A free site visit, a check of what your lot allows and a written, line-item price.
Get your free estimateADU Company in Burlingame, CA
Adding an ADU in Burlingame usually means working with a pre-1940 house, a detached garage that’s seen better days, and a design review process that rewards restraint. Most of our Burlingame projects are garage conversions or “Burlingame basement” dig-downs in the Easton Addition and Lyon-Hoag neighborhoods, where homeowners want the square footage without changing the street’s historic character. That shapes everything: foundation work, seismic retrofits, setback strategies, and material choices that hold up to coastal fog. We’re Benson ADU Builders, and we put the full plan and price in writing before any work starts. Call (424) 328-5746 for a free estimate.
Why Burlingame Homes Are Different
Burlingame’s housing stock runs older than most Peninsula cities. Craftsman bungalows, Spanish Colonial Revivals, and Tudor cottages sit on generous lots with detached garages at the back of the property, which is exactly where most ADU conversations begin. Those garages were built for Model T Fords, not living space, so they typically need a seismic retrofit, a new foundation, or both before any framing goes up.
The climate helps and hurts in equal measure. You rarely need air conditioning in a Burlingame ADU, which trims mechanical costs. But the fog that rolls through the hills also pushes moisture into basements and old concrete, so insulation and vapor barriers aren’t optional; they’re the difference between a comfortable unit and a mold problem two years in. In neighborhoods like Easton Addition and Lyon-Hoag, design review adds another layer. The city wants infill that reads as original to the lot, not a box dropped behind a 1925 Spanish Colonial. That constraint pushes many owners toward historically sensitive conversions rather than bold modern additions.
Our Main Burlingame Services
Burlingame homeowners typically call us about one of three things: building an ADU, adding square footage to the main house, or converting a specific room into something more useful. Here’s how each plays out locally.
ADU Builders in Burlingame
The classic Burlingame ADU job is a detached garage conversion, often combined with a dig-down to gain ceiling height, the move locals call a “Burlingame basement.” That means jacking the existing structure, pouring a deeper foundation, and managing groundwater before the first wall goes up. We also handle JADUs carved out of existing floor plans for homeowners who want a smaller, faster permit path. Every plan accounts for setback rules, floor-area ratio limits, and design review conditions specific to Burlingame. See ADU Builders in Burlingame for full pricing and process.
Home Addition Contractor in Burlingame
Home additions in Burlingame tend to go up rather than out. Lots are wide but front and side setbacks eat into buildable area, so second-story additions and rear bump-outs are the most common plays. A typical project runs a few hundred square feet and touches nearly every system in the house: foundation, framing, roofing, electrical, plumbing. On Tudor and Craftsman homes, matching rooflines and window trim matters, and design review notices when it doesn’t. Read more at Home Addition Contractor in Burlingame.
Room Addition Contractor in Burlingame
A room addition in Burlingame is the smallest project we take on, but it still involves structural work, foundation inspection, and the same permit path as a larger addition. Common jobs include converting an enclosed porch into a bedroom, turning an attic into a home office, or extending a kitchen into the side yard. On older homes, we often find knob-and-tube wiring or sagging floor joists that need addressing before the finish work starts. Details at Room Addition Contractor in Burlingame.
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 Burlingame
We’re authorized to build with Plant Prefab, Tuff Shed, James Hardie, and Abodu, and we spec them where they fit a Burlingame lot. Hardie plank cladding holds up well against coastal moisture, and Plant Prefab panels speed up framing on tight sites. Browse our brands to compare options before you commit.
Pricing for ADU Company in Burlingame, CA
| Service | Typical range in Burlingame |
|---|---|
| Detached ADU (site-built) | $250,000 – $450,000 |
| Prefab ADU (Abodu or similar) | $200,000 – $350,000 |
| Garage conversion ADU | $150,000 – $250,000 |
| JADU (interior conversion) | $60,000 – $120,000 |
| “Burlingame basement” dig-down | Adds $50,000 – $100,000+ to the ADU budget |
| Home addition | $200,000 – $500,000 |
| Room addition | $80,000 – $180,000 |
| Seismic retrofit (pre-1940 garage or house) | $15,000 – $40,000 |
| Foundation upgrade for ADU conversion | $20,000 – $60,000 |
Dig-downs, seismic retrofits, and design-review revisions are the three things that push Burlingame prices above the Bay Area average, and they’re common here because of the housing stock and high water tables. Whatever the final number, you’ll see it in writing before work starts, with no change orders unless you approve them first.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Burlingame
We work across the city, but most of our projects cluster in a few areas where the lots and garages are right for ADU work. Response time for Burlingame is typically same-day or next-day depending on when you call.
- Easton Addition
- Lyon-Hoag
- Burlingame Terrace
- Burlingame Village
- Mills Estates
Service Area – Cities Near Burlingame
While this page covers Burlingame, our crews also take on projects in neighboring cities across the Peninsula and up the coast. See our pages for El Granada, CA, Half Moon Bay, CA, San Francisco, CA, and Castro Valley, CA.
Serving Burlingame, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Burlingame 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 Burlingame
Most Burlingame homeowners reach a live person on the first call, any hour, any day. A site visit is typically scheduled within a couple of days, and you’ll have a written price shortly after we walk the property. Call (424) 328-5746 to get on the calendar.
Yes, especially in historic-character neighborhoods like Easton Addition and Lyon-Hoag. The city reviews exterior materials, massing, and how the structure reads from the street. We handle the application, revisions, and conditions as part of the project, and we’ll tell you upfront what the review is likely to require.
We do. That includes building permits, design review, and any planning conditions specific to your lot. You’ll see the permit walkthrough in your written scope and price before you sign anything, so there’s no mystery about what the city is asking for or what it costs.
If you’re thinking about an ADU, addition, or room conversion in Burlingame, call (424) 328-5746. We’ll walk the property, explain what’s feasible, and hand you a written price before any work begins.
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 Burlingame Customers Say
"Solid job. Cabinets arrived late but they adjusted the schedule."
- Eli K."Plumbing and electrical passed on the first inspection."
- Alan B."Communication was the best part. I always knew what was happening that week without having to ask."
- Dolly N.
