Tustin, CA
Garage-to-ADU conversion: rental-ready studio
A detached one-car garage converted into a fully permitted studio ADU, built specifically for rental use. CRS Construction stripped the structure down to the studs and rebuilt it from the ground up, adding new insulation, a dedicated electrical panel, and the plumbing needed for a kitchen and bathroom that didn't exist in the original garage. The finished unit includes a quartz-and-subway-tile kitchenette with a gas range, over-range microwave, and full-size refrigerator, a glass-enclosed shower bathroom, and in-unit laundry. Luxury vinyl plank flooring, recessed lighting, and a ductless mini-split for heating and cooling run throughout. Completed in two to three months, the unit is fully permitted and move-in ready under its own address.
Project photos
Project details
What did this Tustin garage-to-ADU conversion involve?
The project converted a detached one-car garage into a fully permitted studio ADU. CRS Construction stripped the structure down to the studs and rebuilt it from the ground up, since the original garage had no insulation, no dedicated electrical panel, and none of the plumbing a livable unit needs. New insulation, wiring, and supply and drain lines were added to support a full kitchen and bathroom in a structure that previously had neither, which is a larger scope than a typical remodel but is what turns a garage into a legally rentable unit.
What's included in the finished studio?
The finished unit has a quartz-and-subway-tile kitchenette with a gas range, over-range microwave, and full-size refrigerator, plus a bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower and subway tile surround. In-unit laundry means a tenant never has to leave the unit to wash clothes, which matters for a standalone rental. Luxury vinyl plank flooring and recessed lighting run throughout, and a ductless mini-split handles both heating and cooling without needing to tie into the main house's ductwork.
How long did the conversion take, and is the unit permitted?
The conversion took two to three months from start to finish. The unit is fully permitted and carries its own address, which matters for a rental ADU since an unpermitted conversion can't legally be leased and creates real liability for the owner if something goes wrong. Building it to code from the studs out, rather than finishing over an existing unpermitted structure, is what makes the unit move-in ready today instead of a future problem.