Backyard units, start to finish
ADU builder in the Bay Area.
Complete backyard units, from the first visit to the final walk-through. GM Ironwood is based in Oakland. CSLB #1125088
- CSLB #1125088 · Class B
- Licensed, bonded & insured
- Architects & engineers on our team
- Plans & permits if you want them
- Residential & commercial
What an ADU job covers
We build complete units, from the first site visit to the final walk-through. The ADU in these photos has its own kitchen, bedrooms with closets, a bathroom and a laundry area, with wood-look vinyl floors throughout.
Every ADU starts with your lot and what you need it for: a detached backyard unit, a unit attached to the house or a garage conversion. GM Ironwood works with an architect and an engineer on the plans, can pull the city permits and builds the unit through the final walk-through.
Read our guide: How to build an ADU in the Bay Area · What a Class B general contractor does in California
One team for the whole project
You do not have to find an architect, an engineer and a builder on your own. One team can handle the plans, the permit and the work, or you bring your own plans. Your choice.
How we run your project
- Plans
- Architect on our team (optional)
- Engineering
- Structural engineer on our team
- Permits
- Optional
- Construction
- Our crew + specialized subcontractors
- Point of contact
- One GM Ironwood project lead
Plans and permits can be included with your construction, or handled separately. Your choice.
Our work





How a job runs
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1
Site visit
We come out, look at the space and listen to what you want to build.
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2
Itemized bid
A written estimate broken down line by line. You see where every dollar goes.
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3
Build, clean daily
If permits are part of the job, GM Ironwood pulls them. Before the crew leaves each day, the site is cleaned up and safe.
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4
Hand-off
We walk through the finished work with you before calling it done.
For an ADU, the plans and structural calculations are prepared with an architect and an engineer, GM Ironwood can pull the city permits, and the city inspects the work at each stage before the final walk-through.
Timeline and cost
Every ADU is different, so the price comes after we see your lot. Here is what changes the number:
- Size: a studio or a two-bedroom unit
- Type: detached, attached or a garage conversion
- Finishes: the floors, cabinets and fixtures you pick
- Permits: how long your city takes to review the plans
You get the price and the schedule in one written bid, line by line.
A client review
★★★★★
“I want to give GM Ironwood Construction Inc a five star review, They did an amazing job on my ADU from start to finish. …they cleaned and kept a safe work site every day and they were very friendly and courteous plus they did a fantastic job! Thank you guys…”

Questions
Do you work outside Oakland?
Yes. GM Ironwood is based in Oakland, at 1824 79th Ave, and works across the San Francisco Bay Area, Contra Costa County and the Tri-Valley, plus the North Bay and the South Bay. The full list of cities is on our service areas page. Not sure about your city? Call (510) 479-2809 and ask.
Do you give a written estimate?
Yes. After the site visit you get a written bid, itemized line by line, before any work starts. Each line is one part of the job with its own price, so you can see where every dollar goes and decide what to include. One client wrote that the bid was detailed and itemized.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. GM Ironwood Construction Inc. holds California contractor license CSLB #1125088 as a Class B general building contractor. The company is bonded and carries general liability insurance. You can check the license at any time on the Contractors State License Board website, cslb.ca.gov, using that number.
Do you pull the city permits?
Yes, if you want us to. We can prepare and submit the permit package and schedule inspections, or you can handle permits yourself. Either way, the city inspects the work at each stage, and each inspection has to pass before the job moves on to the next step.
Do I need my own architect or engineer?
No. You can use our architect and structural engineer, or bring your own plans. Plans and permits can be part of our contract or separate. If you use our team, the same plans the city approves are the ones our crew builds from, so the design and the work match.
Does every city have different rules?
Yes. Each Bay Area city has its own building department, its own forms and its own local requirements, and some areas outside city limits are handled by the county. Before we write your bid, we check the rules that apply to your address, so the price already reflects what your city will ask for.
How long do permits take?
It depends on the size of the project and the city. We give you an estimate for your address with the bid. Plan review can take more than one round when the city sends comments on the plans, and larger projects usually need more review time.
Do you take commercial work?
Yes. GM Ironwood builds residential and commercial projects, including commercial renovations. The process is the same: a site visit, a written bid itemized line by line, city permits pulled by GM Ironwood, and plans with our architects and engineers when the work needs them. Call (510) 479-2809 to talk about your project.
Do you build the whole ADU?
Yes. GM Ironwood builds complete units, from the first site visit to the final walk-through with you. The ADU in the photos on this page has its own kitchen, bedrooms with closets, a bathroom and a laundry area, with wood-look vinyl floors throughout, all built by the same crew.
How long does an ADU take?
It depends on the size of the unit, the design and how long your city takes to approve the permits. After the site visit, GM Ironwood gives you a written bid with the price and the schedule, so you know the timeline before any work starts on your lot.
Tell us about your ADU.
Tell us what you want to build, and we will call you to set up the site visit.
- You get the price in writing, line by line
- Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7 AM–9 PM
- Want to talk now? Call (510) 479-2809
- WhatsApp: (510) 479-2809