ADUs & Accessory Dwelling Units
Add living space, increase your home’s value, and create something that works for your family — all on your own property.
Whether you’re thinking about a place for aging parents, a rental unit that helps with the mortgage, or a private workspace you’ve been dreaming about, an accessory dwelling unit could be the answer you’ve been looking for. Our team at Strong Foundations has built ADUs across New Jersey and New York — and we know exactly how to make the process manageable from the first conversation to move-in day.
What is an ADU?
An accessory dwelling unit (ADU) is a secondary living space on a residential property. It has its own entrance, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom — everything someone needs to live comfortably and independently. ADUs come in a few common forms:
Detached ADU — a fully separate structure in your backyard, sometimes called a backyard cottage or carriage house
Attached ADU — an addition built onto the side or rear of your home
Garage conversion — your existing garage transformed into a livable apartment
Basement conversion — finishing or reconfiguring your lower level into a self-contained unit
Not sure which type fits your property? That’s exactly what our initial consultation is for. We’ll walk your lot, review zoning, and help you figure out what makes the most sense.
Who builds an ADU with us?
Our clients come to us for all kinds of reasons, and every one of them is valid:
Parents who want to keep family close without living on top of each other
Homeowners looking to generate rental income and offset their mortgage
Garage conversion — your existing garage transformed into a livable apartment
Families navigating the “sandwich generation” — caring for aging parents while raising kids
Remote workers who want a proper home office that’s genuinely separate from the house
Homeowners thinking ahead about resale value and long-term investment
Whatever your reason, we’re not here to judge your priorities — we’re here to build something that serves them.
How we work with you
Explore our range of services designed to help you move forward with confidence.
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We come to you. We look at the property, talk through what you’re hoping to achieve, and give you an honest picture of what’s possible — including any zoning or permitting factors to keep in mind in your municipality.
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We handle the permitting process with your local building department and — if you need an architect or structural engineer — we have trusted relationships in the tri-state area to make that process seamless.
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Our crews are experienced, respectful of your property, and communicate clearly throughout the build. We build to high-performance standards: proper insulation, ventilation, moisture control, and energy efficiency built in from the start — not as an afterthought.
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Before we hand over the keys, we walk through the finished space with you, make sure everything meets your expectations, and answer any questions about operating and maintaining your new unit.