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frequently asked questions about building ADUs, Backyard Offices, & Studios

Elbow Room FAQ

The Elbow Room Customer Journey

The Elbow Room Construction Process

All About ADUs

The Elbow Room
Customer Journey

An ADU is a significant purchase.  Part of that purchase is your experience through-out the customer journey.  It's important that you feel comfortable and know what to expect. Below is a general overview of the entire process.  




Understanding your customer journey

First Visit

An Elbow Room representative will meet you at your property. You'll  discuss your needs and we'll help you to identify the best fit and placement for your structure.  Your rep will take some measurements and confirm the accuracy of your survey.  

Contract

It's time to check your email! After your initial site visit, you'll receive a quote for the specific model and size you chose.  We'll include costs for trenching beyond 75', sewage and water connections, and, if necessary,  adjustments for site irregularities.

Once you accept the proposal, you'll gain access to our builder communication portal to track progress throughout the build.

Design

The fun part begins! After you finalize the model, size, and features, you can choose from our interior design packages. Next, you'll confirm the exterior materials and color selections. Finally, we'll create the plans for permitting and construction.  Plan creation will take between 2-5 weeks.

Permits

Elbow Room manages all of the permit processing.  If you have an HOA, we will assist with your application and securing approval.  Once your HOA approves your request, we'll begin municipal permit submission.  

The duration of the permitting process is difficult to predict.  HOAs generally take between 1-2 months.  Municipal permits vary between 2-5 months to process.  Elbow Room utilizes a permitting specialist to expedite the permits as quickly as possible.


Construction

We use traditional home construction to build your Elbow Room. Our commitment to quality comes first.  

Construction is managed end-to-end by Elbow Room. We use premium materials and dedicate ourselves to a proven process to minimize disruption and maximize efficiency. We value your trust and promise to build a structure that you'll be proud of for years to come.


Handover

We'll conduct both an informal and formal final walkthrough at completeion.    You'll receive a Certificate of Occupancy upon final inspection, as well as keys to your structure.  At this time, your warranty period will begin.  

Your warranty includes 1 year of complete coverage, 2 years for major mechanical systems, and 10 years for structural components.  We'll be here to answer your questions, fix any issues that may pop up, and give your peaceof mind.


The Elbow Room
Construction Process

Building your Flex, Studio, or Dwell home is an exciting journey! Our goal is to make sure you feel confident, informed, and supported every step of the way.

Every project is unique, and like any construction process, there can be pauses or adjustments along the way due to factors like permitting, weather, material delivery schedules, or crew schedules. That's completely normal.

What makes Elbow Room different is how we handle those moments. Your project will always be over seen by our in-house Superintendent, who coordinates every phase of construction and ensures any challenges are addressed quickly and professionally. You can trust that our focus never wavers from delivering exceptional quality while making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible for you.

In the following sections, we'll walk you through each phase of the build, so you can know exactly what to expect as your new space comes to life. 




Sit back, relax, & watch your vision come to life

Foundation

The foundation sets the stage for your entire build.  We start with engineered plans to ensure that everything is structurally sound. We typically pour slab on grade unless a significant slope requires in-ground piers. A strong foundation is key to lasting quality, so we take extra care at this stage.

framing

Next, the structure begins to take shape. Our framing crew builds the skeleton of your unit, setting walls, windows, and roof lines in place.  The phase moves quickly, and you'll see your space start to look like a home almost overnight.

Roof and siding

Once the framing is complete, we secure the structure with roofing and siding. These protect your home from the elements and give it its first finished look.  We use durable high quality materials to ensure both longevity and curb appeal.


Rough-in electric
& plumbing

With the exterior sealed, our licensed trades install the electrical wiring, plumbing, and HVAC inside the walls. Everything is inspected to meet code and ensure your home is safe and efficient before moving forward.


Interior finish, Paint,
& connections

This is where your space really comes to life. Insulation, drywall, flooring, trim, cabinetry, and fixtures are installed. At this stage, your mini-split indoor units and outdoor condenser are connected and tested, along with final utility hookups, so your home is fully functional and comfortable.



Punchlist & clean up

As we approach completion, we create a detailed checklist of finishing touches to ensure every detail meets our standards and yours. This may include small paint touch-ups, final caulking, or hardware adjustments.

At the same time, our team a thorough clean up.  We remove debris, dust, and construction materials and professionally clean the interior so your space is fresh, clean, and move-in ready.


Final walk-through
& Warranty

Once the punchlist is complete, we invite your to join us for a final walk-through of your new Elbow Room.  Together, we'll review all work, confirm that every detail is complete, and answer any final questions.

At this stage, we officially hand over the keys, and provide your warranty package for peace of mind. Our commitment doesn't end there.  We stand behind our craftsmanship and remain available should you ever need support.



Payment Structure

Project completion

5%

30%

Rough-in Completion

30%

Foundation Completion

30%

Post permitting & before-construction

5%

Initial deposit

Payment is distributed as certain milestones are completed.  

FAQs About ADUs

An ADU is a significant purchase.  Part of that purchase is your experience through-out the customer journey.  It's important that you feel comfortable and know what to expect. Below is a general overview of the entire process.  




All About ADUs

Question 1

Once the framing is complete, we secure the structure with roofing and siding. These protect your home from the elements and give it its first finished look.  We use durable high quality materials to ensure both longevity and curb appeal.