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  • Residential Construction

Guest Houses and Casitas

Custom casitas, guest houses, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) built by a licensed general contractor. Add living space, rental income, or a place for family. Planned thoroughly, priced up front, built right.
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  • The Ironstone Approach

Your Property Has More to Give

Maybe it’s a guest house for visiting family. Maybe it’s a backyard cottage you rent out. Maybe your parents need a place of their own that’s close but independent. Whatever the reason, adding a dwelling to your property is one of the highest-value investments a homeowner can make.

But building one isn’t the same as remodeling a bathroom. A guest house is a full construction project: foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and finishes. It needs permits, inspections, and a builder who understands how to manage the entire scope from dirt to move-in. That’s what we do.

We plan every detail before we break ground, set a fixed price based on real numbers, and manage the full build with our own team and trusted trade partners. You get a single point of contact who owns the project from start to finish.

  • Residential Construction & Repair

We Know the Challenges Well

  • Title Permitting Gets Complicated Fast
Every city has its own ADU rules for setbacks, lot coverage, height, utility connections, and parking. State laws are opening doors, but local requirements still vary. We handle permitting as part of our scope so you’re not guessing your way through zoning codes and plan reviews.
  • The Wrong Builder for the Job
A guest house isn’t a shed or a garage conversion. It’s a habitable structure built to the same code as your primary home. Hiring someone who doesn’t carry a general contractor’s license, liability insurance, and workers’ comp puts you on the hook if something goes wrong during or after the build. We carry all three on every project.
  • Vague Pricing and Slow Timelines
Too many ADU projects start with a ballpark number and end with months of change orders. We scope the full project before construction begins, set a fixed price, and give you a detailed schedule. You know what you’re paying and when the build wraps before we pick up a single tool.
  • Frequently Asked Questions

Guest House and ADU Answers

How much does it cost to build a guest house / casita / backyard cottage?
It depends on size, finishes, site conditions, and whether you need utility extensions. We scope every project individually and give you a fixed price before construction starts. No ballpark guesses, no surprises mid-build. If you have a rough idea of what you want, we can walk you through what drives the cost in a consultation.
Yes. ADU laws vary by state and city, and most jurisdictions require permits and inspections before you can build. Setback requirements, utility connections, and design standards differ depending on where you are. We handle permitting as part of our process so you’re not navigating it alone.
Most projects take several months from groundbreaking to move-in, depending on size and complexity. Permitting adds time on the front end, and that varies by jurisdiction. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the planning phase and manage every day against it once construction starts.
In most areas, yes, but the rules depend on your state, city, and HOA. Some jurisdictions allow both long-term and short-term rentals. Others restrict one or both. We build to full code with independent utility connections where needed, so your guest house is ready for whatever you decide to do with it. We’d recommend checking your local rental ordinance before finalizing your plans.
  • Ironstone Services

More Ways We Can Help

Bathroom Remodeling

Full bathroom renovations from tile and fixtures to plumbing and electrical. Every project gets a detailed scope, a fixed price, and a clear timeline before demo day.
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Home Renovation and Additions

Room additions, structural changes, layout reconfigurations, and whole-home renovations. Same planning process and accountability as every Ironstone project.
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Kitchen Remodeling

Full kitchen renovations with a detailed scope, a fixed price before demolition starts, and a team that manages every trade so you don’t have to.
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  • Get in touch

Ready to Add to Your Property?

Tell us what you’re thinking. We’ll walk you through what’s possible on your lot, what it costs, and how the process works. One conversation, no pressure.
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