Engineering Insights

Perspectives on civil engineering, hillside construction, grading, and structural engineering in Los Angeles.

Mar 11, 2026

Altadena Fire Rebuild Manufactured Homes

An Altadena drainage plan for a lot with manufactured homes - two ADU-like structures on a sloping lot, engineered to cut construction costs.

Feb 4, 2026

Widening an Altadena driveway apron sounds simple, but older streets have concrete slabs bridging the flowline. Here's how we detail around them.

Feb 1, 2026

Sometimes I like to give our other email address which is a different domain, but haven't posted anywhere some of the domains we own.

Jan 20, 2026

Still working with LA County on Altadena drainage approvals. Plan check asked to move plastic lined rain gardens 5 feet off property lines.

Dec 16, 2025

We're getting our latest batch of Altadena drainage plans approved by LA County by keeping the existing drainage pattern, avoiding sump pumps.

Nov 18, 2025

Our first Altadena sideways lot: west entrance, north-to-south slope, and a goal of draining stormwater to the street by gravity alone.

Nov 17, 2025

During plan check, an insurer asked what code LA County uses to require drainage plans on some Altadena lots and not others. Here's the answer.

Oct 13, 2025

A corner-lot Altadena fire rebuild keeping the house in a similar location, adjusting contours to hold 5% slope 10 feet from the structure.

Oct 6, 2025

Our first pool removal in Altadena: a large lot where LA County requires a full grading plan to demolish the pool and restore the yard.