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Best ADU Builders in San Diego (2024)

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Our annual ranking of top construction firms highlights the top companies in San Diego based on their project volume over the past year, with a focus on relevance. This compilation is derived from permit and contractor information sourced from city, county, and state building departments through our partners at BuildZoom. For further information regarding data accuracy, please consult the note at the end of this article.

Data plays a crucial role across the construction sector, benefiting various participants in the industry. For businesses offering materials or services, construction market data allows them to align their outreach with the right opportunities. By tracking major construction activity or important project milestones, they can approach contractors at the most relevant times, improving engagement. Additionally, understanding a contractor’s business trajectory helps suppliers focus on those contractors that are growing and in need of more resources. Subcontractors, too, can take advantage of this data to target general contractors for specific projects. Meanwhile, developers and property owners can use the data to verify contractors’ qualifications and expertise, ensuring they select the right team for their projects.

Business# Projects (’23)Average Contract Value
TNT Design & Build Inc 53 $9K
Creative Design & Build 20 $8K
Jackson Design & Remodeling Inc 10 $59K
US Modular 8 $104K
DM Building Inc 6 $78K

TNT Design & Build Inc

Address:
3142 Tiger Run Ct., Suite 108, Carlsbad, CA 92010

TNT Design & Build is a premier home renovation company with over 20 years of experience, specializing in high-end remodels that elevate home value and comfort. Since its founding in 2008, the company has disrupted the traditional renovation process by managing every phase in-house, from pre-construction planning to final execution, ensuring a seamless and stress-free experience. TNT guarantees on-time project completion, offering clients $250 per day in compensation for any delays, and promises no hidden fees, ensuring budget transparency. The company’s expertise includes kitchen and bathroom remodels, room additions, ADUs, and outdoor living spaces. Catering to a discerning clientele, TNT’s craftsmanship and attention to detail are unmatched, with each project inspected personally by the owner. Their commitment to communication and design satisfaction has earned them stellar reviews, solidifying their reputation as North County San Diego’s trusted home remodeling partner. With a full-service showroom, clients can visualize and personalize their projects, ensuring a luxurious and tailored renovation experience.

The San Diego Architects team gathered information from the City of San Diego Development Services and discovered past projects from TNT Design & Build Inc. One of their 2023 projects was a $157,974 garage conversion into a 932-square-foot ADU. Additionally, in the same year, they took on a $200,000 project to construct a new detached ADU.


Creative Design & Build

Address:
9275 Trade Pl., Suite H, San Diego, CA 92126

Creative Design & Build is a trusted home remodeling company with over 15 years of experience, offering expert design and construction services across San Diego County. Founded by professionals who previously worked with Southern California’s top construction firms, the company combines industry expertise with a personalized approach to ensure customer satisfaction. Specializing in kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs, room additions, and full home renovations, Creative Design & Build is renowned for its quality craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each project is overseen by an experienced project manager, ensuring that all work adheres to the highest standards of professionalism and quality. Their team is comprised of highly trained specialists, all with extensive hands-on experience. The company’s commitment to integrity, fairness, and responsibility has earned them a strong reputation, reflected in numerous positive reviews from a diverse client base. Creative Design & Build prides itself on delivering creative, beautiful results while respecting the privacy and property of their clients. With a focus on reliable quality, they are a top choice for those seeking exceptional home transformations.

Data from the City of San Diego Development Services, reviewed by the San Diego Architects team, highlighted projects by Creative Design & Build in 2021. One of the projects was a $67,217 garage conversion to an ADU, which included a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and porch. Another project that year was a $41,788 conversion of an existing storage space into an ADU with an addition.


Jackson Design & Remodeling Inc

Address:
4797 Mercury St., San Diego, CA 92111

Jackson Design & Remodeling (JDR) has been a leading force in San Diego’s home remodeling industry since 1989, transforming thousands of homes with custom designs and high-quality craftsmanship. With over three decades of experience, JDR specializes in whole home remodels, additions, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, and outdoor living spaces. Their unique design-build process ensures a seamless experience for clients, combining design, material selection, budgeting, and construction under one roof. Known for their innovation and excellence, JDR has earned numerous prestigious awards, including six consecutive Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Ethics and the coveted Big50 award. The company maintains a remarkable 98% client satisfaction rate, as measured by GuildQuality, and has received Guildmaster with Highest Distinction honors for 17 consecutive years. Led by founder Todd Jackson, JDR’s team of highly skilled professionals is committed to delivering creative, personalized results while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. JDR also actively supports the community, partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and Toys for Tots.

Jackson Design & Remodeling Inc. completed two notable projects in 2023, as highlighted by the San Diego Architects team’s review of the City of San Diego Development Services data. These included a $250,000 second-story addition to a single-family residence and a $150,000 ADU addition.


US Modular

Address:
579 W. County Line Rd., Calimesa, CA 92320

US Modular, Inc. is a leading modular home builder in San Diego, with over 75 years of combined experience in modular construction. Specializing in prefabricated homes, US Modular offers a fast, efficient, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional home building. The company’s modular homes are constructed indoors in a controlled environment, ensuring the highest quality materials and adherence to local building codes. This streamlined process allows for faster on-site assembly, with homes often set on foundations in just one day, significantly reducing overall construction time and costs. US Modular, Inc. prides itself on delivering energy-efficient and durable homes, using sustainable materials that meet or exceed the standards of conventional building methods. With a proven track record and a commitment to quality, US Modular has earned a reputation as one of San Diego’s top contractors in the modular home industry. Their experienced team works closely with clients, providing personalized solutions to create stylish, cost-effective homes.

According to data reviewed by the San Diego Architects team from the City of San Diego Development Services, US Modular undertook a 947 sqft ADU project in 2023 for $149,671. In 2022, they completed a $134,695 project converting a 1173 sqft manufactured home (spa #24-3f) into an ADU.


DM Building Inc

Address:
300 Carlsbad Village Dr., Suite 108A #437, Carlsbad, CA 92008

DM Building is a trusted general contractor with over 12 years of experience serving homeowners in the San Diego area. Specializing in new home construction, renovations, and custom remodeling, the company is known for its commitment to quality craftsmanship and open communication with clients. Led by owner Daniel Montijo, a licensed general contractor, DM Building prides itself on a personalized approach, ensuring that every project is tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. With expertise spanning from framing and second-story additions to custom kitchen and bathroom remodels, the company handles projects of all sizes. DM Building’s dedication to using high-quality materials is bolstered by Daniel’s firsthand knowledge gained from visiting factories across the nation. Their professional yet personal approach, combined with a reputation for efficiency and reliability, has earned them recognition as one of San Diego’s premier home builders and remodelers. Fully licensed, insured, and continually updating their skills, DM Building ensures a seamless construction experience from concept to completion.

The San Diego Architects team accessed data from the City of San Diego Development Services to uncover previous projects by DM Building Inc. In 2023, the firm constructed a detached ADU measuring 765 sqft, valued at $225,500. Additionally, in 2024, DM Building Inc. embarked on a significant $400,000 project to build a new two-story single-family residence atop a partial basement intended for ADU use.


Note: The data used to compile this list may not be complete based on the availability of permit data – collecting and consolidating this data is a time-intensive and difficult task. It may not be complete in all areas due to jurisdictional reporting requirements and the availability of data. Job values and permit fees should be taken as estimates rather than exact values, based on the most complete permit and contractor data available. Additionally, number of projects and typical job size may be updated per contractor request.

The time period for the data used for this ranking was the past 365 days, plus an additional 45 days to account for the average timeline of a building permit. If you have any suggestions on the data or see any corrections that you’d like to give feedback on, please fill out this form. For more insights on construction data outside that are not directly related to contractors, there are other resources available as well.

Author

  • Alex Mericle is the Chief Editor at San Diego Architects with five years of experience in the construction space. Alex has always had a strong interest in residential and commercial construction and architecture, and he has built up technical experience with building permit data, subcontractor operations, and materials procurement over the years. On top of his experience at San Diego Architects, he has prior experience at BuildZoom. His analytical skillset, honed through a degree in Business Analytics from Creighton University and from his work experience, allows him to transform complex construction data into actionable insights and useful, captivating content. Expertise: Residential and Commercial Construction, Building Permit Data, Home Design and Build, Architecture, Subcontractor Operations, Material Procurement Key Highlights: Over 5 years of experience writing and editing in the construction space, Chief Editor at San Diego Architects, Previous experience at BuildZoom Education: Creighton University, Degree in Business Analytics

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