We take your project from idea to approved permit. Architectural design, structural engineering, a complete permit set and every third-party consultant the city requires, managed by one team.
What’s included
- Architectural design: floor plans, elevations and layouts built around how you actually live.
- Structural engineering: foundations, framing and beams engineered for your house and your soil.
- A complete permit set: drawings, calculations and forms ready for city submittal.
- Third-party consultants: we hire and coordinate the specialists your city requires, such as land surveyors, soils (geotechnical) engineers, Title 24 energy consultants and arborists.
- The city process: we submit, track review cycles and answer every round of plan check comments.
Why one team matters
Most homeowners end up managing an architect, an engineer, a surveyor and a contractor who have never worked together, and every handoff costs time. Because we design, engineer and build, the plans are drawn by the people who will build them. Costs are checked against real construction prices while the design is still on paper, not after the permit is issued.
How long permitting takes
For a typical Bay Area addition, plan on about 6 to 8 weeks to draw the plans, around 10 working days for the city to accept the submittal, then 30-day review cycles until approval. Small projects can be faster. Some cities offer express permits for small one-story additions, and hillside lots or design review can add time. We tell you up front which path your project is on.
Recent projects
- Fremont second story: drilled-pier foundation retrofit engineered for expansive soil
- Saratoga addition designed around site-coverage rules
- Willow Glen attic conversion with a raised gable and spiral staircase
Questions homeowners ask
Do you only design projects you build?
Design and permitting are the first phase of our design-build process, so the plans are drawn with construction in mind. Ask us about your project and we will tell you how we can help.
Which consultants will my project need?
It depends on the city and the lot. Common ones are a land surveyor for setbacks and easements, a soils engineer for foundations and hillside sites, a Title 24 energy consultant and an arborist when protected trees are nearby. We identify and coordinate the ones your project needs.
How long does it take to get a permit?
Plan on about 6 to 8 weeks for plans, roughly 10 working days for city intake, then 30-day review cycles until approval. Smaller projects and express permit programs can be faster.
More services
- Finish Materials Sourcing & Procurement
- Kitchen Remodels & Custom Cabinetry
- Bathroom Remodels
- Whole-Home Interior Remodels
- Home Additions, Second Stories & ADUs
We work across the South Bay, the Peninsula and the East Bay hills. See all the areas we serve, or learn about us.
Licensed and insured
CSLB license #1077286, Class B General Building.
Planning a project? Call (650) 801-2699 or request a free consultation.