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Patrice Peterson
★★★★★9 months ago
We hired Jimmy for a garage to ADU conversion project. The project was completed quickly, with diligent work from Jimmy's team, resulting in a finished product that exceeded our expectations!
ADU Above Garage in Chino, CA
No room in the yard? Build up. J.O. Construction builds ADUs on top of garages for owners around Chino, keeping the parking below. Call (951) 436-6568.
Call (951) 436-6568Send us your project
Recent above-garage ADU projects
Real jobs, newest first. Dates are the month we posted each stage on our Instagram.
What is included
- An engineer's check of the garage
- Footing and wall upgrades so the garage can carry a floor
- Floor framing
- Stairs
- Waterproofing
- The unit itself, with the parking kept below
The job, in three frames
How the job runs with J.O. Construction, in the order it happens.
Step 1: Make the garage strong enough
An engineer checks the footings and framing; we add the hardware and studs the plans call for.
Step 2: Second-floor framing
Floor, walls and roof go up on top of the garage.
Step 3: Stairs and finish
The stair, waterproofing, stucco and the inside of the unit.
What is different about building over a garage
The garage has to carry a second floor, so the footings and walls often need upgrades. Then come floor framing, stairs, waterproofing and the unit itself.
Above-garage ADUs near Chino
Our finished example is in San Clemente: 700 sq ft, two bedrooms, one bath, over the existing garage. The work is the same anywhere the lot is short on yard. Where the yard allows it, as on our jobs in Fontana and Riverside, a detached unit is usually simpler.
Is your Chino garage strong enough?
Usually not as built. An engineer checks the footings and framing, and the plans show what to reinforce. We do that structural work before the second floor goes on.
Is this the right call for your project?
Call us for this when
- The lot is short on yard
- You want to keep the parking
- The garage can be reinforced to carry a unit
Pick something else when
- There is room in the yard: a detached ADU is usually simpler
- You do not need the parking: a garage conversion reuses the space below
- You are not sure yet: the ADU builder overview compares them
After the final inspection: keeping it in shape
- 1
Check the stair and deck yearly
Exterior stairs take the weather. Look at the treads, the rail and any flashing each year.
- 2
Keep the garage walls open
Do not cut into the reinforced garage walls for shelving or outlets without checking the plans.
- 3
Watch for water at the floor line
Where the new floor meets the old garage is where a leak would show. A stain on the garage ceiling is worth a call.
Recent work from our crews
More on our Instagram, where we post each stage as it happens.
Part of our ADU builder work. Related: garage conversion, detached ADU, multi-family ADU. Return to J.O. Construction, Chino.
What clients sayReal words from Google, unedited.
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Antonio Reyes
★★★★★a year ago
Thank you Jimmy for taking on our project for our ADU build. It was a pleasure from beginning to end to work with you guys. Always very transparent and there to answer any phone calls or questions.
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Bert MTZ
★★★★★2 years ago
ADU 730sf in Fontana, two bedrooms two bathrooms, complete kitchen. … Provided a good service and choices with the option of getting upgrades. Communication was key and Jimmy made it easy to reach out and listen to concerns or changes.
Above-Garage ADU questions from Chino owners
Can I build an ADU on top of my existing garage?
Yes, in most cases. An ADU can go on top of an existing garage once an engineer confirms the structure or designs the upgrades it needs.
How tall can an ADU over a garage be?
State law requires cities to allow an attached ADU up to 25 ft or the zone's height limit, whichever is lower, while Chino's 2022 code still says 1 story and 16 ft. We settle the limit for your address with Planning before design starts. Details on our Chino ADU rules page.
Out of yard? Go up.
We will check the garage and tell you if it can carry a unit.
Mon to Fri, 7 AM to 5 PM
Start a conversation
Thinking about a project? Let's talk.
Answer a few quick questions and Jimmy will call you back to talk it through. No pressure and no obligation.
- Jimmy runs your job from the first call to the final inspection
- Licensed and bonded, CA #1057456
- Design, permits and construction under one roof
Rather just talk to someone? Call (951) 436-6568
Mon to Fri, 7 AM to 5 PM