As the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley, San Jose is the most populous city in Northern California. The growing population throughout the rest of the state has caused California to revisit its regulations on accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in the last few years in an effort to alleviate the housing crisis.
Here is a list of the best ADU builders in San Jose. These firms have made it their business to familiarize themselves with these regulations in order to help homeowners maximize their properties across San Jose and the Bay Area. Whether you’re making room for more family members, looking to earn extra rental income, or just want to elevate your lifestyle, one of these firms may be just the partner you need.
Bridgford Construction
2380 S Bascom Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008
What began in 2007 as a small handyman business has now grown into a full-service residential construction company doing home remodels and custom builds across the Bay Area. Chris Bridgford leads this team as it delivers quality craftsmanship to their clients—clients with whom they build lasting relationships.
Nicknamed the “Tree House,” this 1,200-square-foot bungalow-style ADU in Los Gatos was built amidst the trees on a hillside area below the main house. The open layout of the common spaces beneath the 8-foot vaulted ceilings makes it look more spacious than your average ADU and is enhanced by the black, white, and silver-gray theme. The living room sits to the right of the main entry. To its left, you’ll find a large corner kitchen booth. The white-top island at the center of the L-shaped kitchen extends into more dining space. White cabinetry and black quartz countertops line the rest of the prep spaces around stainless steel fixtures. The two full baths continue the neutral theme: one with white tiles lining the glass-doored shower, another with gold fixtures against gray tiling. There are also three bedrooms on the structure. A wrapping deck looks out over the hillside.
Done Right Home Remodeling
1825 De La Cruz Blvd. #206, Santa Clara, CA 95050
For over 15 years, Done Right Home Remodeling has been upgrading residential spaces across Santa Clara County. The fully certified and licensed kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractor also provides room additions, garage conversions, and ADUs. Done Right understands how ADUs can enhance a home, and it offers customized services to make sure you get the right space, whether it’s for additional rental income or to have your in-laws living close by.
This kitchen in San Ramon is an example of Done Right’s space-saving work, with a lot of cabinetry around the stainless steel fridge, as well as drawer storage beneath the prep spaces. There’s also some eat-in space across from the undermount sink in the center island. Elegant gray marble countertops match the light gray woodwork, and the wall-to-wall black hex tile backsplash catches the light streaming in through the glass sliding doors beautifully. A smattering of recessed lights and a gold metal chandelier are also ready to illuminate the space at night.
Advantage Homes
2890 Monterey Road, San Jose, CA 95111
Specializing in manufactured and modular homes, Advantage Homes is certified by the Manufactured Housing Institute. The firm has been recognized multiple times as Retailer of the Year in the Western Region and California. The firm has been building ADUs throughout California since 1992; it’s led by President and CEO Todd Su. Advantage Homes ADUs range from 420 to 1,200 square feet and are fully customizable, with a wide range of flooring, countertop, shower, paint, tile, cabinet, and lighting options to choose from. The homes are built under close supervision in a controlled environment, ensuring the best quality in every phase of construction.
This ADU follows a roomy open layout, opening to a sunlit living room space with a console table placed conveniently near the main door. The peninsula bar offers some space to dine. White cabinets and gray granite countertops line the kitchen’s galley layout, with stainless steel fixtures blending into the theme. Towards the back, the bedroom maximizes its space through a lot of drawers at the foot of the bed and in its bedside tables. The bathroom features a marble-top vanity and a white-tiled glass-door shower.
EOL Builders
111 North Market Street #300, San Jose, CA 95113
Stone pathways and a breezeway connect this eclectic aqua-doored San Jose studio shed to the main structure. Clerestory windows brighten up the cool interior, which includes dining space, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The kitchen sits along two walls in an L-shape, with white cabinetry, stainless steel fixtures, and gray quartz countertops. The backsplash provides a bit of contrast in its Tuscan yellow tone. Gray tiles line the bathroom, which features a white-top vanity and recessed tub-shower. Rich landscaping creates a refreshing space between the structures on the lot.
The team at EOL Builders has over 30 years of experience in building ADUs. The firm, established by President Elie Lavie in 2013, understands the value building these structures add — whether to elevate homeowners’ lifestyles, increase their home equity, or provide passive income. Clients appreciate this deep understanding of their needs that goes into EOL’s building process, the same way it does with its other projects, whether it’s a remodel or a new home construction.
Valley Home Builders
3466 Edward Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Having long had woodworking as a hobby, CEO Mehdi Vatani deepened his passion for building as a laborer carpenter with a framing and foundations company. This experience helped shape Valley Home Builders, which he started in 2005. His team of architects, engineers, designers, project managers, and craftsmen has built homes throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.
Valley Home Builders built this 600-square-foot ADU in San Jose with white walls and an open layout interior. The living room space sits beneath a vaulted ceiling, with some space to dine around a wooden round table. Clerestory windows bring more light into the space. Muted blue and white cabinets line the L-shaped kitchen, with white quartz countertops around the stainless steel appliances and white farmhouse sink. Behind the fridge, a window seat provides more space to lounge. Sliding doors from the bedroom lead to some patio space outside. Turquoise tiles line the shower area which is separated from the gray quartz countertop vanity by a glass sliding door. Learn about them at https://valleyhomebuilders.com/adu-builder
Oria Builders
100 S Murphy Ave., Suite 200, San Jose, CA 94086
This ADU is certainly a space all its own, with its Craftsman-style covered porch accentuated by light wood details that stand out against the cool gray walls and roofing. A stone pathway connects it to the main structure across the green backyard, with some space for gardening setting off its perimeter. Double-hung windows brighten up the interior, warmed by a fireplace extending out to the brick chimney atop the shingle roof.
Oria Builders has built both attached and detached ADUs, such as this one, as well as repurposed existing spaces. The firm has been building homes throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area since 2017. Before starting Oria, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Engineering graduate Gilad Segev also worked in project management roles with other California firms. The firm has since built over 350 projects: room additions, kitchen and bath remodels, and new home constructions.
Abodu
2424 El Camino Real, Redwood City, CA 94063
Since 2018, Abodu has revolutionized backyard living through its customizable prefabricated modular homes. Founders Eric McInerney and John Geary teamed up with UK-based design studio Koto to create these functional, minimalist spaces that feature Scandinavian influences. The quick turnaround and streamlined process of designing and installing the homes make it easy to adapt your space for the modern live-and-work-from-home lifestyle or to make room for grandparents or kids to stay.
The homes come in three main models. The Studio offers 340 square feet of space and features a full bath and one-wall kitchen, with the option to add a Murphy bed. The Abodu One offers 500 square feet, which adds on one bedroom and a living or dining room, bridged by a galley-layout kitchen. The largest option is the Abodu Two at 610 square feet, with the addition of another room, whether you want to use it as a bedroom, home office, or gym. Each home features cathedral ceilings, modern glass entries, efficient dual-pane windows, fiber-cement siding, and fully waterproof engineered hardwood. Guests are welcome to do a complimentary showroom tour at the Redwood City showroom Monday through Saturday by booking through their website at www.abodu.com
Ammirato Construction
1330 White Oaks Rd. Campbell, CA 95008
A broad window lights up the common area of this modern minimalist San Jose ADU, lined by custom shelves and cabinetry around the window seat. The soft teal couch goes well with the white walls, giving the space a relaxing atmosphere. A tiered peninsula bar offers some space to dine along the kitchen area, which features stainless steel fixtures that blend in with the white cabinets and gray herringbone tile backsplash. The white and teal theme continues into the private spaces, and white tiles line the bathroom, which features a recessed tub-shower and a marble-top vanity. The ADU’s exterior is in a muted gray, complemented by the lavender tree in front of it.
Certified Green Building Professional and Bay Area native President John Ammirato brings over 20 years of building experience to Ammirato Construction, the team behind this ADU. Ammirato’s career began with an engineering internship at the NASA-Ames Research Center, which pushed him to learn more about construction management. He brings this precision to leading his hand-selected team of skilled craftsmen who have worked on everything from remodels to custom homes and historic restorations since 2000.
Acton ADU
1257 Dell Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008
Starting out as Acton Construction in 1990, Acton ADU moved into specializing in building ADUs in 2017 as they became a practical solution to California’s growing population. Founder and CEO Stan Acton’s lifelong passion for building comes into full force building these structures: he believes good design plays an even more crucial part in creating small spaces. The firm has made it its mission to master different ADU regulations across the state in order to build structures that marry meeting its clients’ needs with the highest level of craftsmanship.
Acton ADU built this backyard home for a family in San Jose as a space for their daughter to raise her own family. Careful to preserve a series of trees on the property, the well-lit home frames refreshing views of the greenery around it through many windows lining its open layout. The kitchen peninsula bar doubles as an eat-in area by the living room. A large skylight illuminates the light wood cabinet and quartz countertop space. Sliding doors open to the bedroom, which features a spacious walk-in closet. The ¾ bath follows the kitchen’s light wood and quartz countertop theme in its vanity, and matching light brown tiles line the glass-doored shower area.
Next Stage Design + Build
2157 O’Toole Avenue, Suite 70, San Jose, CA 95131
Forming a courtyard with the main structure, this 600-square-foot garage addition gave this family in Willow Glen some new recreational space, as well as more room for entertaining guests. Sliding doors open to a man cave for dad, complete with a comfy couch for watching games on the flat-screen mounted on a custom shelf in a wall alcove. A kitchenette sits towards the right for preparing refreshments to go with viewing parties. To the left, there’s more space to lounge and dine by the window. Skylights illuminate the vaulted ceiling space, which also includes a loft play area for the kids and a custom bookcase for their board games and toys with an electric fireplace at its center. The ¾ bath matches the white theme of the rest of the structure, with mosaic tiles accentuating the backsplash and glass-doored shower area.
The home was built by Next Stage Design + Build, a firm that has been building throughout Santa Clara County since 2004. National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) Master Certified Remodeler and Project Manager Jim Kabel leads the team as President. Working alongside him as Design and Development Director is Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler Sarah Gaffney, who brings a decade of experience managing Sunset Magazine’s Idea House program to the firm. Next Stage has won over two dozen NARI META and Contractor of the Year Awards since 2015.
