may need the panel upgraded first.
Questions
Questions about in-law suites
Is a suite cheaper than a detached unit?
Usually, because there is no new foundation or roof. The cost moves with how much plumbing and structure has to change, and we show you both before you choose.
Can it be made safe for someone who falls?
We design the bath, the floor and the lighting around the person: a shower with no step, a floor that isn't slick, a night light on the path to the bath. We can talk with the family and the person's therapist.
Does a suite need its own kitchen?
Not always. A kitchenette with a sink, a cooktop and a small refrigerator is common. A full kitchen changes how the city sees the space, so we ask first.
What if my parent is moving from the mainland?
Plan the dates around the permit and the lead times, not the move. We tell you a safe date for the suite and a bridge plan if the move comes first.
A suite for someone you love
Tell us who will live there and what's hard for them now. We'll start the drawing with that.