Service Area · Los Angeles County
General Contractor in Glendale, CA
Custom homes, ADUs, additions and new garages for Glendale properties, from period-revival houses north of downtown to canyon and foothill lots below the Verdugo Mountains and San Rafael Hills.
- Licensed California general contractor
- Custom homes, ADUs & additions
- Permits with the City of Glendale
- Written, line-item estimates
Glendale, CA
Your Glendale Builder for Homes, ADUs and Additions
Simply Construction is a general contractor in Glendale focused on the projects that reshape a property, from ground-up custom homes and backyard ADUs to garage conversions, room and second-story additions, and new garages. As a licensed California general contractor, we hold one contract for the whole job, so the same team that studies your lot also answers for the finished work.
Glendale takes residential design seriously. Design review looks closely at how new homes and additions sit on the street, historic districts add their own layer, and the hillside neighborhoods raise questions about grading, access and fire safety. We work out which of those apply to your property before design money is spent, so the plan you approve is one the city is likely to approve as well.
What We Build Here
Our Services in Glendale
Every project below is planned, permitted and built by one licensed team. Choose a service to see how it works in Glendale.
Custom Home Building in Glendale
A new custom home in Glendale goes through the city's design review, which weighs massing, scale and how the house relates to its neighbors. On hillside lots, grading limits, construction access and fire zone requirements add to the work. We coordinate the architect, engineers and city reviewers so the approved design is also one that can be built on budget.
ADU Construction in Glendale
Glendale applies its own ADU ordinance on top of state law, which requires cities to allow at least an 800 square foot unit with 4-foot side and rear setbacks. We build detached and attached ADUs across the city, from flat lots in Kenneth Village to hillside properties where access, grading and fire zone construction shape the design.
Garage Conversions in Glendale
Older Glendale neighborhoods commonly have a detached garage behind the house, and a sound one can make a good ADU. Because state law waives replacement parking when a garage becomes an ADU, conversion is often the most efficient way to add a unit. We assess the structure, then build the insulation, egress, utilities and finishes it needs.
Room Additions in Glendale
Room additions in Glendale's 1920s neighborhoods need to respect the original architecture, and in historic districts the design is reviewed for compatibility. We match rooflines, windows and wall finishes, engineer the tie-in to older foundations, and plan the addition so it reads as part of the house from the street.
Second-Story Additions in Glendale
Second stories draw the closest look in Glendale's design review, because they change how a house meets the street and what neighbors see. On canyon lots, views and privacy join the discussion. We plan upper floors that step back gracefully and engineer the older foundation below to carry the new weight.
Garage Construction in Glendale
New garages on Glendale hillside lots often sit at street level with the house above or below, which calls for retaining walls, drainage and careful structural design. On flatter lots, we build detached and attached garages and garage and ADU combinations planned around setbacks, driveway access and design review.
Whole-House Remodeling in Glendale
Whole-house remodels in Glendale often involve 1920s and mid-century homes that need modern wiring, plumbing, insulation and seismic upgrades along with a new layout. For homes in historic districts, we plan exterior work around preservation review and concentrate the larger changes inside and toward the rear of the house.
Kitchen Remodeling in Glendale
Kitchen remodels in Glendale's period homes balance a more open plan against the character that makes a Spanish or Tudor house worth owning. We handle the permits, structural work for removed walls, new electrical and plumbing, and custom cabinetry detailed to suit the architecture rather than fight it.
Bathroom Remodeling in Glendale
We remodel bathrooms in Glendale homes of every era, from 1920s period houses to mid-century homes in the canyons. Each bath is rebuilt with proper waterproofing, ventilation and electrical work, and when a new primary bath comes with an addition, we fold it into the design review package from the start.
Fire Rebuilds in Glendale
Glendale homes in the Verdugo and San Rafael foothills sit largely within very high fire hazard severity zones, so a rebuild there follows California's wildland-urban interface construction standards, from ember-resistant vents to ignition-resistant exterior materials. We manage the rebuild from the cleared lot through engineering, permits, construction and final inspection.
Junior ADUs (JADU) in Glendale
Some of Glendale's larger 1920s homes have a bedroom near a side door that can become a junior ADU. State law caps a JADU at 500 square feet inside the existing house or an attached garage, requires at least an efficiency kitchen, and asks the owner to live in one of the two units.
SB 9 Lot Splits & Duplexes in Glendale
SB 9 generally excludes historic districts and listed landmarks, which matters in Glendale, where a number of neighborhoods carry historic district overlays. Hillside lots raise the fire question too, since very high fire hazard severity zones are excluded unless required mitigation measures are adopted. We check both before any design begins.
Patios, Decks & Outdoor Living in Glendale
Glendale's sloped lots make decks and terraces a natural way to add outdoor space, but they need real engineering and, in fire hazard zones, ignition-resistant materials. On flatter lots we build patio covers, outdoor kitchens and hardscape that suit the style of the house and the way you entertain.
Local Knowledge
Building in Glendale: Hills, History and Design Review
Glendale lies between the Verdugo Mountains and the San Rafael Hills, and much of its character comes from that terrain. Canyon neighborhoods such as Chevy Chase Canyon, Glenoaks Canyon and Whiting Woods follow narrow, winding streets up into the hills, while Verdugo Woodlands, Sparr Heights and Montrose spread across gentler ground toward the Crescenta Valley. In the southwest corner of the city, Riverside Rancho keeps a horsekeeping character along the Los Angeles River across from Griffith Park.
The city grew quickly in the 1920s, and neighborhoods such as Rossmoyne and Adams Hill hold many Spanish Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and Craftsman homes from that era, with mid-century houses climbing the canyons in the decades after the war. Glendale protects much of this through its historic preservation program, including historic district overlays where exterior changes are reviewed for compatibility.
Hazards shape the building side. Large parts of the hills are mapped as very high fire hazard severity zones, the 2017 La Tuna Fire burned through the Verdugo Mountains, and the Verdugo fault runs along the base of the range. Hillside lots frequently need soils and geology work before design can be settled.
Why Choose Us
Why Glendale Homeowners Choose Simply Construction
Contracts Written the Way California Law Requires
California caps a home improvement down payment at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less, and after that a contractor may only bill for work completed or materials delivered. Our contracts follow that structure: a line-item scope, a payment schedule tied to finished milestones, and written change orders before any extra work begins. You always know what you are paying for and why.
One Team From Plans to Final Inspection
Design, engineering, permitting and construction sit under one contract and one project lead, so nobody points fingers between the designer, the engineer and the builder when a detail changes. You get one schedule, one point of contact and regular progress updates from the first site visit through the final inspection and sign-off on your Glendale project.
Written, Line-Item Estimates
Before you commit, you receive a written estimate that breaks the project into its real parts: design and engineering, permit and utility fees, foundation, framing, systems, finishes and site work. Allowances are named and priced, so you can see where your selections move the budget. If the scope changes, the numbers change on paper first, never as a surprise on the final invoice.
Nearby Service Areas
We Also Build Near Glendale
FAQ
Building in Glendale: Common Questions
Does my Glendale project need design review?
Many do. Glendale reviews new single-family homes and many additions, particularly second stories and changes visible from the street, for massing, scale and neighborhood fit. Properties in historic districts have their own review as well. We identify the review path during feasibility so the design and schedule account for it from the beginning.
Is my home in a very high fire hazard severity zone?
If it sits in the Verdugo Mountains, the San Rafael Hills or the canyon neighborhoods leading into them, it may well be. The state fire marshal publishes the official maps. Being in a zone brings ignition-resistant construction requirements and affects SB 9 eligibility, so we confirm your property's status at the first visit.
Can I add an ADU to a Glendale hillside lot?
It depends on the lot. Slope, street access and fire zone status all affect whether and how an ADU can be built on a hillside property, and a steep site may need retaining walls, a longer utility run and more engineering. We review the city's current ADU standards for your parcel before recommending a design.
Does Glendale have historic districts?
Yes. Glendale has designated a number of historic districts through overlay zoning, and individual properties can be listed on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources. Exterior work on those properties is reviewed for compatibility with the house and district. We check your address early so the review is planned for rather than discovered midway.
Start Your Project
Start Your Glendale Project
Tell us what you are planning. We will visit the property, talk through options and costs, and send a written, line-item estimate.
Licensed California General Contractor · CSLB [CSLB LICENSE # PLACEHOLDER]