Samara's Backyard ADU offers prefab accessory dwelling units for California homeowners. Five sizes available, including the 950 sq ft XL 10. Factory-built, fire-resistant, energy-efficient, with full-service permitting, installation & flexible financing.

Samara – ADU Contractor in Redwood City, CA

About Samara

Samara's Backyard ADU: A Factory-Built Accessory Dwelling Unit for California Homeowners

Samara offers a line of prefabricated accessory dwelling units under the name Backyard. Designed and built in a factory setting, these ADU units are available to homeowners in California and are positioned as a faster, more streamlined alternative to conventional on-site construction. Samara handles the process from permitting and financing to installation, making them a full-service ADU contractor and ADU builder.

The Backyard lineup currently comes in five sizes, ranging from a studio up to the newest model, the Backyard XL 10 — a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit at 950 square feet. Each model is designed to feel spacious despite its compact footprint, featuring cathedral ceilings, built-in storage, and well-proportioned layouts.

Interior spaces include fully electric kitchens with induction cooktops and integrated dishwashers, as well as bathrooms with walk-in showers, wide vanities, and laundry areas. The units are intended to function as complete living spaces, suitable for use as a backyard cottage, in-law suite, rental unit, or home office.

Construction, Materials, and Energy Performance

Backyard units are factory-assembled using a construction system built around a cold-formed steel frame, which provides resistance to mold, rot, termites, and fire. The exterior cladding consists of smooth-coated insulated steel, and the roof uses a Galvalume-coated standing seam steel system. These material choices are partly a response to California's building environment, particularly in areas subject to wildfire risk.

Key structural and fire-resistance details include:

Standing seam metal roof rated Class A per ASTM E84
Exterior wall options in smooth-coated steel or fiber cement siding, both carrying Class 1 certification per FM 4880
Metal-clad windows and doors with tempered dual-pane glass
Class A-rated drywall for interior walls and ceilings
Optional one-hour fire-rated wall assembly for code compliance
HVAC system with MERV-13 filtration and ember-resistant exterior vents

Samara states that Backyard units meet — and in some areas exceed — California's Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) code requirements. Where required, units can also be upgraded to include fire sprinklers.

On the energy side, Backyard is designed to be over twice as energy-efficient as a comparably sized conventionally built home. With optional solar arrays, the unit can draw as few as zero net kilowatt-hours from the grid annually. This makes it a practical option for homeowners looking to reduce energy costs across their entire property.

Installation Timeline, Space Requirements, and Financing

One of the practical advantages Samara highlights is speed. Because Backyard units are pre-approved at the state level and built in the factory while local permits are being processed, the typical installation runs four to six months faster than a conventional on-site build. Once permits are approved, on-site installation can be completed in as few as eight weeks.

Space requirements vary by model:

Studio: 39' × 25' (including setbacks)
One bedroom: 47' × 25'
Two bedroom: 57' × 25'
Backyard XL 8: 35' × 42'
Backyard XL 10: 35' × 48'

The base installation cost covers project management, permitting allowances, site preparation, foundation installation, and utility connections including sewer, electrical, water, and teledata conduit. Final pricing is tailored to each property.

Regarding payment, Samara does not require full upfront payment. Costs are spread across milestone payments throughout the project, and work does not begin until financing is secured. Samara offers its own financing product — a second mortgage with flexible terms — and also works with partners offering HELOCs, home equity loans, cash-out refinances, and construction loans.

Currently, Samara's Backyard ADU is available in California. For properties without an existing home, Samara notes that this option is currently limited to homeowners whose properties were damaged or destroyed in recent Southern California fires.

Services

Samara performs the following services

Architecture & Design
Permit Specialist
Construction
Financing & Loans
Feasibility & Site Assessment
Finishing & Fit-out
HVAC installation

Samara Reviews

Shiloh Martinez

2026-02-05

"I recently had the pleasure of working with Samara to add a beautiful Backyard ADU to our property, and the entire experience exceeded every expectation. From the very first consultation to the final walkthrough, everything felt truly seamlessa rare thing in home construction projects! What stands out most is how exceptional the entire team is. The design team listened carefully to our needs and created a modern, thoughtful layout that maximized every square foot without feeling cramped. The building and fabrication process done off-site in their advanced facility was precise and high-quality, and the installation crew was incredibly efficientgetting our unit set up and fully operational in record time with minimal disruption to our daily life. Every step was handled professionally and on schedule. Beyond the technical excellence, the team treated us with genuine respect and outstanding communication throughout. Questions were answered promptly, updates were clear and consistent, and they truly made us feel like valued partners rather than just clients. No surprises, no stressjust a smooth, collaborative process from start to finish. Samara is especially great for small homes and compact yards. Their Backyard models ranging from cozy studios to more spacious one- or two-bedroom options are perfectly scaled for smaller properties, fitting beautifully without overwhelming the space. The innovation shines through in every detail: solar-powered and future-ready features, smart design elements, high-quality materials, and a focus on sustainability and efficiency. Best of all, they deliver this level of quality at a price that feels genuinely affordable compared to traditional buildsmaking ADUs accessible rather than a luxury only a few can afford. If you're considering adding extra space for family, a home office, rental income, or just more room to live, I can't recommend Samara highly enough. They turned what could have been a complicated project into an exciting and rewarding one. Thank you to the whole teamyou're changing lives one backyard at a time! The Mexicali team has such efficient and high quality factories!"

Allen Fung

2026-01-28

"We signed the contract in May 2024, the unit was delivered in January 2025, and it was fully functional by June 2025. All in, the entire process took about 13 months from start to finish. This is my six-month review of both the unit and the overall experience. Build Quality Design Build quality was the main reason I chose Samara. I visited several ADU companies around the Bay Area, and Samara was noticeably a step above the rest. I highly recommend visiting the showroom in person the photos online really dont do it justice. Everything feels more solid and premium. The doors have real weight to them, the floors feel like solid wood and dont creak or flex, and the frame is steel rather than wood. The kitchen and bathroom finishes are thoughtfully selected and feel much higher end than what I saw at other ADU showrooms. We also opted for the Kingspan exterior cladding an upgrade, and it was absolutely worth it. It gives the unit a very modern look and noticeably better insulation than my main house. Combined with the solar panels, it almost feels like a self-sustaining, ultra-efficient space. Another big win for Samara is their layout and design philosophy. Its very clean, minimalist, and incredibly space-efficient. Every inch is thoughtfully used, which makes the 690 sq ft unit feel much larger than it actually is. In fact, it doesnt feel dramatically smaller than my main house, which is about 900 sq ft. That smart use of space really sold me. Price Samara is definitely more expensive than many other prefab or stick-built ADU options roughly 1020 more from what I saw. But the jump in build quality is significant. Like most things in life, you truly get what you pay for. With ADUs, the decision isnt just about getting the biggest square footage for the lowest price. Space is usually the main constraint, so what matters more is how well that space is designed and built. Even if you can get a slightly bigger unit elsewhere for less, the overall quality and livability of Samara made the extra cost worth it for me. Install Process One of the biggest benefits of prefab is avoiding a year of noisy construction in your backyard. The unit was built in Samaras factory in Mexico, and once it was ready, the crane drop-off took only about four hours. Most of the timeline delays afterward were related to permitting, which was largely outside of Samaras control. The actual delivery and install process itself was very smooth. Overall Experience The best way I can describe Samara is that they are the Apple of ADU companies. Youre paying a bit more, but you get a higher-quality product, a streamlined process, and strong support throughout. Given how many shady ADU companies Ive seen in the news, paying extra for peace of mind and build quality was absolutely worth it. Special shout-out to my project manager Enrique he was fantastic to work with and stayed communicative and responsive throughout the entire process. If youre considering an ADU in the Bay Area, I strongly recommend visiting Samaras showroom and seeing their units in person. It made all the difference for me."

Erin Gaver

2025-11-21

"We recently worked with Samara to add a new ADU to our backyard in Napa, and the entire experience was exceptional from start to finish. Their communication was clear, consistent, and genuinely supportive throughout the entire process. Every step felt seamlessfrom the initial planning to the delivery and final placement of our ADU. The Samara team Enrique, Jesus, Sam, and so many others kept us informed, answered questions quickly, and made what could have been an overwhelming project feel incredibly manageable. The quality of the product and the professionalism of everyone involved exceeded our expectations. Were thrilled with our new ADU and so grateful for how smooth the journey was. We even ended up on the front page of our local newspaper! Highly recommend Samara to anyone considering an ADUthey truly make the process effortless and enjoyable."

Clint Prescott

2025-10-30

"We recently moved into our home away from home, a fabulous Samara ADU in Napa, California. After extensive research we chose Samara for the quality of the build and the fact that they took care of the entire process from permits to the final certificate of occupancy and everything in between. The entire experience was seamless and stress free. Enrique, our project manager, provided us with written weekly reports and was always accessible when we had a question. The entire Samara team from day one was TERRIFIC. Clint"

York Wu

2025-01-30

"We had a fantastic experience working with Samara on our new ADU. From start to finish, the team was professional, communicative, and truly invested in making sure everything went smoothly. Enrique kept us informed at every stage, addressed any concerns quickly, and made the whole process feel seamless. The final product exceeded our expectationsthe design is beautiful, the build quality is excellent, and it fits perfectly with our property. We couldnt be happier with the outcome and would highly recommend Samara to anyone considering an ADU!"

prev next

Specifics

Prefab Specialist Eco-Friendly

Location

Get directions

Did we help?

Please let Samara know that you found them on Top ADU Pros to allow us to continue helping others find the best adu contractors.

get in contact

Samara