ADUs and additions, San Marino, Los Angeles County
ADU Planning in San Marino
San Marino is an inland suburban part of the San Gabriel Valley. How sun, dry wind and storm runoff shape the roof, walls and layout of a backyard ADU there.
San Marino belongs to the inland, suburban side of the San Gabriel Valley, away from any open water. Lots in that kind of setting deal with strong sun, dry wind and the occasional heavy rain, so our ADU planning there treats heat gain, dust and runoff as design inputs from the first sketch. Each ADU type is then weighed for how well it handles those loads on the parcel.
Building a shell for inland exposure
A detached cottage takes sun on all four walls and its whole roof, so it gets the fullest treatment: a light colored roof covering with a high reflectance rating, a radiant barrier under the deck and insulation sized for cooling. Windows that catch afternoon sun carry a low solar gain coating and a deeper overhang where the design allows. An attached unit or a garage conversion shares a wall or two with the main house, which trims the exposed surface. A JADU sits fully inside the existing envelope and mostly inherits the protection the house already has.
Runoff, utilities and the review
Dry spells harden the soil, and a sudden storm can send water across it fast. Gutters and downspouts on the new unit discharge to splash blocks or a drain line that carries water away from both foundations. We also find the spot where the sewer lateral exits the house and read the panel rating, since both decide where a second kitchen and bath can go. The City of San Marino checks the plans for setbacks, height and fire separation, and its inspectors sign off each stage through the final.
What we build in San Marino
Second units and room additions lead, with the rest of our services available on the same lot.
Planning a unit in San Marino?
Send the address. We check which ADU types the lot allows and reply with the next step.