Windows and doors for units and houses
New openings in an ADU or addition, replacement units in the main house, and the egress and energy rules each one has to meet.
Openings on a second unit
On an ADU, a window is a privacy decision as much as a light decision. One that faces a neighbor or the main house can be raised, frosted or moved. We place openings so the unit gets daylight without looking straight into the next yard.
Egress and energy rules
Bedrooms need a window large enough to climb out of, and California's energy code sets limits on how much heat new glass can let through. We size and specify each unit to pass both on the first inspection.
Replacement in the main house
When the opening stays the same, a retrofit unit can go in without disturbing the stucco or drywall. When the frame is rotted or the size changes, a full new frame is the better job. We tell you which one each window needs.
Windows & Doors: questions
Yes. A JADU needs its own exterior entrance, and cutting in a new door is often part of creating one. It usually involves a header and a permit.
A same-size replacement often needs a simple permit or none, depending on the city. A new or enlarged opening needs one. We handle it either way.
Yes, though the visit costs the same whether it is one window or six, so grouping them usually makes more sense.
Plan the openings
Send a note about which windows or doors you have in mind, and whether a new unit is part of the plan.