Allied Gardens & San Carlos
ADU and home addition builder in Allied Gardens and San Carlos
Just across Mission Gorge from our Tierrasanta office, Allied Gardens, San Carlos, and Del Cerro are full of homes that families love and have simply outgrown. We design, permit, and build the extra space they need, as the local ADU builder and home addition contractor for these neighborhoods.
Building in Allied Gardens, San Carlos, and Del Cerro
These neighborhoods grew up mostly in the 1950s and 1960s around Lake Murray and the foot of Cowles Mountain. Many homes are single-story ranch houses, which makes a second story or a ground-floor addition a natural way to gain bedrooms without leaving a neighborhood people tend to stay in for a long time.
Lots vary a lot. Flatter streets in Allied Gardens often have room for a backyard ADU, while hillside lots in Del Cerro and San Carlos can bring slopes, views to protect, and setbacks that shape the design. Lots near open space may sit in a fire hazard zone, where the building code calls for fire-resistant construction.
What we build here
Backyard ADUs
A small home of its own for a parent or a grown child, or a rental where local rules allow. See our ADU page.
Garage conversions
A permitted living unit from the garage you already have. See garage conversions.
Home additions
A primary suite or ground-floor suite designed to match the house. See home additions.
Second stories
Bedrooms upstairs, and the yard stays. See second-story additions.
Custom homes
A new home on your lot when starting over makes more sense. See custom homes.
Permits for projects here
Allied Gardens, San Carlos, and Del Cerro are part of the City of San Diego's Navajo community, so permits come from the City's Development Services Department. Our architects and engineers prepare the plans, and our permit expediters take them through the City until the permit is issued.
For a second story on an older house, our engineers look at the existing foundation and framing first and design what the new floor needs, so the plans are built on a clear picture of your home.
Nearby neighborhoods
We also build in Grantville, Tierrasanta, La Mesa, Santee, and El Cajon. See the full service area, or contact us to book a free visit.
Other areas we serve
Common questions
Can my ranch house in Allied Gardens take a second story?
Many can, sometimes with foundation or framing upgrades. Our engineers check the existing structure before design, and you see the result in 3D before construction starts.
I have a hillside lot in Del Cerro. Can I still add on?
Often yes, but the slope, setbacks, and any fire-zone rules shape what fits and where. We look at your lot at the free first visit.
Who issues permits here?
These neighborhoods are in the City of San Diego, so permits come from the City's Development Services Department. Our permit expediters handle the submission and the comments.
Do you work in Spanish?
Yes. We work with clients in English and Spanish from the first visit to the final walk-through.
Can you match the look of a 1950s ranch house?
Yes. Our architects design the addition or second story around the original rooflines, windows, and exterior, so it looks like part of the house, and you see it in 3D first.
Planning a project in Allied Gardens and San Carlos?
The first visit and feasibility check are free, and we can help you look into financing.