A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateADU Company in Sherman Oaks, CA
Benson ADU Builders is the ADU company Sherman Oaks homeowners call when they want a written price before work begins, plain and simple. Most properties here were built between the 1940s and 1960s, which means post-war ranch homes, narrow side yards, and mature trees all shape how an accessory dwelling unit or addition gets designed. The climate helps – Sherman Oaks gets enough heat that insulation and window placement matter, but nothing like the extremes you see further inland. Call us at (903) 568-7222 and we’ll talk through what fits your lot.
Why Sherman Oaks Homes Are Different
Sherman Oaks housing stock runs older than a lot of buyers expect. Drive south of Ventura Boulevard and you’ll see 2- and 3-bedroom ranch homes from the 1940s and 1950s on generous lots. North of Ventura, toward the hills, the lots get steeper, the retaining walls appear, and the setbacks get less forgiving. Neither condition stops an ADU, but they do change the approach. A flat-lot build on a street like those near Kester Avenue moves differently than a hillside build near Mulholland Drive, where soil reports and foundation engineering get more involved.
Setbacks – the legal distance between a structure and the property line – are the big variable in Sherman Oaks. A standard rear-yard ADU typically needs a 4-foot side and rear setback, but a detached garage conversion can often use the existing footprint, which sidesteps that entirely. That’s why so many Sherman Oaks homeowners convert garages rather than build from scratch. If a date shows the garage was built before the 1960s, it may not even have proper footings, and then we’re talking about a rebuild, not a conversion. Benson homes in on those details early so the written price reflects the real job.
Our Main Sherman Oaks Services
These are the two projects Sherman Oaks homeowners ask about most, and each has its own page with local pricing, timelines, and what to expect.
ADU Builders in Sherman Oaks
Building an ADU in Sherman Oaks usually means a detached backyard unit, a garage conversion, or a JADU – that’s a junior accessory dwelling unit, typically carved out of an existing house with its own entrance and a small kitchen. The flat neighborhoods south of Ventura Boulevard are straightforward for prefab and site-built units alike; the hillside lots north of Ventura need more footing work. ADU Builders in Sherman Oaks is the page to see how we handle each scenario.
Home Addition Contractor in Sherman Oaks
A home addition in Sherman Oaks often means extending a 1950s ranch home or adding a second floor above a one-story footprint. City permit records for older homes aren’t always complete, so we budget for discoveries inside the walls – outdated wiring, undersized framing, or previous unpermitted work. That’s exactly why we write the price before we open anything up. Home Addition Contractor in Sherman Oaks covers the details.
Room Addition Contractor in Sherman Oaks
A room addition means one new space – a primary suite, an office, or a family room – not a full second dwelling. On Sherman Oaks lots, this often means building behind the existing garage or extending a rear wall into the yard. The smaller the room, the more the permitting and design costs matter as a share of the total, so we keep the scope tight and the budget honest. Room Addition Contractor in Sherman Oaks has the full breakdown.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Brands We Service in Sherman Oaks
Benson is authorized to build with Cover, Dvele, and Mighty Buildings, which means Sherman Oaks homeowners get curated prefab options instead of a single take-it-or-leave-it product. We also work with Boxabl where lots allow. See our brands for what each system offers.
Pricing for ADU Company in Sherman Oaks, CA
| Service | Typical range in Sherman Oaks |
|---|---|
| Garage conversion ADU (studio) | $120,000 – $180,000 |
| Garage conversion ADU (1-bedroom) | $150,000 – $220,000 |
| Detached new-build ADU (studio) | $180,000 – $260,000 |
| Detached new-build ADU (1-bedroom) | $220,000 – $320,000 |
| Detached new-build ADU (2-bedroom) | $280,000 – $400,000 |
| JADU conversion (within existing home) | $80,000 – $130,000 |
| Prefab ADU (turnkey, brand-dependent) | $200,000 – $380,000 |
| Home addition (ground-level, per sq ft) | $250 – $400 per sq ft |
| Second-story addition (per sq ft) | $300 – $500 per sq ft |
| Room addition (single room, turnkey) | $70,000 – $140,000 |
Hillside properties north of Ventura Boulevard push prices toward the top of these ranges because of foundation work, retaining walls, and longer utility runs. Whatever the job, you’ll get a written line-item price before any work starts – the number doesn’t move unless the scope does, and we put that promise in writing.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Sherman Oaks
Benson’s crews work across Sherman Oaks regularly, south of Ventura Boulevard, in the hills, and everywhere in between. Most projects get started within two to three weeks of permit approval, depending on materials and crew availability.
- Van Nuys adjacent – the flat streets south of Ventura near Kester Avenue
- The Hills – steep lots north of Ventura near Mulholland Drive
- Sherman Oaks Square – the neighborhood grid near the Galleria
- Chandler Estates – streets east of Van Nuys Boulevard
- Longridge – the southern edge near the 101
Service Area – Cities Near Sherman Oaks
Benson ADU Builders works throughout the San Fernando Valley and the surrounding area, scheduled and dispatched from our Los Angeles office. If your project is in a neighboring city, start with Van Nuys, CA, Encino, CA, Studio City, CA, or Tarzana, CA.
Serving Sherman Oaks, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Sherman Oaks area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About ADU Company in Sherman Oaks
Most Sherman Oaks projects move from signed contract to permit submission within two to four weeks. The city’s planning review timeline is outside our control, but we submit complete plans the first time to avoid resubmission delays. Call (903) 568-7222 to walk through your specific timeline.
If your Sherman Oaks property sits in an HOA, you’ll typically need architectural review even though California state law limits what HOAs can prohibit. We’ll flag the HOA requirement early and include any documentation they need in your permit package. Call (903) 568-7222 with your HOA docs and we’ll tell you what applies.
Yes – the written price we give you before work starts covers the full scope we agreed on, including materials, labor, and known conditions like older wiring or hillside footings. If we open a wall and find something nobody could have predicted, we tell you before spending a dollar more. Reach us at (903) 568-7222 to schedule a free estimate.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local adu pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Sherman Oaks Customers Say
"Booked a consult online and met the project manager two days later. Weekly progress updates arrived by text with photos. ADU finished on schedule."
- Hannah W."Clean, quiet crew. They respected the neighbors, kept noise to working hours, and swept the driveway every evening."
- Hope C."Communication was the best part. I always knew what was happening that week without having to ask."
- Dolly N.
