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PGT Home Additions & ADU: The Miami Owner’s Guide
PGT home additions and ADU construction in Miami typically runs $53,100 to $153,400 for a full permitted build, with ADU-specific projects landing between $106,200 and $259,600 depending on size, foundation work, and finish level. We quote these projects the same way we quote every job at Sawyer Remodel Miami: a written price before a single tool is picked up. Most Miami homeowners call us after they’ve outgrown their current footprint and are deciding between adding on, converting the garage, or building a detached ADU in the yard. The numbers matter up front, and we don’t make you call just to learn whether your project fits your budget.
Key Takeaways:
- Home additions in Miami: $53,100 – $153,400 (site-built, permitted, finished)
- Standalone ADU construction: $106,200 – $259,600 (kitchenette, bath, separate meter)
- Garage conversion: $35,400 – $94,400 (fastest path to rentable square footage)
- We’re an independent Miami contractor, not affiliated with PGT, but we build additions and ADUs that pair cleanly with PGT impact windows and doors already on the home
Which PGT Models This Applies To
If your Miami home has PGT windows or doors, you already know the brand holds up to hurricane code better than most. When we build an addition or ADU, the question is always: do we match the PGT products on the existing structure, or do we upgrade? For additions that tie directly into the main house, matching matters. PGT’s WinGuard and Sentinel product lines are the ones we see most often in Miami, and both carry Florida Product Approval numbers your local inspector will recognize on a permit set. The gotcha: not every PGT series is still in production, so if the existing windows are older (think pre-2015 WinGuard with the older frame profile), you may need to step to the current series and accept a slight sightline difference, or replace entire openings so everything matches.
We’re an independent service provider, so we’re not tied to PGT’s product roadmap. That works in your favor. We can spec PGT, or we can spec an equivalent impact-rated product from a different manufacturer if lead times are a problem. The decision hinges on your existing models and whether the new space needs to visually match the old. Luca Romano walks every Miami site himself before we write a number, because the wrong window spec on a $150,000 addition is a mistake you’ll look at every day for a decade.
Styles & brands we work with
Signs Your PGT Home Additions & ADU Is Failing
An addition or ADU isn’t a part that fails quietly. When something’s off, you’ll see it. Here’s what homeowners in Miami call us about most:
- Water staining at the tie-in seam. Where the new roof meets the old roofline is the number one leak point on any addition. If you see ceiling discoloration after a Miami downpour, the flashing or underlayment at that transition was likely done wrong, not the PGT window above it.
- Interior doors sticking or gaps at trim. South Florida soil shifts. If your slab addition wasn’t tied with the right rebar schedule or the fill wasn’t compacted, you’ll get differential settlement. Doors that were square at move-in start dragging within 18 months.
- Humidity spikes in the new space. A properly insulated addition holds humidity like the rest of the house. If you’re running a dehumidifier constantly in the ADU, the building envelope has a problem, usually vapor barrier or HVAC sizing, not the structure itself.
- Cracks running through the drywall at the old-to-new junction. Small hairline cracks are common. Cracks wider than a nickel and growing are not. That’s a structural connection issue, not a paint problem.
- Higher electric bills than the square footage justifies. A poorly air-sealed addition in Miami heat will strain your AC. If the new 400 square feet added $80 a month in cooling, the insulation or ducting was skimped on.
See the difference
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AfterReplacement Cost & What’s Included
Here’s the real pricing picture in Miami based on what we’ve built recently:
- Home Addition (bedroom suite, family room, or expanded kitchen): $53,100 – $153,400
- ADU Construction (detached, with bathroom and kitchenette): $106,200 – $259,600
- Garage Conversion (finished living space): $35,400 – $94,400
What changes the number within those ranges? Foundation type (slab-on-grade vs. elevated), roof tie-in complexity, impact-rated window and door count, electrical service capacity, and whether the city requires a full stormwater retention system for the added impervious surface. Every quote from us includes permits, drawings, material, labor, and a line-item breakdown you can actually read. No change orders. No “we ran into a surprise” price jumps. If it’s not written down, it’s not part of the job. Every project also carries our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if it’s not done right, we make it right, in writing, for a full year after close.
DIY or Call Us?
An addition or ADU is not a DIY project, period. You’re pouring concrete, framing structural walls, pulling electrical, running plumbing, and passing Miami-Dade inspections. Getting any of it wrong means water intrusion, failed inspections, or worse. What you can do yourself is the homework phase: check your lot’s zoning for ADU allowances, map utility easements, and figure out your budget ceiling before you call. That’s genuinely useful. The construction itself needs a licensed contractor with Miami permitting experience. We’ve built in Coral Gables, Brickell, Kendall, and Hialeah, and each municipality has its own quirks on setbacks, height limits, and tree protection. Call us at (850) 801-8046 when you’re ready to talk numbers. The estimate is free, and it’s a real number, not a ballpark.
FAQs
A typical home addition runs 4 to 7 months from permit submission to final inspection in Miami, while a detached ADU usually takes 5 to 9 months depending on site work and utility connections. Permitting with Miami-Dade or the local municipality is often the longest single phase. We keep you updated with photo progress and live arrival times through The Relay Visibility Guarantee, so you always know what’s happening and when. Call (850) 801-8046 to get a timeline specific to your project.
Yes, and in Miami a garage conversion is often the cheapest path to finished square footage, running $35,400 to $94,400 depending on whether you’re adding a bathroom, kitchenette, or just conditioned living space. The catch is that Miami-Dade requires off-street parking preservation in many zones, so you may need to add a carport or driveway apron to stay compliant. We handle that conversation with the city so you don’t have to guess. Call us at (850) 801-8046 and we’ll tell you if your garage is a candidate.
Yes, we pull every permit on every addition and ADU we build. No permit means no inspection, no inspection means no certificate of occupancy, and no certificate means problems when you sell or refinance. We’ve never built a Miami addition without one, and we won’t start. The permit cost is in your written quote from day one, not a line item that appears mid-project.
In most Miami neighborhoods, a well-built ADU rents for enough to cover its own construction loan payment within the first 18 to 24 months. The rental market in areas like Westchester, Shenandoah, and Little Havana is strong for one-bedroom units. The real payback, though, is resale: appraisers in Miami-Dade now count ADU square footage at near-parity with the main house when it’s properly permitted and climate-controlled. We also work with KraftMaid, Cambria, and Silestone for the finishes, so the ADU reads like a real home, not a converted shed. Call (850) 801-8046 for an exact payback scenario based on your address.
Written by Luca Romano, Owner & Lead Contractor, Sawyer Remodel Miami at Sawyer Remodel Miami, serving Miami and nearby areas.
