Lexington, SC ADU Architect, Designer, and Builder

Some homeowners add accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to their properties to enhance the function for their family, while others do it to increase property value or house tenants. Whatever your purpose for wanting to build an ADU, we can handle the initial stages of designing and carefully planning the structure.

After we learn the details of your vision, we will create a design proposal for an ADU. Then, we edit plans and finalize them with you, no matter how many alterations you want to make. Before hiring an ADU architect, ask about their process. Our architectural designers give straightforward answers about budget, timeline, and customization questions, provide our creative input for design solutions, and even refer clients to trustworthy builders to carry on their project.

Call 803-404-7168 to reach the ADU architectural designers of Phase One today.

What Questions Should You Ask ADU Architects, Designers, and Builders?

Before trusting anyone to design and plan an ADU, there are certain questions you should ask to determine whether an architectural designer is the right fit for you.

You can ask about the architect’s process and how long it typically takes them to complete building-ready plans. We may take as little as two months to design large, custom homes, so an ADU may take less than two months to plan.

That all depends on the specifics of a project, and we caution clients against agreeing to plans they are not 100% happy with so that they can break ground sooner.

You can also ask for reliable referrals for builders and vendors. While our focus is on the initial stage of residential construction, phase one, we remain in contact throughout their builds. We can even help you find a trustworthy builder and provide them with physical and digital copies of the completed ADU plans.

While we strive to provide straightforward ADU plans that most builders can easily follow, we also welcome any questions builders or our clients may have and promptly answer them.

How Do Architects Design ADUs in Lexington, SC?

We design structurally sound, attractive ADUs for clients throughout South Carolina, including Lexington.

Listen to Your Vision

We can only start designing accessory dwelling units once we have a clear understanding of the client’s vision for the structure. That is why a thorough consultation is important. Be forthcoming about your likes and dislikes so we know the direction to go in. Feel free to bring photos of styles, colors, or hardware you love, too.

Not only will we listen to your vision, but we will also tell you if any aspects of that vision are feasible based on your desired budget and timeline.

Create Design Proposal

The design proposal we send after holding a consultation and considering all your requests is just the starting point for your ADU plans. You can see vision reflected in the design proposal, and we encourage you to make edits where necessary.

Seeing ideas more realized confirms style or design choices some clients make, and causes others to change their minds. Nothing is set in stone at this point, and you can change the square footage, floor plan, or anything else.

Finalize Plans

After receiving feedback on the design proposal, we will begin finalizing the ADU plans. You can meet with us as many times as you need to discuss the floor plan and other details. An accessory dwelling unit needs certain rooms, like a kitchen, living area, bathroom, and sleeping area, and we can creatively design a floor plan on a small footprint without making the ADU feel too cramped.

Towards the end of the design process, you can view a 3D rendering of what the finished ADU will look like. This gives you the opportunity to confirm the design decisions we have made together and make any last-minute adjustments before we finalize our permit-ready building plans.

Is an ADU Architect Necessary for Structural Integrity?

Having our architectural designers plan the ADU you wish to add to your property is ideal. Not only can we design an attractive structure, but we can also engineer it properly so it remains strong and standing for many years to come.

Building materials contribute to an ADU’s structural integrity, and we can help you choose the right materials for South Carolina’s hot and humid climate.

Do You Need an ADU Architect to Get Building Permits?

Without our architectural designers by your side during the ADU planning process, you might unknowingly violate building and zoning rules.

We are familiar with what is and is not allowed regarding ADUs and other structures, and can create plans that adhere to zoning rules in Lexington. This should make getting construction permits much easier for your builder, and we can explain which permits are necessary for the project to go smoothly.

What Creative Input Can an ADU Architect and Designer Provide?

Our architectural designers have the creative and design experience to plan the accessory dwelling unit you need. Whether the ADU is for an adult child, parent, or tenant, we can add the functional elements you are looking for without compromising the ADU’s aesthetic. Let us help you design around size limitations, especially if you are converting an existing structure into an ADU, like a detached garage.

We can also give you the honest answers you are looking for regarding all the questions you have about adding an ADU to your property in Lexington. We can estimate how long the project may take depending on the structure’s size and complexity. Please let us know what you are comfortable spending on the entire project, including the design process, land improvements, and construction, and we can inform you about what is possible within that budget.