California general
contractor — full catalog.
Alpha Dream is a licensed California general contractor working in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Twenty-five services across six trades — ADUs and additions, interior remodels, exterior construction, structural & building systems, ground-up new construction, and commercial / multifamily — all designed, permitted, and built by one team with one superintendent on-site daily.
Every construction trade, one contractor.
The catalog below is organized by what we self-perform and coordinate. Click a service to see region-specific pricing, permits, and timeline for Los Angeles or the Bay Area.
ADU & Housing Expansion
Interior Remodeling
Exterior Construction
Structural & Building Systems
New Construction
Commercial & Multifamily
Remodels.
Most of our remodel work happens in Santa Monica, Pasadena, Burbank, and the Westside — Spanish revivals, Craftsman bungalows, mid-century post-and-beam, and post-war ranches. We self-perform framing and finish carpentry, and we keep the same superintendent on your job from demo to handover.
Item R-01
To the studs, when it's time.
Whole-home remodels
Spanish revivals, post-war Craftsman, mid-century ranches. Seismic upgrades, layout rework, plumbing and electrical pulled and reset. One project superintendent on-site every working day.
- Seismic & foundation upgrades
- Whole-house re-pipe & re-wire
- Window, roof, siding replacement
- Historic-district compliant restorations
Item R-02
Walls come down. Light comes in.
Kitchen re-imagining
Honest cabinetry, soft-close everything, the appliance package you actually want. Three local cabinet shops on rotation; we never spec from a big-box catalog.
- Custom millwork from LA cabinet makers
- Stone fabricated locally — Heath, Fireclay, slab yards
- Integrated paneled appliances when wanted
- Permitted electrical & gas re-routes
Item R-03
Skylights, steam, stone.
Bath sanctuaries
Built for the next twenty years of mornings. Wet-room layouts, curbless showers, radiant floors. Schluter Kerdi, two coats, every single time.
- Curbless wet rooms
- Radiant heated floors
- Schluter waterproofing system
- Custom vanity millwork
Item R-04
More house, same lot.
Additions & second-story pop-ups
Bump-outs, rear additions, second-story additions. We thread the needle on setbacks, FAR limits, and historic review so the new work reads like it was always there.
- Rear & side additions
- Second-story additions on existing foundation
- FAR & setback feasibility before you commit
- Tied-in foundations and roof framing
ADUs.
California opened the door wide on ADUs — SB-9, AB-2221, and a stack of follow-ons mean most single-family lots in Greater LA can now host one (sometimes two) accessory units. Local rules still vary lot-to-lot. We translate the law into what your specific parcel allows before you commit a dollar.
By the numbers —
- Typical sqft
- 400–1,200
- Permit time
- 4–10 weeks
- Build time
- 14–22 weeks
- Starting at
- $185k
Will an ADU fit on your lot?
Four quick questions. We'll tell you what's likely buildable, how the permit path changes for your city, and the right next step — no email required to see the answer.
Answer the four above and the recommendation lands here.
Item A-01
A small house, freestanding.
Detached new-build ADU
Cedar, cement-board, or stucco. Slab-on-grade or pier foundation. Up to 1,200 sqft per state law, with full kitchen, bath, and laundry. Solar- and EV-ready as standard.
- Up to 1,200 sqft, two stories where allowed
- Heat-pump HVAC + heat-pump water heater
- Title 24 energy compliance in-house
- Solar-ready, EV-ready conduit on day one
Item A-02
The cheapest way in.
Garage conversion ADU
Existing footprint, new everything inside. Ministerial approval in most jurisdictions — usually no setback or parking review. Vault the ceiling and add skylights for the daylight a garage never had.
- Ministerial approval where eligible
- Slab insulation + radon mitigation when needed
- Vaulted ceilings & skylights for daylight
- Compact wet-bath + kitchenette layouts
Item A-03
Share a wall, save a slab.
Attached ADU & bump-outs
Carved out of the existing house or bumped out the side or rear. Cheaper utility runs, faster schedule, fewer foundations. Best for lots that won't fit a detached unit.
- Side & rear bump-out additions
- Internal conversion of basement or attic
- Separate entrance, separate utilities optional
- Fire-rated wall assemblies handled in-house
Item A-04
Up to 500 sqft, in the main house.
JADU (junior ADU)
Carved from the existing house. Limited to 500 sqft. Owner-occupancy required on one of the two units. Often the fastest permit path and the lowest cost-per-sqft.
- Up to 500 sqft within existing walls
- Efficiency kitchen permitted
- Shared sanitation OK with main house
- Owner-occupancy deed restriction filed
From napkin to keys.
Five steps. Same on a $60k bath and an $800k whole-home.
Week 0
Site walk
Free. We come out, you show us, we ask annoying questions.
Week 1–2
Feasibility & quote
Setbacks, FAR, structural reality, and a real number — not a placeholder.
Week 3–10
Design + permits
Architectural, structural, Title 24. We pull the permit; your name stays off the counter.
Week 11–32
Build
One superintendent on-site daily. Weekly owner walk, photos every Friday.
Final week
Punch & handover
Walk-through with your list, not ours. Two-year workmanship warranty starts the day you move back in.
What we won't do —
- Track-home cookie-cutter builds
- Anything we'd sub out 80% of (we self-perform framing & finish)
- Below-cost competitive bids — we walk before we cut a corner
- Projects without a permit — full stop
FAQ.
What's a real cost range for an LA kitchen or bath?
Kitchens land between $65k and $180k depending on size, structural work, and appliance package. Baths between $38k and $110k. ADUs start around $135k for a garage conversion and reach $450k for a detached two-story. We price each project line-by-line — no square-foot guesses.
How long does a remodel actually take?
From signed contract to occupancy: kitchens 8–12 weeks, baths 5–8 weeks, whole-home remodels 6–10 months, ADUs 4–7 months once permitted. LADBS and city-of-LA permits add 4–16 weeks depending on jurisdiction and scope.
Do you handle permits and design?
Yes. Architectural drawings, structural engineering, Title 24, and the LADBS / city permit application are all in-house or with our regular partners. Your name never goes on the counter at the building department.
Can you work with my architect?
Often. We have a short list of LA architects we love working with, and we're happy to review drawings from anyone — we'll flag constructability issues before you spend more on design.
Do you offer financing?
We don't lend, but we work regularly with three Southern California lenders that specialize in remodel and ADU loans (HELOC, RenoFi, construction-to-perm). Happy to make an intro at the feasibility stage.
What's the warranty?
Two years on workmanship from the day of final occupancy. Manufacturer warranties pass through to you on appliances, windows, roofing, and mechanical systems. We come back to fix our own work, no charge, no argument.
Prefer to chat first? Open the contact page →
FAQ
Services FAQ
Which California ADU type rents for the most?
What's the difference between a remodel and an addition?
Do you handle kitchen-only remodels?
How much does a primary-bath remodel cost?
Can you build over the garage to add a master suite?
Do you do whole-home remodels while we live elsewhere?
What's the smallest project you take?
Do you sell modular or prefab ADUs?
Can I keep my existing kitchen cabinets and just reface?
Do you do solar and battery as part of the remodel?
Pick what you're building. We draft the scope for free.
- Line-item scope sheet — not a one-page 'proposal'
- Three pricing tiers so you see where the money goes
- Turnaround: 3 business days from your call
Free · No pressure · Yours to keep