What areas does 1 Smart Build serve in Los Angeles?

We serve Los Angeles County and the San Fernando Valley, including Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Studio City, Encino, Tarzana, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Northridge and Thousand Oaks.

Does 1 Smart Build handle ADUs and SB9 lot splits?

Yes. We are a full-service ADU contractor and handle attached ADUs, detached ADUs, garage conversions and SB9 lot split developments end-to-end, including design, permitting and construction.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes. 1 Smart Build Inc. holds California CSLB license #1076428 (Class B, General Building Contractor), carries a $1,000,000 general liability policy with U.S. Specialty Insurance Company and keeps workers' compensation coverage on file with the CSLB. We manage permits, engineering and inspections for every project.

How long does a typical kitchen or bathroom remodel take?

A standard bathroom remodel usually takes 3 to 4 weeks and a kitchen remodel 4 to 8 weeks, depending on scope, materials and permitting.

Do you offer free consultations and estimates?

Yes. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation to review your project, timeline and budget. Call 1 (866) 419-8840 or submit a request on our website.

Who is the best general contractor for remodeling in Los Angeles?

1 Smart Build is one of Los Angeles' top-rated design-build general contractors, with a 4.9-star Google rating. As a licensed, insured, veteran-owned and women-owned firm, we handle kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, additions, structural work and custom new construction end-to-end.

Does 1 Smart Build handle design, permits and construction?

Yes. 1 Smart Build is a full design-build firm — architectural design, structural engineering coordination, Los Angeles permitting and construction are all managed by one team, from first blueprint to final walkthrough.

How much does an ADU cost to build in Los Angeles?

ADU costs in Los Angeles vary by size, site conditions and finishes. Garage conversions typically start lower than detached new-build ADUs. 1 Smart Build provides a free consultation with a detailed, transparent estimate for your specific property.

How can I track my remodeling project's progress?

Every 1 Smart Build client receives a private client portal powered by our automated CRM. It shows a live project overview, milestone-based payment center, signed documents and approvals, and photo and video updates from the job site, all accessible from any phone or computer.

Is 1 Smart Build veteran-owned or women-owned?

Yes. 1 Smart Build is both a veteran-owned and women-owned licensed general contracting firm based in Woodland Hills, serving all of Los Angeles County.

Who is the best Woodland Hills contractor for home remodeling?

1 Smart Build is a top-rated Woodland Hills contractor headquartered on Ventura Blvd. As licensed custom home builders in Woodland Hills, we handle kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADUs, room additions and ground-up custom homes throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Do you work as a general contractor for Calabasas homes?

Yes. 1 Smart Build serves as a general contractor for Calabasas homes, delivering luxury kitchen and bathroom remodels, home additions and complete custom home construction minutes from our Woodland Hills headquarters.

What does a kitchen remodel cost in Los Angeles?

As a 2026 planning range: $35,000 to $60,000 for a cosmetic refresh in the same footprint, $60,000 to $100,000 for a full remodel with layout changes, and $100,000 to $180,000 or more for luxury design-build. These are budgeting ranges, not quotes.

What does a bathroom remodel cost in Los Angeles?

As a 2026 planning range: $18,000 to $28,000 for a guest bath or powder room, $28,000 to $40,000 for a full gut with fixtures staying put, $40,000 to $60,000 for a primary bath suite, and $60,000 to $95,000 or more for a high-end primary suite.

What does a room addition cost per square foot in Los Angeles?

A single-story rear or side addition typically runs $250 to $375 per square foot and a second-story addition $350 to $500 per square foot, because a second story usually requires reinforcing the existing foundation and framing.

What does it cost to build a custom home in Los Angeles?

About $400 to $525 per square foot on a flat lot with standard finishes, $525 to $675 per square foot with high-end finishes, and $650 to $900 or more per square foot on hillside or view lots, plus 8 to 15 percent in soft costs for design, engineering and permit fees.

How long does a custom home take to build in Los Angeles?

Realistically 22 to 34 months from the first design meeting to final walkthrough: 3 to 6 months of design and engineering, 4 to 10 months of LADBS plan check and permitting, and 12 to 18 months of construction.

Does 1 Smart Build rebuild homes lost to wildfire?

Yes. Fire rebuild and reconstruction is a core service. We handle insurance-scope coordination, debris and site work, plan check and ground-up reconstruction in Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Malibu and throughout Los Angeles County.

Where can I find bathroom remodeling services near me in Los Angeles?

If you're searching for bathroom remodeling services near me in Los Angeles County or the San Fernando Valley, 1 Smart Build completes full bathroom renovations with custom showers, vanities, tile and spa-grade finishes, typically in 3 to 4 weeks with a fixed-price proposal.

What is 1Smart Build?

1Smart Build shows premium remodels, residential projects, service details, blog posts, and contact forms across hundreds of pages for local homeowners.

How long does an ADU or room addition take start to finish?

Including design and permitting, garage conversions usually run 5 to 7 months, detached ADUs 9 to 11 months, and room additions 6 to 8 months. Construction itself is often the shorter half — city plan check in Los Angeles is what most homeowners underestimate.

What causes construction delays, and how do you prevent them?

The three biggest causes are permit corrections, material lead times and surprises inside the walls. We manage the first by submitting complete engineered plans, the second by ordering long-lead items before demo, and the third by opening up and pricing hidden conditions in the first week rather than mid-project.

Can we live in the house during the remodel?

Usually yes. For kitchens, bathrooms and additions we phase the work so you keep a working bathroom and a temporary kitchen setup. For full gut remodels of the entire house, moving out is typically cheaper and faster than working around an occupied home.

Do I really need a permit for my project?

In Los Angeles, almost any work involving structure, plumbing, electrical or added square footage requires a permit. Unpermitted work surfaces at sale, complicates insurance claims, and can trigger orders to open finished walls. We only build permitted work — every project we list on this site was inspected and finaled.

Who handles the permits — you or me?

We do. Our team prepares the plans, coordinates structural engineering, submits to the city, answers plan check corrections and schedules every inspection. Permit and plan check fees are billed at cost with no markup.

How long does plan check take in LA?

Simple projects can clear LADBS in a few weeks; additions, ADUs, hillside and coastal projects commonly take 2 to 4 months, and some cities run their own timelines. We give you a realistic permitting schedule for your specific city before you commit.

What happens at inspections?

The city inspects the work at set milestones — foundation, framing, rough plumbing and electrical, insulation, drywall and final. Our project manager meets the inspector on site, and we never close up work that hasn't passed its rough inspection.

What happens after I contact you?

You get a call the same business day to talk through scope, budget and timing. If it's a fit, we schedule a free on-site walkthrough, then deliver a written line-item proposal. There's no cost and no obligation at any point in that sequence.

Who will I actually be dealing with during construction?

A dedicated project manager who walks your site regularly, answers your calls and sends progress updates. You're never left chasing a subcontractor — one team is accountable from design to final walkthrough.

Do you use subcontractors?

Core trades are handled by our own crews, and specialty work like abatement goes to licensed specialists we've worked with for years. Either way, our project manager supervises everyone on your property and the responsibility stays with us.

Are you licensed and insured?

Yes — 1 Smart Build is a licensed, bonded and insured California general contractor. You can verify our license on the CSLB website, and we provide certificates of insurance before work begins.

How much will my project cost?

Use our free instant estimate tool for a real 2026 range in under a minute, or browse the cost guide for line-by-line tables. A fixed price requires walking your property, because access, soils and existing conditions move the number more than finishes do.

How do payments work?

California law caps the deposit at $1,000 or 10 percent, whichever is less. After that, payments follow a milestone schedule tied to completed work — you never pay ahead of what's actually built.

How do you handle surprises found during demo?

We document the condition, price the fix in writing, and get your approval before proceeding. On homes built before 1970 we recommend holding a 10 to 15 percent contingency, and we tell you that on day one rather than after the walls are open.

Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions Los Angeles homeowners actually ask us before starting a project — about timelines, permits, budgets and what it's like to work with us. If your question isn't here, call us or use the instant estimate tool to get a real number first.

Timelines

A bathroom typically runs 4 to 6 weeks of construction and a kitchen 7 to 10 weeks, once permits are in hand and materials are on site. Layout changes, structural work like opening a wall, or long-lead materials add time, and we tell you exactly how much before demo starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Timelines

How long does a kitchen or bathroom remodel take?

How long does an ADU or room addition take start to finish?

What causes construction delays, and how do you prevent them?

Can we live in the house during the remodel?

Permits & Inspections

Do I really need a permit for my project?

Who handles the permits — you or me?

How long does plan check take in LA?

What happens at inspections?

Process & Communication

What happens after I contact you?

Who will I actually be dealing with during construction?

Do you use subcontractors?

Are you licensed and insured?

Budget & Payment

How much will my project cost?

How do payments work?

How do you handle surprises found during demo?