ADUs · Yelm, WA
ADU Builder in Yelm, WA
ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters in Yelm. Work directly with Greg — call, text or get a free estimate.
Yelm, Thurston County and every town within 100 miles of Rainier
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ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters · Yelm
ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters in Yelm
For ADUs, backyard cottages, guest houses and shops with living quarters in Yelm, you deal with Greg directly — no salesman, no middleman. He's based in Rainier, about 7 miles away, with 33 years of experience.
Out here on the South Sound prairies a lot of the work is on acreage — barns, shops, barndominiums and new homes on open ground, where the gravelly soil drains well but the wind comes across with nothing to stop it. It needs its own permit, foundation, insulation, kitchen and bath, and a layout that feels bigger than it is.
One customer hired Greg for an addition to an existing structure: “He is a quality person to deal with and does excellent work. I would recommend him to anyone.”
What's included
ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters we do in Yelm
- 01
Detached backyard cottages
A standalone small home with its own entry, kitchen, bath and bedroom, placed to keep privacy for both households.
- 02
Shops with living quarters
A garage or shop on the ground floor with an apartment above, like the two-story timber barn in Greg's photos.
- 03
Apartments over garages
A new two-story garage with a finished unit upstairs, or a unit added over an existing garage when the structure can carry it.
- 04
Layouts that feel bigger
Vaulted ceilings, built-ins and careful window placement so a small floor plan feels open and bright.
- 05
Lot and permit review
We check setbacks, size limits, parking and septic or sewer capacity before design, so there are no surprises at the permit counter.
- 06
Foundation through finish
Slab or crawlspace foundation, framing, roofing, siding, windows, doors, flooring and trim, built and finished by one builder.
Thurston County, WA
ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters around Yelm
Greg works all over Yelm — near Hammersmith Hill and Solberg Lake — and throughout Thurston County.
Yelm sits on the prairie along the Nisqually River in south Thurston County, with Mount Rainier filling the view to the east. Yelm is about 7 miles north of our base in Rainier, well inside our 100-mile service area.
Western Washington buildings fight water more than anything — months of rain, moss on the roof, rot wherever wood stays wet, and soils that hold moisture. A building lasts when it sits on a proper foundation with drainage around it, is wrapped and flashed right, and is built to dry out.
How it works
How your Yelm adu job works
- 1
Free on-site estimate
Greg looks at your lot, where an ADU could sit and how it connects to the driveway and main house, and asks who will live there.
- 2
Plans and permit
We design a layout that fits your lot's rules and your budget, then submit the plans to the county or city.
- 3
Build the unit
Site prep, foundation, framing, roof and exterior go up, followed by insulation, drywall and the interior.
- 4
Finish and final inspection
Cabinets, trim and finish work go in, the final inspection is passed, and the unit is ready to move into.
Customer reviews
What customers say about Greg
“He is a quality person to deal with and does excellent work. I would recommend him to anyone.”
Don B.
An addition to an existing structure · HomeAdvisor review
“He is a man of integrity. He does what he says and says what a does.”
Tom W.
A project with Greg · HomeAdvisor review
“He does good work.”
Bill
A project with Greg · HomeAdvisor review
Questions
ADUs, Guest Houses & Shops with Living Quarters in Yelm: FAQs
Do you do adus, guest houses & shops with living quarters in Yelm, WA?
Yes. Yelm is about 7 miles north of our base in Rainier, well inside our 100-mile service area. Greg handles ADUs, backyard cottages, guest houses and shops with living quarters there, and the estimate is free.
Do I need a permit for adus, guest houses & shops with living quarters in Yelm?
It depends on the project. When one is needed, Greg pulls the permit from the City of Yelm's building department and builds to whatever the permit and inspection require.
Can you build a shop with an apartment above it?
Yes. A garage or shop downstairs with living quarters upstairs is one of the most practical builds on acreage. You get space for vehicles and equipment plus a place to live, which can house family or, where the county allows it, serve as your home while the main house goes up.
Is a tiny home on a foundation the same as an ADU?
When a small house sits on a permanent foundation and has a kitchen and bath, it is generally permitted as a dwelling, and often as an ADU if there is already a main house on the lot. That gives you a permanent building that adds to the property rather than an RV-style unit. Greg builds small homes on site this way, start to finish.
How do you keep a small ADU from getting damp or moldy?
A small space with a kitchen and shower puts a lot of moisture into the air, and our winters don't let it dry out on its own. We plan insulation, vapor control and ventilation from the start, keep the foundation dry with drainage and a vapor barrier, and detail the windows and siding against wind-driven rain. A tight, well-vented ADU stays comfortable and keeps its framing sound.
What does it cost to build an ADU?
It depends on the size, whether it is detached or over a garage, the foundation, how far utilities have to run and the level of finish inside. Lot conditions like slope or clearing add to it. Greg gives a free estimate after looking at your property and your plans, with a price for your project instead of a ballpark.
More in Yelm
Other services in Yelm
Barndominiums
Barndominiums, barn homes and shop houses.
See barndominiums
Pole Barns & Post-Frame Buildings
Pole barns, post-frame shops, lean-tos and equipment buildings.
See pole barns & post-frame buildings
Custom Homes
Custom homes, lodge-style homes and craftsman builds.
See custom homes
New Home Construction (Build on Your Land)
New homes on your land, ramblers and two-story homes.
See new home construction (build on your land)
Home Remodeling
Whole-house remodels, opened-up layouts, flooring and finish carpentry.
See home remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling
Kitchen remodels, new islands, cabinets, tile and opened-up layouts.
See kitchen remodeling
Bathroom Remodeling
Bathroom remodels, tile showers, tub surrounds and new vanities.
See bathroom remodeling
Home Additions
Room additions, primary suites and second-story additions.
See home additions
Garage Conversions
Garage conversions into bedrooms, offices, family rooms and in-law suites.
See garage conversions
Decks
Decks, composite decks, deck stairs and covered decks.
See decks
Siding
Siding replacement, siding repair and board-and-batten or cedar exteriors.
See siding
Metal Roofing
Metal roofs on homes, barns, shops and pole buildings.
See metal roofing
Window Replacement
Replacement windows, new window openings and sill repair.
See window replacement
Fencing
Wood privacy fences, farm and horse fencing and gates.
See fencing
Retaining Walls
Block, concrete and rock retaining walls.
See retaining walls
Concrete Work
Slab foundations, shop floors, driveways, patios and concrete repair.
See concrete work
Concrete Driveways
New concrete driveways, garage aprons and driveway replacements.
See concrete driveways
Foundation Repair
Foundation crack repair, settled footings and crawlspace post and beam repair.
See foundation repair
Excavation & Site Prep
Land clearing, grading, building pads and drainage.
See excavation & site prep
Ready to start your Yelm adu project?
Free estimates. Call, text or fill out the form.