Portland ADU Contractor
Design-Build ADU Contractor for Portland Area Homeowners
Design-Build ADUs – Portland ADU Contractor
When you’re considering expanding your property, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) can be a powerful way to add living space, increase flexibility, and enhance your home’s long-term value. At Highland Ridge Remodeling, we are a trusted design-build partner for Portland homeowners looking for an ADU contractor. With decades of experience in thoughtful planning, skilled construction, and clear communication, we help you navigate what can be a complex process and turn your ADU vision into reality.
In Portland, an ADU is a secondary living unit on the same lot as a primary residence that includes independent living facilities such as a kitchen, bathroom, sleeping area, and entrance. ADUs can be attached to your home, created within your existing structure, converted from a basement or garage, or built as a new detached unit.
Begin with design-first planning so you know exactly what to expect. Contact our team today to get started.
What an ADU Can Offer
ADUs can serve a wide range of purposes. Many Portland homeowners choose them to provide space for aging loved ones or adult children, creating a balance between independence and togetherness. They can also be used as guest suites, home offices, or rental units to help offset mortgage and property costs. Because they are a complete living unit on your property, ADUs often increase overall home value while making efficient use of your land.
If you’ve been dreaming of an home upgrade and a better layout to fit you and your family’s need, get started planning with our team today.
How We Approach ADU Projects
As a design-build Portland ADU contractor, our goal is to guide you from initial concept through permitting, construction, and final walk-through with confidence and clarity. We know that building an ADU is more than adding square footage — it’s about creating a space that works for your family’s needs now and into the future.
At Highland Ridge Remodeling, we follow a design-first philosophy that gives you a clear plan before construction begins. That means we take the time to understand your goals, your property, and the way you want the space to function. Our team then develops detailed designs, accurate budgets, and realistic timelines so you can move forward with confidence.
We handle every part of the process, including:
- Site evaluation and feasibility planning to determine what type of ADU best fits your property
- Architectural and interior design that aligns with your needs and Portland code requirements
- Permit coordination with the City of Portland, including participation in the FIR (Field Issuance Remodel) program for elevated permitting and inspection service
- Construction management and skilled craftsmanship for foundation work, framing, utilities, finishes, and more
- Final inspection and homeowner review so your ADU is complete, compliant, and ready for us
Participation in Portland’s FIR program allows our team and clients to benefit from an enhanced permitting and inspection experience, offering coordination and clarity early in the process to help keep your project on schedule and aligned with city requirements. Get started planning with our team today.
Types of ADUs We Build
Detached ADUs
A separate structure in your backyard or on your lot that functions as a full secondary homeAttached ADUs
Living space added onto the existing home while maintaining a cohesive look and flowConverted ADUs
Repurposing existing spaces like basements, garages, or unused rooms into a fully functional dwelling unit Each option has its own benefits, and our team will help you understand what works best for your lot, neighborhood standards, and lifestyle.The Highland Ridge ADU Contractor Advantage
Building an ADU can involve many decisions and moving parts — from permitting to utility connections and interior planning. As a design-build team with deep roots in Portland, we bring perspective, communication, and craftsmanship to every step.
When you work with us, you benefit from:
Transparent Communication: Communication is the rope that ties us together on this journey. We believe in transparency and keep you informed at every step, fostering trust and peace of mind throughout the whole home remodeling experience.
Immersive 3D Renderings: Visualizing your dream home is now easier than ever with our immersive 3D renderings. Highland Ridge takes pride in providing you with a detailed preview of your new ADU, ensuring that every aspect aligns with your vision before the construction even begins.
Punctual Project Schedules: At Highland Ridge, we understand the value of time. Our commitment to punctuality means that your accessory dwelling unit project will adhere to a carefully crafted schedule. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your ADU will be ready for you to within our agreed-upon timeframe.
Tailor-Made Solutions: Our family is commitment to delivering personalized solutions that turn your house into a home. We work closely with you to understand your vision, offering tailor-made ADUs that blend seamlessly with your existing space and enhance your daily living experience.
We approach each ADU project with care because we know how these spaces can transform daily living and long-term plans. Whether you’re creating space for family, generating rental income, or planning for future needs, we help make the ADU process understandable and rewarding.
Still have some questions?
We’ve put together a short list of our top ADU building questions we get asked from new clients.
Accessory Dwelling Unit FAQs
Remodeling can be dusty and noisy during construction. We do our best to minimize the effects of construction. If you are remodeling a single bathroom or kitchen we can set up a temporary area for you to cook during the remodel. If we are touching multiple areas in your home we recommend vacating during construction. If you have nowhere to have peace and quiet a remodel can get tiresome quickly.
There are plenty of ways to cut corners to create a lower price. Competitive bidding rewards the lowest price and offers absolutely no advantage to good workmanship. We prefer to do things the best way. “Best” means, in our opinion, the most effective combination of price to performance – getting the most bang for your buck.
We’ll get to work building out your project website. We’ll set up a meeting to walk you through your project website and how everything works. We’ll prepare shopping lists, production schedules, subcontractor bids and more. Once we have our bids back and selections made our team will prepare a complete job book and contract for you to review.
The typical 3-bid process is highly flawed. Usually, homeowners find the process too confusing and leave the homeowner carrying too much of the risk with too. Worse yet, the project outcome may end up inconsistent with your vision, the estimated price, or the promised delivery timeframe. It does not need to be that way. At Highland Ridge we use that better way. We call our process “Homeowner First.” This is a process that lets you learn, understand clearly and then try before you buy.
We move some key parts of the process to the front – before you sign a construction contract. This allows you to get to know us while allowing us to intimately understand your project. The 3-bid method requires an unacceptable, often intolerable, leap of faith on your part. Key questions that affect cost, project details and project time frame are never clear, the result is that an estimate is seldom better than just a guess and a totally inadequate basis for making smart decisions.
At Highland Ridge our Homeowner First process will provide a detailed proposal showing design, a complete scope of work, an informed project timeline and, perhaps most valuable, a firm, guaranteed price. The Homeowner First process does not create new work or incremental cost – it resets the order of things in a way that works in your favor. We do charge for this “Pre-Contract” process, but it’s things you would have paid for anyhow in a final Agreement. You have no obligation to do your project with us and you own ALL the results of the process. Homeowner First gives you the information you need to make a great decision when you need it – not after you have signed a construction contract.
In the big picture, our Homeowner First method will save money & avoid unpleasant surprises.
Turn your house into the home you’ve always wanted. Touch base with our team today to get started.