Attached Garage Converted to a Studio ADU, Torrance
An attached two-car garage turned into a permitted studio ADU with its own entry, now housing an adult child rent-free.

- Final cost
- $96,000
- Duration
- 6 months including permitting
- Size
- 380 sq ft studio with a full bath
- Permits
- Torrance Community Development, permitted and inspected
SCOPE OF WORK
- Garage door infill with a new glass entry door and window
- Fire-rated separation wall between the ADU and the house
- Full bathroom and galley kitchen with new plumbing
- Insulation, drywall, mini-split HVAC and Title 24 compliance
- Raised floor system over the sloped slab
WHAT WE RAN INTO
The shared wall between an attached ADU and the main house has to be fire-rated, and the existing wall was open framing with no assembly to speak of. We rebuilt it as a rated assembly and re-routed the laundry that was sitting inside the garage.
THE RESULT
A private, permitted studio inside the existing footprint, with no loss of yard space.
DISCUSS YOUR PROJECT WITH 1 SMART BUILD
Licensed, bonded and insured design-build general contractor serving Los Angeles County and Southern California. Tell us about your property and goals, and we'll walk you through feasibility, permitting and a clear plan.
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