ADU Company in Irvine, CA
Kitchen remodeling in Irvine starts with a simple reality: most homes here were built between 1971 and the early 2000s, which means original cabinets, dated fluorescent lighting, and cramped layouts are the norm rather than the exception. Bungalow ADU Builders handles kitchen remodels across Irvine’s villages, but our real specialty is the full picture: we’re the team that builds the ADU, then finishes the kitchen and bathroom inside it so the unit is actually rentable from day one. Call (866) 730-4828 to talk through your project, whether it’s a kitchen refresh or a complete detached ADU.
Why Irvine Homes Are Different
Irvine is a master-planned city, and that changes how every project runs. Nearly every residential lot sits under a village association with architectural review authority, so a kitchen remodel or ADU addition here means navigating design guidelines, CC&Rs, and city plan check at the same time. The housing stock reflects that planning: Mediterranean and Spanish-tile tract homes dominate, with newer motor-court and detached-cluster configurations in Great Park and parts of 92618 and 92602. Lots are often small and zero-lot-line, which directly affects where a detached ADU can physically sit relative to property lines and existing structures.
The climate is mild and semi-arid, with almost no frost and modest rain, so kitchens here don’t fight freeze cycles the way Midwestern remodels do. But the long dry season and Santa Ana winds mean fire-resistant detailing matters, especially near the hills and open-space corridors that border several villages. For a kitchen remodel, that translates to choosing materials that hold up under dry heat and dust, not just what looks good in a showroom. For an ADU, it means ember-resistant vents and defensible-space siting are worth planning for from the start.
Our Main Irvine Services
Irvine homeowners call us for two things most often: building a new ADU from the ground up, and remodeling a bathroom. Both come with Irvine-specific approval layers that we handle as part of the job.
ADU Builders in Irvine
Most Irvine ADU projects stall before a single trench is dug. The village association’s architectural review committee reviews design guidelines, roof tile, stucco color, and even whether a rear-yard structure is visible from a neighbor’s motor court. We work with seven ADU product lines including Abodu, Cover, and Tuff Shed, so the system choice follows your lot and budget, not the other way around. From foundation to finished kitchen, one team handles it. ADU Builders in Irvine covers the full process, including HOA submittals and city plan check.
Bathroom Remodeling in Irvine
Bathrooms in Irvine’s 1980s and 1990s tract homes were built with fiberglass surrounds, dated tile, and limited ventilation. After thirty-plus years, many are failing at the grout lines and hidden behind walls. We strip to the studs where needed, replace waterproofing properly, and rebuild with finishes that match the home’s Mediterranean character or push toward a cleaner modern look. James Hardie exteriors aren’t the only place durability matters; a bathroom that vents properly and seals correctly lasts decades here. Bathroom Remodeling in Irvine walks through what’s involved and what it costs.
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees — you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
Kitchen Remodeling in Irvine
Kitchen remodeling in Irvine is driven by two things: the age of the housing stock, and the value of rentable square footage. Most kitchens in Irvine villages like Woodbridge, Northwood, and University Park were built with the home, meaning original oak or laminate cabinets, fluorescent box lighting, and layouts that cut the kitchen off from the living space. Homeowners call us because they want a kitchen that works for how they actually cook now, not how kitchens were arranged in 1987. And for ADU clients, the kitchen is often the difference between a unit that rents at market rate and one that sits empty. Kitchen Remodeling is one of our core service lines, handled by the same team that builds the ADU shell, so there’s no handoff between a general contractor and separate finish trades.
Cabinet Replacement and Reconfiguration
Signs you need it
Original builder-grade cabinets with delaminating laminate, sagging shelves, or drawer slides that no longer close cleanly are the clearest signal it’s time to replace rather than reface.
What it costs in Irvine
In Irvine, full cabinet replacement and reconfiguration typically runs $15,000 to $35,000 depending on kitchen size and cabinet line, with semi-custom shaker or slab doors being the most common choice for Mediterranean-style homes.
How we do it
We measure the existing footprint, review your storage priorities, order cabinets sized for your space rather than forcing stock boxes into an odd corner, and install with level adjustments on Irvine’s slab foundations.
Countertop and Backsplash Upgrade
Signs you need it
Chipped tile counters, stained grout, or laminate edges that are peeling away from the substrate mean the surface has stopped performing, not just stopped looking current.
What it costs in Irvine
Countertop and full backsplash replacement in Irvine kitchens usually falls between $4,000 and $10,000, with quartz and quartzite the most common choices for durability and HOA-friendly aesthetics.
How we do it
We template after cabinets are set, verify slab layout to minimize seams, install the counter with proper support, then tile the backsplash with sealed grout that handles Irvine’s hard water without staining.
Full Kitchen Gut and Open-Concept Rebuild
Signs you need it
A kitchen with a load-bearing wall separating it from the living area, failing plumbing shutoffs, or electrical that can’t support modern appliances is a candidate for a full gut rather than a surface refresh.
What it costs in Irvine
A complete kitchen gut with new layout, structural work, plumbing, electrical, cabinets, counters, and finishes in Irvine ranges from $45,000 to $75,000, driven largely by the cost of moving walls and upgrading utility rough-ins.
How we do it
We demo to studs, frame any new openings with proper beam sizing, rough in plumbing and electrical to current code, close walls with mold-resistant drywall, then install cabinets, counters, tile, and fixtures in sequence.
What Kitchen Remodeling Costs in Irvine
| Item | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Cabinet replacement and reconfiguration | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Countertop and backsplash upgrade | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Full kitchen gut and open-concept rebuild | $45,000 – $75,000 |
Remodeling costs in Irvine run higher than the Orange County average for two reasons: HOA design review can require specific materials or finishes that cost more than builder-grade alternatives, and permits here move through a plan-check process that rewards precise drawings the first time. We price every kitchen with a fixed, written quote before work starts, so the number you approve is the number you pay, with no change orders unless you add scope.
How long does a kitchen remodel take in Irvine?
Most Irvine kitchen remodels take 6 to 10 weeks from start of demo to final walkthrough. HOA and city plan check approvals run before that clock starts and can add 2 to 8 weeks depending on your village association’s review schedule. Call (866) 730-4828 to get a realistic timeline for your specific kitchen.
Do I need HOA approval to remodel my kitchen in Irvine?
It depends on your village association’s rules, but most require architectural review for changes that affect exterior appearance, such as window modifications, exhaust vent placement, or any work visible from the street. Interior-only remodels typically skip ARC review but still need city permits for plumbing, electrical, or structural changes. Call (866) 730-4828 to check your specific Association’s requirements.
Brands We Service in Irvine
We source from James Hardie for durable fiber-cement exterior products, and we’re fluent in ADU systems from Abodu, Cover, Tuff Shed, and others. Because we order from multiple manufacturers, parts and panels are available without locking you into one vendor’s backlog. Our brands page explains how brand-agnostic sourcing works.
Pricing for ADU Company in Irvine, CA
| Service | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Cabinet replacement and reconfiguration | $15,000 – $35,000 |
| Countertop and backsplash upgrade | $4,000 – $10,000 |
| Full kitchen gut and open-concept rebuild | $45,000 – $75,000 |
| Detached ADU (prefab system) | $180,000 – $350,000 |
| Garage conversion ADU | $120,000 – $220,000 |
| Attached ADU addition | $150,000 – $300,000 |
| Bathroom remodel (mid-range) | $18,000 – $35,000 |
| Bathroom remodel (high-end) | $35,000 – $75,000 |
What pushes prices up in Irvine is the approval layer more than the construction itself. HOA-driven material requirements, plan check comments that require revisions, and tight lot access for equipment all add cost compared to more rural Orange County cities. We quote fixed pricing with all permits and HOA submittal support included, so the number on the contract is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Irvine
We serve every Irvine village and ZIP code, including 92697, 92710, 92602, and 92603. Our crews work regularly in:
- Woodbridge
- Northwood
- University Park
- Great Park
- Turtle Rock
We typically schedule Irvine estimates within 5 to 10 business days, with plan check and HOA submittal time tracked separately so you know exactly where the project stands.
Service Area – Cities Near Irvine
We also serve homeowners in Tustin, CA, Aliso Viejo, CA, Santa Ana, CA, and North Tustin, CA. Each of those cities runs its own permit and design review process, and we handle the differences without making you learn them the hard way.
Serving Irvine, CA — Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Irvine area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage — if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About ADU Company in Irvine
We schedule Irvine site visits and estimates within 5 to 10 business days in most cases. For an ADU, the visit includes a lot measurement and a review of your HOA’s design guidelines so the estimate reflects what’s actually buildable, not just what fits on paper. Call (866) 730-4828 to book a visit.
Yes, we pull all required city permits for plumbing, electrical, and structural work, and we handle plan check submittals through the City of Irvine’s design review process. Your village association’s architectural review committee runs on its own schedule, and we coordinate with them directly. Call (866) 730-4828 for a project-specific answer.
Yes, and it’s often the most efficient path. The same team that frames and finishes the ADU can also gut and rebuild the main house kitchen, which means one permit package, one project manager, and one schedule instead of two contractors competing for the same driveway. Call (866) 730-4828 to discuss whether combining scopes makes sense for your property.
Bungalow ADU Builders has served Irvine since 2014. We specialize in ADUs. That’s not a department here, it’s the whole business. Call (866) 730-4828 for a free estimate on your kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, or new ADU project in Irvine.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees — talk to a local adu pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you — the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Irvine Customers Say
"The kitchenette layout he suggested made better use of the space than the one on our original sketch."
— Kelly Schaefer"Garage conversion to a one bedroom unit. He handled the plans, the city submittal, and every round of corrections. Took six months from first meeting to final inspection and he never once made the permit process my problem."
— Wade Pruitt"Unit came out great and the tenant is happy. The timeline ran long, largely because of how slow the city was on plan check, though a couple of the delays were scheduling on their end."
— Emily Yang