A second home on the same lot. Designed to be legal.
An accessory dwelling unit is a small building with a full building's worth of rules attached: setbacks, size caps, parking, utilities and its own inspections. We design it and build it in-house across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach, so the drawing that gets approved is the one that gets built.
Twelve frames from two completed accessory dwelling units - a single-level studio and a two-level loft unit. Tap any image to see it larger.
01
Studio unit: its own entrance and paved forecourt.
02
Loft unit: open living with the bedroom level above.
03
Studio unit: living, kitchen and sleeping in one vaulted space.
04
Loft unit: oak cabinetry with white subway tile.
05
Studio unit: a compact full kitchen with a dark backsplash.
06
Loft unit: the stair, with laundry built in beneath it.
07
Studio unit: full bathroom with a glass shower and skylight.
08
Loft unit: a patterned tile shower wall.
09
Studio unit: the sleeping area within the open plan.
10
Loft unit: the bedroom on the loft level.
11
Studio unit: vaulted ceiling and skylight.
12
Loft unit: looking down from the loft over the living space.
All photographs are of real completed Elbaz Construction work. They come from two separate accessory dwelling units and are shown as recent work, not as one project.
The journey
Six stages, lot line to keys.
Most ADU projects that stall do not stall in construction. They stall at zoning, at a setback nobody measured, or at a utility that could not be extended. This page walks the whole thing in order, starting with the question that decides everything: can your lot legally take one, and at what size.
Use the stage markers to jump straight to what you care about. Nothing here is a sales pitch - it is the sequence we actually follow.
01
Stage 01 · Discover
Why people build an ADU
Four reasons, and they lead to genuinely different buildings. Which one is yours changes the layout, the services and sometimes the answer on whether to build at all.
Somewhere for family
Multi-generational living is the most common reason we are asked for an ADU here, and it is the one where accessibility deserves attention early. A unit built for a parent should be designed for how they will move in ten years, not just today - level entry, a step-free shower and door widths are far cheaper decided now than retrofitted later.
A level or near-level entry, decided before the slab is poured
A step-free shower and blocking behind the tile for future grab bars
Door and hallway widths that still work with a walker or chair
Its own entrance, so the unit is genuinely independent
Sound separation from the main house where they share a wall
Completed Elbaz ADU: a single-level studio with a full kitchen and its own entrance.
Rental income
An ADU let long-term is a different brief from a guest suite. It needs to be genuinely self-contained - its own entrance, its own kitchen, its own laundry, and ideally its own utility metering - and it needs to survive tenants rather than guests. Local rules on minimum lease terms vary and are worth confirming before you design around an assumption.
Genuinely separate entrance, kitchen, bathroom and laundry
Hard-wearing finishes chosen for turnover, not for a showroom
Separate or sub-metered utilities where the jurisdiction allows it
Storage designed in, because small units live or die on it
Local rules on minimum lease length confirmed before design, not after
Completed Elbaz ADU: a two-level unit with a loft bedroom above an open living area.
Guests and flexibility
A unit built for visiting family that might later become a rental, an office or a place for a carer should be designed for both from the start. The expensive things to change later are the ones you cannot see: the service capacity, the drainage runs and whether the kitchen is a real kitchen or a kitchenette.
A full kitchen is far easier to build now than to add later
Service capacity sized for the heaviest likely future use
A layout that works as one bedroom or as a studio
Outdoor space that belongs to the unit, not borrowed from the garden
Completed Elbaz ADU: a compact full kitchen with a dark subway backsplash.
Adding usable square footage
Building up rather than out is often the only way to add real space on a constrained South Florida lot. A two-level ADU puts a bedroom above the living space and keeps the footprint - and therefore the lot coverage - down, which is frequently what makes the numbers work at all.
A loft level adds bedroom space without adding footprint
Lot coverage and impervious area are usually the binding constraints
Space under the stair is real storage or a laundry, not dead volume
Ceiling height and roof form are worth designing, not defaulting
Completed Elbaz ADU: the stair to the loft level, with laundry housed beneath it.
02
Stage 02 · Design
The four decisions that set the building
Everything else is finishes. These four decide the footprint, the services and whether the scheme is approvable at all.
One level or two
A single level is simpler, cheaper per square foot and fully accessible. A two-level unit gets more habitable space out of a smaller footprint, which matters when lot coverage or setbacks are the limit. It also brings a stair, which costs floor area and rules out step-free living.
Single level: simplest, cheapest, and accessible throughout
Two level: more space from less footprint, but a stair is unavoidable
Lot coverage and setbacks usually decide this, not preference
A loft is only habitable if the ceiling height genuinely complies
Completed Elbaz ADU, loft unit: the upper level looking down over the living space.
Studio or separate bedroom
In a small unit, a wall costs you more than the wall. A studio feels bigger and is more flexible; a separate bedroom is easier to let and gives genuine privacy where two people live there. It is worth deciding on the actual dimensions rather than in the abstract.
A studio reads larger and is more adaptable
A separate bedroom is usually easier to let long-term
A loft bedroom gives separation without a full partition downstairs
Whichever you choose, storage has to be designed in from the start
Completed Elbaz ADU, studio unit: the sleeping area within the open plan.
Utilities
Extending services to a second dwelling is one of the two things that most often decides feasibility. Capacity at the existing panel, where the drainage can connect, and whether the jurisdiction wants separate metering all need answering before a layout is worth drawing.
Existing electrical capacity checked before anything is designed
Drainage connection point and fall confirmed on site
Separate or sub-metering where the jurisdiction allows it
A ductless system suits a small unit and avoids duct runs
Its own laundry is what makes a unit genuinely independent
Completed Elbaz ADU, loft unit: laundry built into the space beneath the stair.
Finish level
A unit for a parent, a long-term tenant and a short-stay guest justify genuinely different specifications. The cost difference is real but it is smaller than people expect, because the expensive parts of an ADU are the shell, the services and the approvals - not the tile.
The shell, services and approvals dominate the cost, not the finishes
Hard-wearing floors and surfaces pay for themselves in a let unit
One considered feature - a tiled shower wall - lifts a small unit
Fittings chosen for the actual user, especially for an older parent
Completed Elbaz ADU, loft unit: a patterned tile shower wall in the bathroom.
Every photograph in this section is real Elbaz work, from two different completed ADUs. Each caption says which unit it is; they are not one project.
Project gallery 01
Two completed ADUs, walked through
Ten frames from two different accessory dwelling units we designed and built. The first six are a single-level studio; the rest are a two-level loft unit. They are separate projects and each caption says which.
Project 01, guided tour
1 / 10
Studio unit, outside — The single-level studio from its own paved entrance, with a black canopy over the door.Studio unit, living — The open living space under a vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam, with the kitchen to the left.Studio unit, kitchen — A compact full kitchen with white shaker fronts, a dark subway backsplash and a full-size range.Studio unit, sleeping — The sleeping area within the same open plan, lit by a window with fitted blinds.Studio unit, bathroom — A full bathroom with a glass shower enclosure, vanity and skylight above.Studio unit, ceiling — The vaulted ceiling and skylight that make a small footprint feel considerably larger.Loft unit, living — The two-level unit: open living below with the loft bedroom and its balustrade above.Loft unit, kitchen — Oak-fronted cabinetry with white subway tile, a full range and full-height refrigerator.Loft unit, stair — The stair to the loft, with the laundry built into the space beneath it.Loft unit, bedroom — The bedroom on the loft level, open to the space below over the balustrade.
01
Studio unit, outside
The single-level studio from its own paved entrance, with a black canopy over the door.
What these show
Two accessory dwelling units Elbaz designed and built, photographed at completion. They are different buildings on different lots and are presented as two projects, not one.
The studio unit
A single-level unit with its own entrance and paved forecourt: one open room combining living, kitchen and sleeping, a full bathroom, a vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam and a skylight, and a ductless indoor unit high on the wall.
The loft unit
A two-level unit: open living and kitchen below, a bedroom on a loft level above behind a black metal balustrade, a full bathroom with a patterned tile shower wall, and laundry built into the space under the stair.
Materials visible
Grey and light plank flooring, white shaker and oak-fronted cabinetry, white subway and patterned tile, black metal balustrade and hardware, and ductless wall units in both.
What is not claimed
No cost, timeline, address, client or permit history appears anywhere on this page. One frame from this set was withheld because it showed a full street number.
03
Stage 03 · Entitle
Zoning, drawings and the approvals that decide it
This is where ADU projects succeed or die. Almost every constraint that will shape the building is discovered here, before a foundation is priced.
Can it take one, and how big
We look at the lot dimensions, the existing structures, the setbacks and what the zoning permits before drawing anything. Size caps and coverage limits usually decide the building more than taste does.
What your jurisdiction actually allows
ADU rules differ sharply between municipalities here - on size, height, separation from the main house, and whether one is permitted on your lot at all. This is confirmed against your address, not assumed from a neighbouring city.
The lines you cannot cross
Side and rear setbacks, separation from the main house, lot coverage and impervious area are measured against the actual survey. These are what most often reshape a scheme.
Whether a space has to be provided
Some jurisdictions require an additional parking space for an ADU, some waive it near transit, some do not require one at all. It can change the site layout significantly.
Whether services can reach it
Electrical capacity at the existing panel, the drainage connection point and its fall, and water supply are all confirmed on site. A scheme that cannot be serviced is not a scheme.
Drawings a plan reviewer will accept
A full permit set for a new dwelling: site plan, floor plans, elevations, sections and the structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical information the jurisdiction requires.
Structural design for a new building
An ADU is a new structure and needs structural design, including foundation and wind-load requirements. In South Florida the wind criteria are not a formality.
Where a board also has to agree
Many communities have their own rules on accessory structures, and some prohibit them outright. Boards meet on their own schedule.
Filed with the right authority
Submitted to the municipal building department, or to the county where the property is unincorporated. Review comments are answered and the set resubmitted.
Permit issued and construction can begin
The permit is posted and the inspection card starts. We schedule trades around the issue date, not before it.
Requirements, review times and inspection sequences are set by your local building department, and they differ across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and between the municipalities inside them. Nothing here is a guaranteed timeline or an assurance of approval - we confirm what your address actually requires once we know it.
04
Stage 04 · Build
Building a second dwelling in your garden
In order, with the check that closes each phase. This is new construction, so it runs longer than a remodel and has more inspection points.
Site protection
Before anything is dug
Access route agreed, the main house protected, and existing landscaping and irrigation identified. Everything has to come through your garden, so the route matters.
Quality check · Access route agreed before machinery arrives
Site preparation
Clearing and setting out
The footprint is cleared and set out against the approved site plan, and the setbacks are physically verified on the ground rather than trusted from the drawing.
Quality check · Setbacks measured on site against the permit set
Foundation
The slab and its inspections
Excavation, any required soil work, formwork, reinforcement and the pour. This carries its own inspection before concrete is placed.
Quality check · Reinforcement inspected before the pour
Structure
Walls and roof
The structure goes up to the engineered design, including the wind-load requirements that apply here. The building becomes real very quickly at this stage.
Quality check · Structural inspection at framing
Dry-in
Getting it weathertight
Roof, windows, doors and the weather barrier, so the interior can proceed regardless of the afternoon storms.
Quality check · Building is weathertight before interior work starts
Services rough-in
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical
Services are run and connected back to the main supply, and the ductless system is set. This is the last moment fittings can move without opening finished walls.
Quality check · Rough-in inspections with walls still open
Insulation and board
Closing the walls
Insulation, then wallboard, then the surfaces are made ready for finishing. The building starts to feel like a home rather than a frame.
Quality check · Inspection passed before walls are closed
Finishes
Floors, tile, cabinetry
Flooring, tiling, cabinetry, worktops and joinery. In a small unit the setting-out matters more than usual because everything is visible from everywhere.
Quality check · Setting out agreed before tiling begins
Fittings and trim
Making it work
Appliances, sanitaryware, fittings, doors and trim, then the electrical and plumbing final connections.
Quality check · Every fixing lands in blocking, not just board
Final inspections
Sign-off and handover
Final inspections across the trades, then the walkthrough with you. A new dwelling gets signed off before it can be occupied.
Quality check · Final inspections passed, permit closed out
05
Stage 05 · Inspect
The three decisions people find hardest
Balanced both ways. What is right depends on your lot, your zoning and who is going to live in it.
Single level
Simplest and fully accessible
How
One floor, no stair, everything on the entry level.
Benefits
Cheaper per square foot, faster, fully accessible, and no floor area lost to a stair.
Limits
Needs more footprint for the same habitable space, which lot coverage may not allow.
Upkeep
Simplest of the two - one roof plane, no stair.
In South Florida
Usually the right answer when the lot is generous and the unit is for a parent.
Two level with a loft
More space from less ground
How
Living and kitchen below, a bedroom on a loft level above.
Benefits
More habitable space from a smaller footprint, and genuine separation between sleeping and living.
Limits
A stair costs floor area and rules out step-free living. Ceiling height on the loft has to genuinely comply.
Upkeep
Slightly more - a stair, a balustrade and more envelope.
In South Florida
Often what makes a constrained lot work at all.
Which oneIf the unit is for an older parent, or the lot has room, build one level. If lot coverage or setbacks are the binding constraint, or you need a real bedroom separate from the living space, the loft earns the stair.
Full kitchen
A genuinely independent dwelling
How
Full-size range, full-height refrigerator, proper counter run and sink.
Benefits
Makes the unit genuinely self-contained, which is usually what the zoning definition of a dwelling requires and what a long-term tenant expects.
Limits
Takes more wall length and more service capacity in a small footprint.
Upkeep
Normal kitchen maintenance.
In South Florida
Generally what an ADU has to have to count as an ADU rather than a guest room.
Kitchenette
Less space, fewer services
How
Compact appliances, a shorter counter run, sometimes no full oven.
Benefits
Frees wall length and floor area in a very small unit, and needs less service capacity.
Limits
May not satisfy the jurisdiction's definition of a dwelling unit, and is much harder to let long-term.
Upkeep
Less to maintain, but compact appliances are often shorter-lived.
In South Florida
Worth checking against your local definition before committing - it can change what the building legally is.
Which oneConfirm what your jurisdiction requires for the unit to count as a dwelling before deciding. Where a full kitchen is required, or the unit will be let, build the full kitchen - it is the difference between an ADU and a large guest room.
Purpose-built ADU
A new structure, designed as one
How
A new detached building designed from the ground up for the use.
Benefits
The layout, the ceiling height, the services and the orientation are all chosen rather than inherited. Fully independent from the main house.
Limits
More cost, a longer programme, and every setback and coverage rule applies to a new structure.
Upkeep
A whole additional building envelope to maintain.
In South Florida
Wind-load design is a real part of the engineering, not a formality.
Converting existing space
Working with what is already there
How
Converting a garage or an existing accessory structure into a dwelling.
Benefits
The shell exists, so it is usually faster and cheaper, and coverage is often already established.
Limits
You inherit the ceiling height, the footprint and the structure. Bringing an existing structure up to habitable standards can surprise on cost.
Upkeep
Similar once complete.
In South Florida
Whether the existing structure can meet current wind and habitability standards is the deciding question.
Which oneIf an existing structure has the height and the footprint, converting is usually faster and cheaper. If it does not - and many garages do not once habitable standards are applied - a purpose-built unit gives you a better building for a difference that is smaller than it first looks.
What moves the cost and the calendar
Tick whatever applies. This will not produce a price - an ADU is a whole building and no honest figure exists before the zoning answer and the utility survey - but it will show which parts carry the cost and the calendar.
What this points to
We do not publish figures for this work, because the same scope can differ several-fold once the existing conditions are visible. You get a real, itemised number after a site visit, in writing.
06
Stage 06 · Occupy
What building a second dwelling is actually like
Photographs from two completed Elbaz ADUs. Building in your own garden is closer than any other project, so it is worth knowing what the months actually look like.
How long it runs
An ADU is new construction, not a remodel - foundation, structure, dry-in, services, finishes and multiple inspections. It runs in months rather than weeks, and we will be specific once the scope and jurisdiction are known.
Access through your garden
Everything reaches the build area across your property. The route is agreed before machinery arrives, and it is the part of the garden most likely to need making good afterwards.
Noise
Concentrated at demolition or clearing, foundation and framing. It settles considerably once the building is dried in and work moves inside.
Your main house
You keep living in it. There will be short planned interruptions to power and water when services are connected, and we tell you in advance.
Inspectors on site
A new dwelling carries more inspections than a remodel - foundation, structure, rough-in across the trades, and finals. Someone needs to provide access.
Weather
Until the building is dried in, heavy rain moves the programme. We would rather lose a day than build wet.
Neighbours
A new structure near a boundary is visible to them before it is finished. Working within community hours and keeping the site tidy is part of the job.
Before anyone moves in
A new dwelling has to pass its final inspections before it can be occupied. We will not hand over keys to a unit that has not been signed off.
Why design-build matters most on an ADU
Only claims we can stand behind. Everything below is either a matter of public record or visible in the work shown on this page.
01
Licensed, bonded and insured
Elbaz Construction is a licensed general contractor, CBC1265280. An ADU is a new dwelling and is permitted work; permits are pulled in the company's name.
02
Zoning answered before design
Whether your lot can take a unit, and at what size, is confirmed against your address before drawings are produced - not discovered at plan review.
03
Design and construction in-house
The drawings, the permit application and the build are handled by the same company, so the scheme that is approved is the one that gets built.
04
Structural engineering coordinated
An ADU is a new structure and is engineered as one, including the wind criteria that apply in South Florida.
05
Utilities surveyed early
Panel capacity, drainage connection and fall are checked on site before a layout is committed, because they decide feasibility.
06
Local knowledge
ADU rules differ sharply between municipalities across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach - 104 of them - and that variation is a working detail for us.
07
One point of contact
You speak to the same person from the lot review to the final walkthrough.
08
Permit closed out
A new dwelling is signed off and the permit closed. An open permit follows the property and turns up when it is sold.
Questions, by stage
Filter to the part of the job you are thinking about.
Can I build an ADU on my lot?Before starting
That is the first question and it is answered against your specific address, because rules differ sharply between municipalities here. Lot size, setbacks, coverage, height and sometimes parking all bear on it, and some communities do not permit them at all. We check before any design work begins.
How big can it be?Before starting
Almost every jurisdiction caps ADU size, often as a percentage of the main house or as a fixed maximum, and lot coverage frequently binds before the cap does. The honest answer comes from your survey and your zoning, not from a rule of thumb.
Is it cheaper to convert my garage?Before starting
Sometimes, and it is worth checking. The shell already exists and coverage is usually established. But you inherit the ceiling height and structure, and bringing an existing garage up to habitable standards - including current wind requirements - can cost more than people expect.
Does it need a full kitchen?Design
Usually yes. Most jurisdictions define a dwelling unit as needing its own cooking facilities, and a kitchenette may not qualify. It also makes the difference between something you can let and a large guest room. We confirm your local definition first.
Can it be built for an older parent?Design
Yes, and it is worth designing for it explicitly: a level entry decided before the slab is poured, a step-free shower, blocking behind the tile for grab bars, and door widths that still work with a walker. All of that is far cheaper now than retrofitted.
Can I add a loft?Design
Often, and it is frequently what makes a constrained lot work - a bedroom above without adding footprint. The constraint is ceiling height: a loft is only habitable space if it genuinely complies, and height limits also apply to the building overall.
Do I need a survey?Planning
For a new structure, effectively yes. Setbacks, coverage and easements are measured against a real survey, not estimated from a plat or an aerial image.
Will it need extra parking?Planning
Some jurisdictions require an additional space for an ADU, some waive it, and some do not require one. It can meaningfully change the site layout, so it is confirmed early.
Does an ADU need a permit?Permits
Always. It is a new dwelling, so it is fully permitted work with structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical review, and multiple inspections through construction.
What if my lot does not meet the rules?Permits
Sometimes a scheme can be reshaped to comply - that is usually the better path. Where it cannot, a variance may be possible, but it is a separate process with its own timeline and no guaranteed outcome. We will tell you honestly which situation you are in.
What about my HOA?Permits
Many communities have their own rules on accessory structures and some prohibit them outright. Board approval is separate from the building permit and runs on the board's schedule, so it is worth starting early.
Can I live in the main house during construction?Construction
Yes. There will be short planned interruptions to power and water when services are connected, and the build area is fenced and separated.
How much of my garden will be affected?Construction
The build footprint plus the access route to it. The route is the part most likely to need making good afterwards, and it is agreed with you before anything arrives.
Why can you not give me a price now?Cost
Because an ADU is a whole building and two of the biggest cost drivers - what the zoning permits and whether services can reach it - are unknown until the lot is reviewed. A figure before that is a guess.
What makes an ADU more expensive?Cost
In rough order: extending electrical capacity, long drainage runs, difficult site access, a second level, required parking, and any variance process. Finishes matter far less than people assume.
When can someone move in?Completion
After the final inspections pass and the permit is closed. A new dwelling cannot lawfully be occupied before that, and we will not hand over keys sooner.
Does an ADU need separate maintenance?Maintenance
It is a whole additional building envelope - its own roof, its own services, its own systems. Budget for it the way you budget for the main house, proportionally.
Can utilities be separately metered?Maintenance
Sometimes, depending on the jurisdiction and the utility. Where it is allowed it makes letting the unit considerably simpler, and it is much cheaper decided at design than retrofitted.
Nothing in that stage yet — try “All”.
Client experience
What clients say, in their own words
Live Google reviews for Elbaz Construction, pulled straight from our Google Business Profile — not retyped, not edited and not selected by us.
Adir Davidov
2022-12-27
Redid my whole bathroom and kitchen. Great service - Great quality - very quick - very professional !! Highly recommended!
Lee Morali
2022-12-27
They are amazing! Very professional. Met my exact requests with so much patience and knowledge. They renovated my whole house and the whole process was such a breeze. I highly recommend them!
Shir Partush
2022-12-27
We hired them to renovate our investment property and they provided exceptional quality service for an affordable price!
Mia Zafrani
2022-10-25
Amazing experience with the entire company!
They did a great job in my house for some work that needed to be completed, and I am extremely happy with the result.
Super professional & great service.
I highly recommend Elbaz Construction.
carmit cohen
2022-10-25
After I've been Looking for a good company to renovate my house , I found those guys! These people are super professional super honest super Fast !! Don't hesitate to Rent their service! They are number one!!
Omri B
2022-10-20
I highly recommend them for home improvement. They renovated my master bathroom and a few upgrades for other guest bathrooms. They are very professional, courteous and transparent. They are great at communicating and finding ways to streamline the work. Sean has impeccable project management and customer relationship management skills. Very pleased with the work!
roni yonani
2022-10-19
Very professional! From start to end- personal kind treatment, always respectful every espect of the work was clear, and fair.
Value for money 10/10.
Thank you guys, see you at our next project, hope others will be smart and do the same!
Itzick Manasherov
2022-10-19
Needed remodeling of my master bathroom in my house. After calling around and dealing with a bunch of unexperienced companies I found Elbaz construction and gave them a call. Just from the ease of communication and friendly talk I've had with the owner I knew this was going to be the company I was going to hire. They came 2 days later and started remodeling my bathroom and knocked it out in a timely manner. Great service, great communication, and amazing work. Will definelty refer and reuse this company for any future remodeling I might need.
Sophie Brito
2022-10-19
Their work was absolutely superb, they did a fantastic job with my house renovation!! Definitely recommend
Elie Elancry
2022-10-19
Amazing job Did a total renovation of my house with them
Reviews are served live by the site's own Google Reviews plugin and update as new ones are posted. Nothing here is retyped, shortened or re-attributed.
Project files
Loft, shower and kitchen, built in.
A loft bedroom, a navy-tile shower and a garage-conversion kitchen with laundry. They are separate Elbaz project files, shown for the rooms a designed ADU is made of.
3Projects shown
11Photos
1Site videos
PROJECT 01
Loft bedroom with a vaulted beam ceiling
A bedroom on the loft level of an ADU, with a dark wood bed, a vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam, windows and a vinyl plank floor. Another view shows a dresser mirror, a ladder and the iron stair railing, and a third a king bed beside the railing.
Scope of work
Loft bedroom floor with vinyl plank
Vaulted ceiling with an exposed beam
Windows on the loft wall
Black iron railing at the stair edge
Dresser wall with a mirror
Ladder visible in one view
Materials & finishes
Vinyl plankExposed beamBlack iron railingDark wood bedMirrorWhite walls
What to look for in the photos
Look at the beam against the vaulted ceiling and the railing at the edge. Both are decided on the drawings long before framing, which is why design comes first.
Elbaz Construction project photo · 5 photos
PROJECT 02
Navy hex shower with a stone floor and linear drain
Close-ups of a navy hex-tile shower. The floor is gray stone tile with a linear drain, a wide niche is set with a white hex mosaic, and brass fittings include a rain head and a slide-bar handheld. A glass door closes the shower.
Scope of work
Navy embossed hexagon tile on the walls
Gray stone tile on the shower floor
Linear drain in the shower floor
Wide recessed niche with a white hex mosaic
Brass rain head and slide-bar handheld
Glass shower door
Materials & finishes
Navy hex tileGray stone tileLinear drainWhite mosaicBrass fixturesGlass door
What to look for in the photos
Look at the niche edge and the brass valve. Their positions are chosen on the plan and drawn into the wall framing, so the tile only has to follow.
Elbaz Construction project photo · 3 photos
PROJECT 03
Garage-conversion kitchen with stacked laundry
A converted garage seen from the glass-lite front door, with LVP flooring, recessed lights, a white shaker kitchen and stacked laundry to the right. Brass pulls and a green glass tile backsplash sit above the range, and a stainless fridge stands at the end.
Scope of work
Glass-lite front door into the unit
White shaker cabinets with brass pulls
Green glass tile backsplash behind the range
Stacked washer-dryer inside the kitchen run
Stainless fridge and range
LVP flooring and recessed lighting
Materials & finishes
White shaker doorsBrass pullsGreen glass tileLVP flooringStainless appliancesRecessed lights
What to look for in the photos
Find the stacked laundry at the right of the entry. Where it goes, and where its drain and vent run, are decisions made at design, not on site.
Elbaz Construction project photo · 3 photos
In motion
The idea, from frame to finish.
A short clip that shows the idea of an ADU from framing to a finished interior and a farmhouse exterior. It is an AI illustration, not footage of an Elbaz job.
ADU from framing to finish, as an idea · AI illustration, not an Elbaz job
Budget and schedule
Where a designed ADU spends.
A design-build ADU starts with design and engineering, then the structure and systems. Kitchen and bath come next.
Where a typical design-build ADU budget goes
Site, foundation, structure24%
Plumbing, electrical, cooling20%
Kitchen and bath18%
Design, drawings, engineering14%
Roof and exterior12%
Interior finishes6%
Permits and inspections6%
These are typical shares only. Size, site conditions and finish level move them.
A typical design-build sequence, in weeks
Survey and design
Permit review
Permit review
Site and foundation
Shell and roof
Rough-in and inspections
Selections and finishes
Finishes
Week 0Week 20.5Week 41
Permit review varies by municipality, so treat these bars as a sequence, not a promise.
How it works
Design decisions, drawn.
Three diagrams cover the choices a design sets: the type of unit, its place on the lot and how services reach it.
Choosing the unit type
Detached, attached, garage and two-story units each suit a different lot. Which are allowed depends on your municipality.
Placing it on the lot
A lot plan shows the house, the unit and the setbacks. Required distances vary by municipality and are confirmed at zoning review.
Services for a second home
Sewer, water and power run from the main house to the unit. The design fixes the route and the point of connection.
Scope planner
Shape the design first.
Choose the starting point, upper level, kitchen and bath to see an indicative range of weeks on site.
More questions
Design-build questions, answered.
How one team handles the design, the permit and the build together.
What does designing an ADU to be legal involve on paper?
A site plan from a current survey that shows setbacks, lot coverage and the building's footprint, plus floor plans, elevations and structural, plumbing and electrical sheets. Product approvals for windows, doors and roofing go on the plans too. Your municipality sets the numbers, so we check them at zoning review before design is drawn.
Who coordinates the architect, engineer and surveyor?
We do, under one contract. Design-build means the surveyor, designer, structural engineer and the construction crew work to one schedule and one budget, so a drawing change is priced as it is made. You still approve each decision, but you are not the go-between among separate firms.
Which selections do I have to make, and by when?
Flooring, tile, cabinets, fixtures, paint, windows and doors. Some need decisions before permit, like window sizes and a bathroom layout. Long lead items, such as impact windows or special tile, are chosen early so the order can go in. We give you a selection calendar with a date for each.
How do allowances work?
An allowance is a placeholder amount in the contract for something you have not chosen yet, such as tile or lighting. When you pick, the final price adjusts up or down against the allowance. Allowances let a bid be complete before every selection is made, but they must be realistic, so ask what each one covers.
Can the design change after the permit is approved?
Yes, but it costs time. Changes that affect structure, layout, windows or utilities usually need a revision submitted to the building department, and some need re-review. Small finish changes do not. We write up each change, with its effect on price and schedule, and you approve it before work continues.
What happens at the final walk-through?
We walk the unit with you room by room and list anything that needs correcting, called a punch list, with a date to finish. You also get operating instructions, product warranties and the permit documents. The unit should be inspected and closed with the municipality before you move in or rent it.
How do warranties work for the finished unit?
Your contract states the workmanship warranty we give. Manufacturers warrant products such as windows, roofing, appliances and fixtures on their own terms, and the paperwork passes to you at handover. Keep the product approvals and warranty papers together, since an insurer or a buyer may ask for them later.
Which fixture finishes hold up in humid air?
Solid brass, stainless steel and PVD-coated finishes resist tarnish and corrosion better than plated ones, especially near the coast. Matte black is durable if it is a quality coating. In a bathroom with a working exhaust fan, any good finish lasts. Ask the maker for the finish warranty before you choose.
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Proudly serving homeowners across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach
The more you can tell us about the lot and who the unit is for, the more useful the first conversation is.
What happens next
We read it properly and come back to you, usually the same or next working day.
A short call to understand the property and what is driving the project.
A lot review - we check zoning, setbacks, coverage and whether services can reach the build area.
A written, itemised proposal with the scope set out, including how unknowns are handled.
If you go ahead, we prepare and file any permit before work starts.
Thanks — that came through.
Your details are with the Elbaz Construction team and we will come back to you, usually the same or next working day. If it is urgent, call (754) 236-0675.
Start with the zoning, not the floor plan.
Whether your lot can take an ADU, and at what size, decides everything that follows. That answer is the first thing we get you.
