COLLABORATIVE BUILDING-HOW OUR SHELL PROGRAM WORKS

Collaborative Building – How our ADU Shell Program Works

We divide the construction of the ADU into 4 phases.  Typically, EquityQuest will do the first 3 phases and the ADU owner will do the Finishes phase.  We also encourage owner involvement in any phase they have knowledge and desire to perform (some exceptions apply):

  • Pre-Construction Phase

  • Site Development Phase

  • Shell Phase

  • Finishes Phase

The FINISHES phase offers you the biggest potential for savings and involvement.  

Because structure and longevity matter, EquityQuest Homes constructs the Shell of your ADU.  But we want our customers to have the opportunity to increase both their equity and their pride of ownership by working directly in Finish processes.  Over many years of trial and error, we have created a system that allows us to “hand-off” the project to you for finishes and give it back to us at the end to install plumbing and electrical fixtures.  In all honesty, many builders will not do this because it is much more complicated than doing a turn-key home without owner involvement.   

Owner involvement is done through Direct Contracting and/or Sweat Equity.  Direct Contracting you find and hire your own contractor for a given process.  Take painting for example:

  • Direct Contracting for painting is finding a skilled painter and hiring them to paint.  Most painters provide labor and materials as part of their price. 

  • Sweat Equity for painting would mean you purchase the painting materials and perform the painting labor yourselves. 

  • Homeowners also do a combination of the 2.  Many paint the walls and ceilings themselves.  Then they have the painter come in and do trim only.  There are many possibilities and it is completely up to you and your specific situation.  

Here is a quick summary of the 4 building phases:

Pre-Construction Phase:

  • SITE PLAN:

    • Lot/Zoning reviews

    • Utility planning

    • Construction access plan

    • Final footprint (building shape and size) decision

  • DESIGN/PLANS/CONTRACT

    • Finalize interior design based on exterior footprint

    • Builder review of design

    • Construction Cost Estimate and Contract

    • Engineering/Drafting of permit-ready plan set

  • PERMITS

    • Submitting permits/Respond to city checklists

    • Purchase permits and print construction documents

Site Development Phase:

  • Construction Access

  • Road/path for materials and equipment

  • Clearing build area

  • Excavate for foundation

  • Rain drains/Utility connections (power, water, sewer)

  • Backfill and rough grade after foundation pour

Shell Phase:

  • Foundation

  • Framing

  • Roof/Gutters

  • Windows and Exterior Doors

  • House wrap and Siding

  • Plumbing/Electrical/HVAC

  • Insulation/Drywall

Finishes Phase:

  • Painting

  • Cabinets/Countertops

  • Tile/Flooring

  • Trim (millwork, doors and hardware)

  • (EquityQuest brings back plumbers and electricians to install fixtures)

  • Appliances/Finish Hardware

  • Final Clean