You might have never come across the term “Backyard House” but you must have seen one in your neighborhood. Backyard homes have become increasingly popular over the years due to several reasons. While some are looking to expand their house, others can build an office or simply rent the space out. If you have some open space or backyard in your house, you can get a home addition design for a backyard house. Let’s take a deeper look into what building a backyard house entails.

What Is A Backyard House Technically?

Technically, backyard homes are called Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). In simple words, an ADU is a separate space built or created on the same property as the primary home. ADUs can either be built as a stand-alone or you can attach them to the garage, basement, house, etc.

Plus, depending on the country or region, backyard homes may also be called carriage houses, cottages, garden suites, etc. If not, you recognize them from another popular term used “the granny flat”.

What Is The ADU Size Limit?

Building or adding an ADU to your property requires following some rules & regulations. For instance, ADUs need to be of a certain size and you cannot build them like regular homes in California. The state does not allow a backyard home to stand more than 150 sq feet and larger than 1200 sq feet.

Therefore, if you were to compare ADUs with tiny homes, they are able to accommodate relatively more people. On top of that, you can add floating shelves, vertical storage areas, and many other features that are normally found in homes to make them practical and worthy of living.

How To Choose The Right ADU?

When it comes to choosing the right secondary unit for your needs, you should consider things like the available space in your backyard, budget, and preferences. If you intend to build one for your friends and family, you can play around with several different ideas as long as you are willing to put in the time, effort, and money.

On the other hand, if the backyard home is for the elderly who want some space and privacy, you will need to come up with something that not only keeps them comfortable but also safe & secure. For example, you can add slip and fall protection, shower seats and grab bars, wide doorways, door levers, etc.

What Are The Common Types Of Secondary Units?

As mentioned earlier, secondary units are identified using several different terms. The most common tend to be the following:

Backyard Cottages

Backyard cottages are best for people who have mobility issues and want some space at the same time. The elderly need to rest and should be left alone for a while during the day to pack up some energy. That said, you can build a backyard cottage for your elderly and have a caretaker live with them to look after.

Furthermore, many parents have built ADUs in their backyard to accommodate adult offspring along with their children. It could be that a young couple or individual has married recently and is saving for their first home. Moreover, it could also be great for students trying to pay off their school debt.

Home Office Cottages

Home offices are growing in number every day as millennials look forward to building and investing in their brands and business opportunities. This means that they do not have to visit an office far from their home each day and can simply look after the processes sitting at home.

Home office cottages in that respect tend to be the perfect option. Adding an additional unit for privacy and focus will allow you to keep your business separate from the family. And the best thing about it is that you can customize it according to your needs and preferences, which will make the addition even more investment worthy.

Backyard House Rentals

Another good reason for building an ADU is if you want to generate some rental income. A separate unit is going to be a great option for tenants as they will have some private space such as a kitchen, bathroom, and common area. However, make sure that you are familiar with your state’s landlord and tenant regulations to avoid legal complications.

Final Word

In the end, building a backyard home is not rocket science. All you need to do is define your needs and preferences and you are good to go. Just make sure that you consult home addition companies DC who will make sure your money is spent the right way.