When building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), selecting the right construction method can make a sizable difference in the time, cost, and flexibility of your ADU. We offer three types of ADU construction - traditional stick building, offsite modular construction, and panel kit construction - to ensure the best approach for your project and property!
Chances are, if you’ve started doing a bit of research on ADUs, you’re becoming familiar with these construction types: traditional stick building is how the vast majority of all homes around California, and the country, were built. It involves doing all of the construction, from foundation to finishes, on-site. The structure is built on-site from wooden 2x4 and 2x6 studs, or “sticks”, which is why the process is named as such. Offsite modular construction involves completing the foundation work on-site while your ADU is built elsewhere in a factory, including all of the interior and exterior finishes. The ADU is then craned (gently!) over your house and into your backyard while a crew sets it to fit precisely on the foundation. You’ve probably seen exciting images or videos of this method online!
Today, we want to focus our discussion on the third construction method - panel kit construction. Panel kits combine the efficiency of offsite construction with the quality and flexibility of semi-custom design. Let’s dive into the details and explore if panel construction or stick building is the best fit for your project!
What are panel kits?
"After all the research we did and seeing the construction now, I think panels are a type of prefabrication process that don't deserve the skepticism about quality that many people have about off-site construction. It's a different process and an excellent product."
Panel kits consist of pre-designed floor plans with wall panels constructed off-site in a controlled environment and seamlessly assembled on-site. Panel kits offer a convenient alternative to traditional construction and are available in two main options: the Standard Kit and the Plus One Kit. Here’s a comparison:
Standard Kit
- This kit includes wood framing only, with walls constructed in segments that are 4-6 feet wide.They are wood studs that open to the inside and have plywood sheathing attached to the exterior.
- Standard kits offer the flexibility to modify doors and windows as needed, as well as fully custom finishes.
- They are a great option for anyone building with a GC who is new to panels or building during the rainy season, but who wishes to take advantage of the efficiencies of panel construction!
Plus One Kit
- In addition to wood framing, this kit comes pre-wired with in-wall electrical and plumbing rough-in, significantly reducing the work required on-site.
- This level of rough-in adds even more time and cost efficiency to the on-site build by reducing the number of trades on-site and reducing the potential for coordination errors.
- If you’re working on a tight timeline, the Plus One Kit is a fantastic option to consider for its speed and coordination efficiencies!
How Panel Kits Differ from Stick Builds
Whether you choose a Panel Kit or a traditional Stick Build, you won’t need to compromise on quality. However, the key difference lies in time efficiency.
- A traditional Stick Build typically takes 16-24 weeks to complete. By comparison, Panel Kits can reduce construction time by 2–3 weeks.
- Panel Kits are constructed in a controlled environment, protecting them from weather-related delays and minimizing errors. They also allow for a parallel construction process, where on-site tasks like concrete pouring and in-ground utility trenching happen simultaneously with off-site panel fabrication framing. This approach saves valuable time and keeps the project moving more quickly.
- In addition to saving time, Panel Kits can reduce costs by up to 5%. While 5% may not seem like a lot, those savings applied to a typical ADU build of $500,000 add up to $25,000!
- Panel Kits simplify this process by offering 8 customizable floorplans (and more in the works!), while allowing just enough customization: you can pick all your finishes, swap between windows and doors in your floorplan, and rotate/mirror your ADU to best fit your site. But, you aren't starting with a blank page, which saves time and reduces the decision fatigue that's common during the custom design process. Many of our clients have enjoyed this design process, as it has enabled them to tailor their ADU to their needs without feeling overwhelmed along the way!
- Stick building may still be appropriate for anyone looking for a highly customized ADU, perhaps due to a special use case (ex: a home recording studio) or a very uniquely shaped site (ex: a triangular slide of backyard for an ADU). In this scenario, working with our team to design your ADU from scratch and our GC network for a ground-up stick build may be the best way to go.
"I've been amazed at how quickly the ADU came together once construction began. It was impossible to get any work done the day the panel kits arrived, because it was so fun to watch it go up!"
Additional Flexibility Of Panel Kits
Panel Kits also offer flexibility in their project management structure. You can choose to fully manage the project yourself or let us handle every aspect for you, depending on your budget and timeline. With their time-saving, cost-effective, and streamlined construction process, Panel Kits are a smart alternative to traditional builds for many ADU projects.
Interested in learning more about panel kits?
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