Los Altos, CA
Ground-up homes, whole-house renovations, and additions for Los Altos's large-lot tradition, built by a team that works inside the city's 35% lot-coverage rules, FAR limits, and the Design Review Commission's expectations.
Why Westward in Los Altos
Old Los Altos, Country Club, the Highlands, Woodland Acres, each block has a pattern. Teardown-rebuilds sit next to 1950s ranches that are finally getting remodeled properly, next to Eichlers that owners want to keep original. The right move depends on the block and the house, and a lot of our Los Altos work is helping homeowners decide that before plans get drawn.
Los Altos caps lot coverage at 35% and floor-area ratio tightens as lots get larger. Most ambitious projects hit those limits, and the fix is almost always a design move, not a variance. We scope against the envelope before the architect draws a line.
Larger projects, hillside parcels, and anything near a view corridor go to the Design Review Commission. We've been through the process enough to know what they ask for, what the neighbors raise, and how to sequence the package so it moves through on the first or second meeting, not the fourth.
Los Altos projects send notice to adjacent property owners before review. A lot of the friction in those letters is avoidable if the design has already accounted for sight lines, second-story privacy, and shared fences. We look at those from the first site walk, because it's cheaper to design around them than to appeal.
Mid-century Los Altos homes often still have their original service panels, galvanized supply lines, and roofs at end of life. Having our own trades in-house means we can spec the whole systems upgrade during the first walk, not after the architect has already drawn you into a corner.
What We Build in Los Altos
Ground-up builds and teardown-rebuilds on Los Altos lots. We handle feasibility, architects, engineers, Design Review, and the full permit journey.
Learn More →Primary-suite additions, second stories, detached ADUs. We design to the FAR and coverage limits before we quote, so the project you picture is the project you get built.
Learn More →Whole-house, kitchen, and bathroom remodels inside existing footprints. Often the smartest move on an Eichler or original ranch, and usually the fastest way to a modern home.
Learn More →Los Altos FAQ
Common questions about building, remodeling, or adding on in Los Altos. Have one we didn't cover? Get in touch.
Standard Los Altos residential zones cap lot coverage at 35% and floor-area ratio on a sliding scale that tightens as lot size grows. Hillside lots have additional constraints. Most ambitious projects hit at least one of those limits, and the right response is almost always a design adjustment, not a variance. We run the numbers on day one so we're not surprised at permit.
New homes, most additions, hillside projects, and anything affecting view corridors typically go to the Design Review Commission. Smaller interior remodels and low-impact additions can stay at staff review. We confirm the path for your specific parcel before we scope, because the review timeline changes the project schedule by months either way.
Yes, and it's some of the most rewarding work we do. Eichlers have specific structural quirks, post-and-beam framing, radiant slabs, atrium roofs, single-pane walls of glass, that most contractors either ignore or fight. The right move is usually targeted envelope + systems upgrades that preserve the character: insulated roof lift, high-performance glazing in the original module, updated radiant, panel upgrade. We've done this. Ask us for references.
Yes. Once scope is roughly aligned, we connect you with past Peninsula clients, including Los Altos homeowners, who'll take your call. People who've lived with the work for years are the most honest signal of what building with us is actually like.
Most Los Altos homes were wired, plumbed, and roofed decades ago. Having our electrician, plumber, and certified roofers on the team every day means we can inspect what's actually inside the walls on the first site walk, plan the systems upgrade around the remodel, and avoid the subcontractor coordination overhead that slows mid-century Los Altos projects down.
Planning a Los Altos project?
No pressure, no obligation. Just a walk-through of your property and an honest read on scope, timeline, and what's actually needed.
Let's talk