Knowledge center
California construction, in the open.
We publish what we wish a homeowner had handed us on day one: every permit portal we file in, the real cost bands for the work, and the field tools we use ourselves. No email gates, no affiliate links — just primary sources and honest numbers.
Directory
California Permit Directory
20+ city and county building departments — each with its own page covering portal links, typical timelines, fee ranges, and the ADU rules that actually trip homeowners up.
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Pricing data
2026 California Construction Cost Report
Installed $/sqft bands for ADUs, kitchens, baths, additions, roofing, foundations, and seismic work — LA versus Bay Area, side by side.
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Cost guides
Cost Guides by Scope
Long-form, citation-backed cost guides for ADUs, kitchens, baths, roofs, foundations, and whole-home remodels — with drivers, soft costs, and labor rates broken out.
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Calculators
Field Calculators & Tools
Quick budgeting tools we hand to clients on site visits — start with the ADU cost calculator and branch into category estimators.
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Long-form
Field Guides
Builder-written walkthroughs of permitting, sequencing, and the quirks of LADBS, SF DBI, and county jurisdictions.
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Reference
Construction Glossary
Plain-English definitions for the terms a contractor uses on day one — JADU, soft-story, HVHZ, Title 24, lateral system.
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Editorial
Field Journal
Long-read articles on ADU economics, retrofit law, and the parts of a remodel that don't make it onto a contractor's website.
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Popular permit pages
By jurisdiction.
Popular cost guides
By scope.
- How much an ADU actually costs in California (2026). →
- Kitchen remodel cost in California, 2026 edition. →
- Bathroom remodel cost in California, 2026 edition. →
- Roof replacement cost in California, 2026 edition. →
- Foundation repair cost in California, 2026 edition. →
- Whole-home remodel cost in California, 2026 edition. →
Want the full 2026 cost report, signed and stamped?
- Real ranges from real Bay & LA permits
- Zip-code breakdown emailed to you
- We update it quarterly — you stay on the list
Free · No upsell