A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateADU Company in Chowchilla, CA
Lodgewick ADU Builders is the ADU company Chowchilla homeowners call when they want a straight answer on adding a garage conversion, home addition, or accessory dwelling unit to their property. Most Chowchilla lots are larger than what you’d find closer to the Valley’s bigger cities, but that space comes with its own set of rules: septic systems, well setbacks, and agricultural zoning all shape where an ADU can go and how big it can be. We write the price before any work starts, show up in the window we give you, and put the guarantee in writing. Call (559) 354-0579 to talk through your lot.
Why Chowchilla Homes Are Different
Chowchilla housing runs heavily toward single-family detached homes built between the 1950s and 1980s, with ranch-style layouts and a fair number of manufactured homes mixed in. Those older homes often sit on septic systems rather than city sewer, and many pull water from private wells. That changes ADU work in ways homeowners don’t always expect. A detached ADU on a septic lot has to clear leach field setback requirements, which can push the structure toward one side of the property or limit its footprint. Adding a second bathroom sometimes means a percolation test before Madera County Environmental Health will sign off. We coordinate that paperwork, so you’re not guessing which county office to call.
The other factor is heat. Chowchilla summers routinely pass 100°F, and any ADU built here needs insulation and cooling designed for that reality, not a generic spec from a coastal climate. We size HVAC and insulation for Central Valley summers from the first plan, because retrofitting a hot ADU after the fact costs more than getting it right up front. Older ranch homes occasionally need seismic retrofitting or utility upgrades before an addition can tie in, and we’ll tell you that during the estimate, not after demolition starts. Russ Delmar oversees how our Chowchilla estimates get put together, and he’d rather flag a soil or septic issue in week one than surprise you with it in week six.
Our Main Chowchilla Services
Most Chowchilla homeowners reach out about one of three things: adding square footage to the main house, converting an existing garage or outbuilding, or building a standalone ADU in the backyard. Each has its own page with Chowchilla-specific detail.
Home Addition Contractor in Chowchilla
A home addition in Chowchilla usually means extending a ranch home outward for a new primary suite, a larger kitchen, or a home office. Because so many older Chowchilla homes were built on pier-and-grade foundations with septic systems, the addition has to clear setback rules for the leach field and may need foundation work before framing starts. We handle the county coordination as part of the bid. See our Home Addition Contractor in Chowchilla page for pricing and specifics.
Garage Conversion Contractor in Chowchilla
Many Chowchilla properties have detached garages or older outbuildings that sit empty half the year. Converting one into a rental unit or a guest suite is often the fastest path to new living space, since the shell already exists. The catch is what’s underneath: sewer or septic line rerouting, and sometimes electrical service upgrades if the garage was built for a workshop. Our Garage Conversion Contractor in Chowchilla page walks through what a typical conversion costs here.
ADU Builders in Chowchilla
A standalone ADU, which is a small house built on a larger property, gives Chowchilla homeowners a rental unit or a place for aging parents without touching the main home. On R-A and A-1 lots, county rules are workable but specific: well spacing, leach field setbacks, and percolation results all shape the design. We bring prefab options where they fit and site-built plans where they don’t. The ADU Builders in Chowchilla page breaks down the differences and the local price ranges.
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 Chowchilla
We work with established ADU manufacturers so Chowchilla homeowners aren’t stuck with a single design approach. Abodu, Cover, and Dvele units come into play when a compact, predictable prefab fits the lot. For site-built garages and additions, we specify James Hardie siding and Tuff Shed structures where they make sense. See our brands page for the full lineup and turnaround notes.
Pricing for ADU Company in Chowchilla, CA
| Service | Typical range in Chowchilla |
|---|---|
| Detached ADU (site-built, basic finish) | $180,000 – $280,000 |
| Detached ADU (prefab: Abodu, Cover, Dvele) | $160,000 – $240,000 |
| Garage conversion (attached, basic finish) | $90,000 – $150,000 |
| Garage conversion (detached, with utility upgrades) | $110,000 – $180,000 |
| Home addition (single room, 200 – 400 sq ft) | $80,000 – $140,000 |
| Home addition (primary suite with bathroom) | $120,000 – $200,000 |
| Septic system upgrade or leach field rework | $10,000 – $30,000 |
| Electrical service upgrade (100A to 200A) | $3,500 – $7,000 |
| Foundation retrofit for older ranch homes | $8,000 – $25,000 |
| Permit and county coordination (Madera County) | $3,000 – $8,000 |
What moves the number in Chowchilla is usually what’s under the ground: a failing septic system, a well that sits too close to the planned ADU, or soil that won’t perc without extra grading. The price we write before work starts is the price you pay, no change orders at the door. Each line item is on the written estimate, and so is the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Chowchilla
We work across Chowchilla, from the older grid near downtown out to the larger agricultural parcels on the edges of town. Response time for an estimate visit is typically within a few business days, depending on the season.
- Downtown Chowchilla
- Robertson Boulevard corridor
- Heritage Ranch area
- North Chowchilla (A-1 parcels)
- South Chowchilla (R-A parcels)
Service Area – Cities Near Chowchilla
While this page covers Chowchilla specifically, our crews also run estimates and builds in nearby Central Valley cities. We serve Madera, CA, Kerman, CA, Fresno, CA, and Clovis, CA. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Fresno Central Valley office, with local crews serving Chowchilla directly.
Serving Chowchilla, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Chowchilla 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 Chowchilla
If your property is on septic rather than city sewer, yes, Madera County Environmental Health will almost always require a perc test before approving an ADU with a bathroom or kitchen. The result determines your leach field setback and can limit the ADU’s footprint. Call (559) 354-0579 and we’ll tell you what your lot will likely need.
County review for a straightforward ADU typically runs 2 to 5 months, but septic and well reviews can add time. We submit the full package up front to avoid back-and-forth delays. Call (559) 354-0579 for a realistic timeline for your specific parcel.
Often yes. R-A and A-1 parcels in Madera County may allow ADUs, but groundwater management rules and well spacing requirements constrain placement and size. We check those constraints during the estimate so you know what’s possible before spending money on plans. Call (559) 354-0579 to start.
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 Chowchilla Customers Say
"The ADU came out beautiful and the permitting, which terrified me, was handled start to finish. They kept me updated every week so I was never wondering what was happening."
- Shauna Mills"Good builders. Communication was mostly great, though there was a stretch where I had to chase an update during the permit wait. Once it got going again it moved fast and clean."
- Phil Ostrander"Converted our garage into a rental studio. The crew was respectful of the neighbors and kept the site clean. It's bringing in rent now and paid for itself faster than I expected."
- Grace Yoon
