An ADU, or Accessory Dwelling Unit, is a secondary living space on your property that provides complete independence with its own living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation facilities. It can be attached to your main house, converted from an existing structure like a garage, or built as a new detached unit, such as a backyard cottage or granny flat. This makes it a versatile housing solution tailored to your needs, whether for guests, family, or tenants.

Building an ADU can be a practical and financially smart choice. It’s often more affordable than traditional homes since it leverages existing land and infrastructure, avoiding costly new developments. An ADU can provide as much living space as a modern apartment, making efficient use of your property. It can generate rental income to offset mortgage payments, offer a private space for family members like aging parents, and increase your property’s market value. Plus, it’s eco-friendly, reducing the need for new construction and supporting sustainable living, especially in areas with housing shortages.

When building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), you’ll need to decide on the construction method. Common options include traditional, prefabricated (prefab), modular, and panelized construction, each with its own pros and cons.

• Traditional Construction involves building from scratch on-site, offering high customization but often taking longer and costing more.
• Prefabricated Construction means the ADU is built in a factory and delivered, providing speed and cost savings but with limited design flexibility.
• Modular Construction builds sections in a factory for on-site assembly, balancing speed and customization.
• Panelized Construction uses pre-built panels assembled on-site, offering a middle ground in cost and time.

At Type Five, our approach combines the best of both worlds, offering you design flexibility with the cost savings and convenience of prefab. Here are some of the notable features:

• Customizable: Every Type Five ADU is customizable online. You can select the size, color, layout, amenities, bedrooms, finishings, and more without paying thousands of dollars in design fees.
• Turn-Key Experience: Thanks to our streamlined process, you can ditch the chaos and stress of managing the complexities of building your backyard home. We’ll draw up your plans, get them approved by the city, and manage construction so you don’t have to. Our platform allows us to be your project's architect and general contractor, saving you enormous time and money while giving you the peace of mind that you're getting an amazing service and product.
• Efficient Construction Timelines: A traditionally built ADU can take dozens of subcontractors and operate under a more bespoke process to get your ADU built. We've streamlined the number of contractors involved, and run a repeatable, consistent process for every home we build. You can expect clear timelines, little to no back and forth, and weeks instead of months of construction on your property.
• Transparent Pricing: We guarantee your price right in our design process before you even submit a deposit. You can say goodbye to financial surprises & unexpected “change orders” because every project comes with a guaranteed maximum price before the building starts. This means you can accurately budget for the other things in your life… like your retirement or that vacation you’ve been thinking about!

What’s the bottom line? If you want a backyard home but don’t want to deal with the hassle and expense of traditional construction, then prefabricated/modular construction is the way to go. And if you want the convenience of prefab with the flexibility of custom design, then we’ve got your back.