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ActiveYards Home Additions & ADU: The Orlando Owner’s Guide
If you’re asking what it costs to build an ActiveYards-styled home addition or ADU in Orlando, the installed range runs $45,000 – $130,000 for a room addition, and $90,000 – $220,000 for a full accessory dwelling unit, depending on square footage, foundation work, and finish level. We’re Penhallow Remodeling Orlando, and we’ve been building these structures long enough to know that the failure most owners call us about isn’t a cracked drywall seam or a sticky door. It’s the discovery that their original contractor didn’t account for Florida’s wind-load and moisture requirements, and now the addition is settling, leaking, or failing inspection. Trevor Nash grew up in Los Angeles and learned construction at LA Trade-Tech before spending two decades on job sites, and he’s been honest with Orlando homeowners ever since: give you the number first, then pick up the tool.
We’re an independent Orlando general contractor. We’re not affiliated with ActiveYards, but we build additions and ADUs that match the ActiveYards design language and structural approach, and we stock the materials and hardware to get the job done without a six-week lead time.
Which ActiveYards Models This Applies To
ActiveYards additions and ADU structures fall into two broad series: the space-saver series designed for smaller backyards, and the full-scale ADU line built for long-term occupancy. The compatibility question that matters most is foundation type. ActiveYards designs assume either a slab-on-grade or a pier-and-beam foundation. If you’re in College Park or Audubon Park with a 1950s bungalow, your existing foundation is likely different from what the ActiveYards spec sheet assumes. That’s not a dealbreaker, but it changes the engineering work required before the first wall goes up.
On any ActiveYards addition or ADU, look for the metal spec plate mounted on the exterior wall or the inside of the main entry frame. It lists the model number, wind-load rating, and the specific hardware set the structure was designed around. When we quote an Orlando addition or ADU, we match that plate’s specs against current Florida Building Code requirements. If you can’t find the plate, we measure the wall framing spacing and roof pitch on-site to determine what we’re working with.
One thing we tell every Orlando owner: the OEM hardware included with ActiveYards kits is solid, but the flashing and moisture barrier details are where aftermarket choices matter. We use higher-grade peel-and-stick flashing and a full moisture barrier system because Orlando’s afternoon thunderstorms will find any gap in year one. The OEM stuff works; the upgraded flashing works longer.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your ActiveYards Home Additions & ADU Is Failing
- Doors or windows suddenly stick or won’t latch. In Orlando’s sandy soil, this usually means the foundation is shifting more than the structure was designed to absorb. We see it most often in additions built without proper soil compaction before the slab was poured.
- Water staining where the addition wall meets the main house. This is almost always a failed flashing detail at the roofline connection. Orlando’s heavy rain makes it the most common failure point on any attached addition.
- Visible separation between the addition and the main structure. A gap wider than a quarter inch at the top or bottom means the two structures are moving independently. Left alone, that gap grows.
- Soft spots in the subfloor of the ADU or addition. Moisture is getting in from below or through a wall penetration. In Florida humidity, that soft spot is also a termite invitation.
- Mildew smell or visible mold along baseboards. This says the vapor barrier underneath the slab or behind the walls didn’t hold. It’s more than a cosmetic issue; it’s a sign of a moisture problem that will only expand.
See the difference
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After
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After
Before
AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
Here in Orlando, room additions run $45,000 – $130,000. ADU construction runs $90,000 – $220,000. Garage conversions sit between at $30,000 – $80,000. What drives the number is square footage, foundation condition, plumbing and electrical scope, and finish level. An ADU with a full kitchen and bathroom costs more than a studio shell, and an older Orlando lot with outdated electrical service may need a panel upgrade before we can pull permits.
Every quote we give is a written number before any work starts. That number includes labor, materials, permits, and disposal. If you need engineered drawings for the city of Orlando’s permitting department, we handle those too. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise applies to every addition and ADU we build: if something fails inside that window, we come back and fix it at no charge. The materials behind that promise come from brands we trust:
- KraftMaid and Wellborn cabinetry
- Cambria, Silestone, and Caesarstone countertops
- Kohler and Moen fixtures
- James Hardie siding for exterior walls that handle Orlando humidity
DIY or Call Us?
You can check a few things yourself: look for visible separation at the roofline, test whether doors close properly, and check for water stains after a heavy Orlando rain. What you shouldn’t do is attempt structural repair or any work that requires a permit. Florida law requires licensed contractors for structural additions and ADUs, and the Orlando permitting process has specific requirements for wind-load engineering. A homeowner who pulls a structural wall without understanding load paths creates a genuinely dangerous condition. If you suspect foundation movement, that’s not a caulk-and-paint fix. Call us at (850) 427-6454 and we’ll come out, look at it with you, and tell you what we’d do and what it costs. Estimates are free.
FAQs
A properly engineered addition or ADU should last 50+ years structurally in Orlando’s climate. The weak points are the flashing and moisture barriers, which we upgrade on every build because Florida’s humidity and afternoon storms punish standard materials. Call (850) 427-6454 if you want us to look at yours.
Usually yes, especially if the issue is flashing, moisture intrusion, or localized foundation settlement. We’ll assess what’s failing and give you a written price for the repair before any work starts. If the structure is too far gone or wasn’t permitted originally, a rebuild may be the honest answer. Call (850) 427-6454 for a straight assessment.
A full addition typically takes 4 – 8 months from permit approval to final walkthrough. An ADU runs 6 – 12 months depending on scope. Orlando’s permitting timeline is part of that, and we build it into the schedule we give you up front. Call (850) 427-6454 to get a real timeline for your project.
We stock the hardware, flashing, and moisture barrier materials needed for most ActiveYards-compatible repair work, including the upgraded flashing we install on Orlando projects. For full additions or ADUs, materials are ordered per project from KraftMaid, Cambria, Silestone, and other trade brands we’ve worked with for years. A live person answers the phone 24/7, so call (850) 427-6454 and ask us directly.
If you own an ActiveYards-style addition or ADU in Orlando and something’s not right, call (850) 427-6454 for a free estimate. We’ll give you the written number before any work starts, and we’ll stand behind it for 365 days after the job is done. That’s the Kingswell Way.
Written by Trevor Nash, Owner, Penhallow Remodeling Orlando at Penhallow Remodeling Orlando, serving Orlando and nearby areas.
