Rebuilding after the Eaton or Palisades Fire means navigating insurance claims, permits, demolition, design and construction. This guide covers five construction methods with honest trade-offs, every major cost category, the insurance gap explained, and a realistic timeline from site clearance to move-in – for 3,000–5,000 sq ft custom homes in fire-affected communities across Los Angeles.

The questions in this guide come directly from the families we talk with every week. People weighing cost, timeline, construction method and what it will take to have their homes back.

Letter Four is a Los Angeles design-build firm founded by a licensed architect and a licensed general contractor. We have been working with homeowners affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires across Altadena, Pacific Palisades and Malibu. When you are ready to talk through your specific lot, your insurance situation or your timeline, we are here for that conversation.

• Cost comparison across five construction methods: Stick-Built, ICF, Modular, Omniblock/Steel Deck and All-Steel
• Trade-offs and realistic performance expectations for each method in WUI fire zones
• A real project case study from Arbramar Avenue in Pacific Palisades – three specific WUI code details that helped that home survive the 2025 fires
• An insurance gap explainer, including a sample gap breakdown and a checklist of questions to ask your insurer before you sign anything
• What drives fire rebuild costs up or down in Los Angeles
• Two permitting paths explained: like-for-like vs. custom or expanded, with realistic timelines for each
• A five-stage rebuild timeline from site clearance to move-in (18–30 months)
• An FAQ covering cost ranges, WUI code requirements, modular construction, the 110% rule, steel pricing and design-build.

‍

Get the LA Fire Rebuild Cost Guide

Construction methods, budget ranges and a real project case study from a home in Pacific Palisades that survived the 2025 fires. Enter your information below and we will send it to you.