Blogs
San Diego roof replacement costs compared: asphalt shingle vs. metal, when a City permit is required, the fees involved, and contract protections for 2026.
San Diego bases certain permit fees on a published valuation schedule, not your contract price. Here's how the city calculates it, with the real rate tables.
San Diego's Information Bulletin 140 sets energy, structural and stormwater rules for single-story additions and remodels. Here's what applies in 2026.
San Diego requires a geotechnical soils report for additions on fill or expansive soil. Here's exactly when IB-141 applies and what else your plans need.
See which home improvement projects return the most value at resale according to 2025 Cost vs. Value data, and which large projects return surprisingly little.
Most San Diego homeowners planning a bathroom remodel reach the same fork within the first week: keep the bathtub, or take it out and put in a walk-in shower. It
Hiring a remodeling contractor in San Diego is mostly a risk decision. The design is the enjoyable part. What actually determines whether a project goes well is whether the contractor
California's 2025 Energy Code took effect January 1, 2026 and covers remodels, additions and new homes in San Diego. Here's what it means for your project.
A San Diego grading permit expires after 24 months. Here's the extension window, fees, and exactly what happens if it lapses mid-addition or new build.
San Diego backyard remodels over 500 sq ft must meet the water-efficient landscape law. See the thresholds, paperwork, and irrigation meter rules for 2026.
An ADU and a room addition follow different permit paths in California. Here is how the rules, fees, and timelines decide which one fits your San Diego lot.
San Diego caps most Coastal Zone buildings at 30 feet under Proposition D, with no staff-level exceptions. Here's what that means for your home addition.
San Diego accepts three pre-approved ADU plan sets and reviews them in 30 days. See the County's six plans by size, and when custom design is the better call.
San Diego bills electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work separately from your building permit. See the exact 2026 fee schedule for a kitchen or bath remodel.
For most San Diego homeowners, a detached ADU takes 10 to 18 months from the first design meeting to the day someone moves in. A garage conversion is usually faster,
Ten questions worth asking before you sign, plus the California and San Diego rules that tell you whether the answer you just got was any good.
Most outdoor kitchens in San Diego need Building, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing/Gas permits. See real city fees and mistakes homeowners should avoid.
A San Diego remodel runs on three clocks - design, plan check and construction - and only the last one is the part most homeowners picture. Here is what each