{ "generated": "2026-05-02T21:01:57.466Z", "totalDocuments": 321, "documents": [ { "id": "2023-08-07-welcome-to-our-new-blog-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2023/08/07/welcome-to-our-new-blog", "title": "Welcome to our new blog", "chunk": "; Hello, innovators and dreamers. Welcome to our corner of the web where engineering's analytical prowess meets design's captivating aesthetics. It's a place where numbers transform into narratives, and blueprints bloom into breathtaking structures. To unravel the seamless blend of form and function. Here, you'll discover the beauty behind the beams and the tales within the tiles. Whether you're an industry professional, a budding designer, or just someone intrigued by the confluence of these two worlds, we've got something for you. So, as we embark on this journey of structural wonders and design dreams, we invite you to join the conversation, share your insights, and let your imagination soar. Stay tuned for our deep dives into the magic that happens when engineering and design intertwine", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"bwengr\"", "\"blog\"", "\"welcome\"", "\"announcement\"]" ] }, { "id": "2023-08-07-welcome-to-our-new-blog-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2023/08/07/welcome-to-our-new-blog", "title": "Welcome to our new blog", "chunk": "Until next time, keep building and designing", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"bwengr\"", "\"blog\"", "\"welcome\"", "\"announcement\"]" ] }, { "id": "2023-09-13-website-revamp-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2023/09/13/website-revamp", "title": "Website Revamp", "chunk": "; We're thrilled to announce that our digital space has undergone a stunning transformation. After weeks of tinkering, refining, and innovating, our website now boasts a sleeker design, improved functionality, and a more intuitive user experience. We're ever-evolving, just like the world of engineering and design. It was time our digital presence reflected the cutting-edge content and insights we consistently bring to you. Here's what's new: - Streamlined Navigation: Find what you're looking for with ease. - Enhanced Imagery: Experience our content through vibrant visuals. - Optimized for Mobile: Seamless browsing, whether you're on desktop or on the go. We hope you enjoy the fresh look as much as we enjoyed crafting it for you. Dive in, explore, and let us know your thoughts", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"bwengr\"", "\"website\"", "\"announcement\"]" ] }, { "id": "2023-09-13-website-revamp-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2023/09/13/website-revamp", "title": "Website Revamp", "chunk": "Thank you for being part of our journey. Here's to new beginnings and continued conversations in our revamped space", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"bwengr\"", "\"website\"", "\"announcement\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-02-12-rebuilding-altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/02/12/rebuilding-altadena", "title": "Rebuilding Altadena", "chunk": "; Altadena's first lot since the Eaton Fire, was sold recently on Calaveras Street for $100k above listing. Location and price wise this seems low to me, but also the buyer will have to wait a while before anything can happen. I see two more lots up for sale at the similar original listing of around $440k. We did grading/drainage and Low Impact Development Plans in the area last year and that process in itself takes some time before permits are issued through LA County. Adding on the phases of cleanup before knowing what the lot will be, will make the rebuilding process a bit more tricky and time consuming. The price per squarefoot in Altadena was starting to get around $1200 for non flip houses, so using a 1000 sqft house as a previous rough number, the area was generally $1", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"rebuilding\"", "\"housing\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-02-12-rebuilding-altadena-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/02/12/rebuilding-altadena", "title": "Rebuilding Altadena", "chunk": "I have heard all sorts of numbers for cost of construction ranging from $600-900 for a lot of Los Angeles. I asked a few more contractors around the areas of our projects being built and was told similar, but $800+ was more typical with low end finishes. Now we are adding nearly 10000 houses in Altadena and 6000 houses in Pacific Palisades to the list of potential new construction, and it becomes very unclear what construction costs can become. Lets take $750/sqft as a middle number to build. $750 x 1000 = $750k to rebuild a typical 1000sqft Altadena house plus $550k as the last lost sold which becomes $1. The example above shows why a few different things are going on with how these lots get rebuilt", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"rebuilding\"", "\"housing\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-02-12-rebuilding-altadena-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/02/12/rebuilding-altadena", "title": "Rebuilding Altadena", "chunk": "If someone buys a lot, they need to build larger than the typical bungalow style from the 1930's. If the original owner rebuilds they will need to come to the table with potentially more money above insurance if they don't want to be upside down on the final rebuild, as $1200/sqft could be a fair number even after the City was destroyed. What I think happens is slowly over time more expensive, somewhat larger houses get built, but still keeps a similar charm of the original area as the majority of the lots aren't large enough to build huge mansions, but also the lots are not too small to build the under 1000 sqft bungalows that were scattered around the City", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"rebuilding\"", "\"housing\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-02-12-rebuilding-altadena-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/02/12/rebuilding-altadena", "title": "Rebuilding Altadena", "chunk": "I wouldn't expect rezoning to happen where apartments and condos are built, but I could imagine some developers attempting to tie lots together to build some more mansion like single story houses in the 3000+ sqft range. Maybe someone gets a bright idea on how they can lot split and put a small bungalow plus ADU on chopped up lots in the 5000 sqft range, possibly splitting out the 10000 sqft lots. If I was to guess , I think the common size house will go from 1000-1300 sqft to 1800-2400 sqft, and that would still fit the character of the neighborhoods. I know one Architect we work with is looking at putting out a style guide for the City so people have some reference on how to keep that unique charm that kept Altadena way under peoples' radar", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"rebuilding\"", "\"housing\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-02-12-rebuilding-altadena-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/02/12/rebuilding-altadena", "title": "Rebuilding Altadena", "chunk": "A lot of people care about what happens here, but the costs associated with rebuilding have to be taken into consideration so those who lost everything don't lose even more trying to build pipe dreams. Time is also a factor which is why I am pretty neutral on some of these lots being sold to developers who will get the ball rolling so people can start to see there is a future in the loved City of Altadena. I suspect the lots will end up sell for more over time, and people realizing this becomes a more artsy hidden La Canada East, and not a North Pasadena extension", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"rebuilding\"", "\"housing\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-03-20-altadena-and-sb9-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/03/20/altadena-and-sb9", "title": "Altadena and SB9", "chunk": "Was doing some networking this week and getting to chit chat with Architects and developers about the fires has been most interesting. I am starting to see some rebuilds get closer to being ready to begin the drainage/grading for the full rebuilds. More interesting is these are popping up first in Pacific Palisades for us, not Altadena. I can picture a lot of different things happening for the Palisades, but Altadena has more limits. Which then got me curious what can be done on the Altadena lots since those are LA County not LA City", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sb9\"", "\"housing\"", "\"zoning\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-03-20-altadena-and-sb9-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/03/20/altadena-and-sb9", "title": "Altadena and SB9", "chunk": "Fast forward to learning a bit more about SB9, and now starting to read up in a lot more detail about what SB9 allows, This has some potential to keep the feel of Altadena intact with possibly making the housing a bit more dense scattered around with some of the larger houses. A mental rendering of this would show people joining lots or buying a lot for a house and buying a lot for a yard, while other portions of the city do lot splits. Not as mansioned out or super dense like some may want, but potentially a mix of both but neither going over the deep-end of apartments or pure mansions. Best area I can compare would be somewhere in the South Bay, like Manhattan Beach or Hermosa Beach", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sb9\"", "\"housing\"", "\"zoning\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-03-20-altadena-and-sb9-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/03/20/altadena-and-sb9", "title": "Altadena and SB9", "chunk": "Much more to read on how these once bungalow lots can be turned into chopped up skinny taller like the South Bay. Either way I think both cities will go higher end as Los Angeles in general, housing prices appear to be going upwards still", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sb9\"", "\"housing\"", "\"zoning\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-04-16-los-feliz-grading-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/04/16/los-feliz-grading", "title": "Los Feliz Grading", "chunk": "; Looking at an interesting plan in Los Feliz with a slight addition and a nice ADU addon. At first glimpse everything is trying to be tied into the existing topography, but there are some little pockets of areas that have to be regraded slightly. Slightly ends up causing the proposed areas to get new drainage. The harder part of this project is to try to keep as much natural as possible to keep the yard looking nice and not use ugly swales or hard devices to stop the stormwater. We also can't add a retaining wall. Using some grading we were able to redirect stormwater using soil and dg into a flowline. This large bench drains the slope into a flowline which can then exit around the ADU to the existing catch basin in the rear yard", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-feliz\"", "\"grading\"", "\"adu\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-04-16-los-feliz-grading-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/04/16/los-feliz-grading", "title": "Los Feliz Grading", "chunk": "The flowline became important as we didn't have to adjust the ADU dimensions and could also have the existing natural area behind this stay intact. The rest of the site is as close to the existing elevations as possible keeping earthwork import and export to a minimum. There was a lot of back and forth between us and the Architect to keep this visually appealing. This is now the 3d iteration of the entire site and cannot wait to see this go back into review and get approved", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-feliz\"", "\"grading\"", "\"adu\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-04-29-silver-lake-hillside-driveway-looking-for-optimum-route-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/04/29/silver-lake-hillside-driveway-looking-for-optimum-route", "title": "Silver Lake Hillside Driveway looking for Optimum Route", "chunk": "; ; ; We were tasked with finding a clean driveway path so a car can drive up the driveway and turnaround in front of the house. The conditions are steep existing driveway and not much room. After running through a few options we landed on a design that minimized impacts to the existing grade and kept the driveway to 11% slope. A car can park in the turn around area and a trash truck can get out without having to back down the driveway. You may lose some of the existing retaining walls but that's part of the scope of work we can show on a grading plan", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"silver-lake\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-02-hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/02/hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes", "title": "Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes", "chunk": "; Los Angeles' iconic hills, from Bel Air to Malibu, are the backdrop for some of the city most stunning luxury homes. But building on these slopes requires more than a bold architectural vision - it demands expert hillside grading and drainage to create a safe, beautiful foundation. At B+W Engineering and Design, we specialize in transforming challenging terrain into stable, elegant sites that bring dream homes to life. Our team ensures every project blends seamless grading with smart drainage solutions, delivering results that architects and homeowners trust. Hillside grading is the art of reshaping land to support a home while preserving its natural beauty", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"luxury-homes\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-02-hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/02/hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes", "title": "Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes", "chunk": "In Los Angeles, where steep slopes and dramatic views define neighborhoods like Pacific Palisades, grading is about creating flat, usable spaces for grand estates, pools, or outdoor terraces. Our team carefully sculpts the land, leveling areas for construction while keeping the hillside's charm intact. For a recent project in Los Angeles, we reshaped a steep slope to support a sprawling modern home, carving out space for a sleek infinity pool that seems to float above the ocean. Our grading plans ensure the land is solid and ready for building, no matter how ambitious the design. Drainage is just as critical as grading, especially in LA's hilly terrain. Heavy rains can turn a poorly planned site into a muddy mess, threatening the home's foundation and landscaping", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"luxury-homes\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-02-hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/02/hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes", "title": "Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes", "chunk": "We design drainage systems that keep water in check, protecting the property while adding to its upscale appeal. Think elegant stone-lined channels that guide rainwater away or hidden underground drains that keep the yard pristine. In a Los Feliz project, we installed a network of drains and a natural-looking bioswale, a landscaped channel that manages runoff while blending with the estate's existing rear yard. These solutions not only prevent flooding but also elevate the property's luxurious feel. What sets B+W Engineering apart is our focus on getting grading and drainage right from the start. We work hand-in-hand with architects to make sure the land supports their designs, whether it's a multi-level mansion or a minimalist retreat", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"luxury-homes\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-02-hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/02/hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes", "title": "Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes", "chunk": "Our plans account for LA's unique challenges, like rainy seasons or loose soil, so the site stays stable year-round. We also navigate the city's strict rules, like stormwater regulations, to keep projects on track. Using tools like 3D models, we can show clients and architects exactly how the graded land and drainage will look, ensuring every detail aligns with the home's vision. Our process is built on experience and care. We study the land, plan the grading to fit the home's layout, and design drainage that's both practical and polished. The result is a foundation that's as dependable as it is beautiful, ready to support a lifetime of memories in LA's most exclusive neighborhoods", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"luxury-homes\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-02-hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/02/hillside-grading-and-drainage-for-los-angeles-luxury-homes", "title": "Hillside Grading and Drainage for Los Angeles Luxury Homes", "chunk": "At B+W Engineering, we take pride in crafting hillside grading and drainage solutions that turn Los Angeles' rugged slopes into the perfect canvas for luxury living", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"luxury-homes\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-03-why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/03/why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes", "title": "Why Drainage Plans Are Essential for Los Angeles Hillside Homes", "chunk": "; Los Angeles' hillsides, from Pacific Palisades to Beverly Hills, offer stunning views and prime real estate for luxury homes. But building on these slopes comes with a hidden challenge: managing water. At B+W Engineering and Design, we know that a well-crafted drainage plan is just as vital as grading when creating a stable, elegant foundation for high-end residences. Our drainage solutions protect homes from rain and runoff while enhancing their upscale appeal. Hillside homes face unique risks during LA's rainy season. Water can rush down slopes, eroding soil, flooding yards, or even threatening the foundation. Without proper drainage, a beautifully designed estate can face costly damage", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"malibu\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-03-why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/03/why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes", "title": "Why Drainage Plans Are Essential for Los Angeles Hillside Homes", "chunk": "Our drainage plans tackle these issues head-on, guiding water away from the home in ways that are both practical and polished. For a recent Malibu project, we designed a network of hidden drains that kept the property pristine, channeling rainwater to a landscaped basin that doubled as a garden feature, rain garden. Effective drainage starts with understanding the land. We study the slope's shape and soil to plan systems that fit the home's layout and style. Whether it's sleek stone channels blending with a modern terrace or a natural bioswale complementing a sprawling lawn, our designs ensure water flows smoothly without disrupting the property's luxury. We also plan for LA's strict stormwater rules, keeping projects compliant while creating solutions that look as good as they work", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"malibu\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-03-why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/03/why-drainage-plans-are-essential-for-los-angeles-hillside-homes", "title": "Why Drainage Plans Are Essential for Los Angeles Hillside Homes", "chunk": "At B+W Engineering and Design, we see drainage as an opportunity to elevate a home's design. By pairing smart engineering with an eye for beauty, we create drainage plans that safeguard hillside residences and enhance their sophistication. Our work ensures that Los Angeles' most exquisite homes stay secure and stunning, rain or shine", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"malibu\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-06-grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/06/grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape", "title": "Grading and Drainage Solutions for Altadena's Distinct Landscape", "chunk": "; Altadena, tucked beneath the San Gabriel Mountains, is a charming Los Angeles County community known for its scenic beauty and charming homes. Unlike the steep hillsides of nearby areas, Altadena's flatter terrain presents its own set of grading and drainage challenges, from uneven soils to seasonal flooding risks. At B+W Engineering and Design, we bring our experience to create grading and drainage plans that turn Altadena's unique landscape into stable, buildable sites for architects and homeowners. Grading in Altadena is about refining the land to support a home's foundation and outdoor spaces while addressing subtle elevation changes. The area's mix of sandy and clay-heavy soils can settle unevenly, making precise grading essential for driveways, patios, or sprawling yards", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-06-grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/06/grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape", "title": "Grading and Drainage Solutions for Altadena's Distinct Landscape", "chunk": "In a recent Altadena project, we leveled a slightly sloped lot to support a contemporary home remodel with a wide front lawn, carefully adjusting the grade to ensure proper water flow away from the structure. Our grading plans focus on creating smooth, functional surfaces that blend with the neighborhood's open, airy feel, giving architects a solid canvas for their designs. Drainage is a critical concern in Altadena, where flat terrain and heavy winter rains can lead to standing water or soggy yards. Without proper drainage, homes risk foundation issues or damaged landscaping. Our drainage plans are tailored to Altadena's conditions, using smart systems that keep water moving efficiently", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-06-grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/06/grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape", "title": "Grading and Drainage Solutions for Altadena's Distinct Landscape", "chunk": "For one project, we designed a network of shallow, grass-lined channels that directed rainwater from the home's roof and yard to a dry well at the property's edge, preventing pooling while maintaining a natural look. These solutions protect homes and keep outdoor spaces usable year-round. Our approach in Altadena starts with a close look at the site's soil and drainage patterns. We work hand-in-hand with architects to craft plans that fit the home's layout, whether it's a cozy bungalow or a modern spread. Using tools like 3D models, we map out grading and drainage to show clients how the land will perform, ensuring every detail supports the project's vision. We also stay on top of Los Angeles County's stormwater rules, Low Impact Development, keeping plans compliant and projects on track", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-05-06-grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/05/06/grading-and-drainage-solutions-for-altadenas-distinct-landscape", "title": "Grading and Drainage Solutions for Altadena's Distinct Landscape", "chunk": "At B+W Engineering, we love working in Altadena's distinctive landscape. Our grading and drainage solutions create strong, practical foundations that let homeowners and architects build with confidence in this inviting community, surrounded by the beauty of the San Gabriel foothills", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"los-angeles-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-06-04-brentwood-driveway-drainage-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/06/04/brentwood-driveway-drainage", "title": "Brentwood Driveway Drainage", "chunk": "; Looking at a new single family house with basement in Brentwood and the main constraint is keeping everything as level as possible while minimizing cut. Los Angeles flatter lots can still require grading, and aren't always easy like some may think. Came up with a few variations of how to get this as minimal as possible until I found a way to keep both corners of the house as high as possible, while maintaining minimum 1% away from the house. Generally I would rather dip the entire driveway to one direction, but we also are trying to keep the garage as high as possible as well, which is situated at the very rear corner of the lot. The entire point of these constraints is so the client's house can get built to what they want", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"brentwood\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-06-04-brentwood-driveway-drainage-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/06/04/brentwood-driveway-drainage", "title": "Brentwood Driveway Drainage", "chunk": "If they need a curb/gutter and catch basin to make this possible, then that's what we need to construct. The rest of the grading and drainage is pretty straightforward, just minimize cut as much as possible. With this driveway the overall design can't minimize cut anywhere on the property, the entire site is as high as possible in relation to the house finish floors. The drainage becomes a little complex as I would rather have a few more drains and gravity pipes than normal to lower the chances of anything clogging. We also had to dodge some tree roots, which makes the outlet to the street very specific", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"brentwood\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-06-09-silver-lake-driveway-grading-design-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/06/09/silver-lake-driveway-grading-design", "title": "Silver Lake Driveway Grading Design", "chunk": "; After going through a few options, I started to narrow down a potential idea that works with LA City garage turnaround radius and a typical car reverse radius. Silver Lake always has the most interesting hillside grading lots. A couple of constraints are mainly how to use the least amount of retaining walls if any, how to keep the grade as similar as possible, and how to get a few parking spots added. I realized we could stack a retaining wall with a planter wall to break up the parking area, and tie those walls into the existing structure walls. With a slight grade to the driveway and parking area, we can daylight to the survey. Lowering the existing driveway allows the driveway width to be a bit more wide", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"silver-lake\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-06-09-silver-lake-driveway-grading-design-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/06/09/silver-lake-driveway-grading-design", "title": "Silver Lake Driveway Grading Design", "chunk": "This took a few tries of a couple of different versions with varying constraints, but I really wanted something feasible that follows Los Angeles City standards from the get go. Many options were sent along the way to give possible ideas on how to approach this from the Architect's side. Maybe the City will be lenient on certain things, so there is an option, or maybe they won't be lenient on anything, so here's another option. Grading is tricky on some of these hillside lots built a long time ago and trying to bring up to current day standards", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"silver-lake\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-08-04-first-altadena-like-for-like-into-plancheck-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/08/04/first-altadena-like-for-like-into-plancheck", "title": "First Altadena Like for Like into Plancheck", "chunk": "; Our first Altadena rebuild like for like project was pretty smooth. The idea was that the proposed house would be in nearly the same footprint as the existing now gone house. The Architect wanted to smooth out some of the rear yard to create a better patio than what existed before. This approach minimizes the amount of re-grading required and keeps the drainage pattern similar to what existed pre-fire. By maintaining the original drainage paths, we avoid triggering additional County requirements that would add cost and time to the rebuild. The key to this project's success was careful coordination with the Architect to ensure the proposed grades would work with the existing topography while creating a more usable outdoor space", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"like-for-like\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-08-04-first-altadena-like-for-like-into-plancheck-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/08/04/first-altadena-like-for-like-into-plancheck", "title": "First Altadena Like for Like into Plancheck", "chunk": "Mount Curve Avenue - Like-for-like Altadena fire rebuild with sheet flow to street", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"like-for-like\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-08-05-brentwood-sfr-with-a-basement-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/08/05/brentwood-sfr-with-a-basement", "title": "Brentwood SFR with a Basement", "chunk": "; ; ; ; Looking at corrections from Building and Safety they wanted us to show the earthwork exhibit. The model is sometimes tricky, but after looking at Altadena surveys, a typical Los Angeles survey is a lot easier to read fast. This particular project has a basement and some interesting zoning requirements. The driveway stays as is which is easier to work with, but the overall site we are cutting in the rear. We tweaked this a few times with the Architect as the elevation requirements are right on, and we were able to keep the drainage all gravity, except for the lightwell, which obviously requires a sump pump. Building the earthwork model on a flatter lot through most of the lot we generally pickup each survey shot and connect them together", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"brentwood\"", "\"basement\"", "\"grading-plan\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-08-05-brentwood-sfr-with-a-basement-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/08/05/brentwood-sfr-with-a-basement", "title": "Brentwood SFR with a Basement", "chunk": "I remember at my first job watching the surveyor manually do this in a very old DOS software creating his own triangles. And then once the existing and proposed models are built we can subtract them and get the cut/fill depths. Which is generally enough for grading plan check to see what's going on with the cut and fill the grading plans shows overlayed on top of the survey. This project is pretty complicated with the requirements, but at the same time pretty typical for a non hillside grading and drainage plan in Los Angeles", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"brentwood\"", "\"basement\"", "\"grading-plan\"", "\"los-angeles\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-09-18-altadena-drainage-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/09/18/altadena-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans", "chunk": "; Any lot that sits on the North side of the block or sideways in Altadena is likely going to require drainage plans. Some South lots might require drainage plans as well. After seeing a lot of different corrections over the last few months for Altadena fire rebuild plans, we are going to try to not use stormwater sump pumps and instead use plastic lined rain gardens at the low points in the rear yard for any drainage plans. A stormwater sump pump will trigger a set of street plans which we are trying to not do because everyone rebuilding is going to be cost sensitive. We had our pump distributor spec out a generic enough pump for the rough sized houses we are seeing on the sloped lots to get an idea on current pricing, which will be about $15-20k in unit costs for a duplex pump", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-09-18-altadena-drainage-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/09/18/altadena-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans", "chunk": "If Altadena will allow the lined rained gardens instead, this would be an effective cost savings to home owners. LA County prefers to use infiltration pits that are no closer than 15 ft from structures and 5ft from the property line. But I recently learned we could rebuild our garage on the lot line, which if someone next door decided to do an infiltration pit they would be infiltrating right under a potential garage structure. This is why I asked about plastic lined rain gardens. From this point on this is what we will try to get approved. If LA County ends up not wanting these, then we go the pump route. We are prioritizing any fire rebuilds and going to turn them around as fast as possible", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-09-18-altadena-drainage-plans-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/09/18/altadena-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans", "chunk": "The last drainage plan to get approved went into plan check and was approved the same week, and that was in September. Let us know if you need any help as we know its starting to become very confusing", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-09-24-drainage-design-models-in-altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/09/24/drainage-design-models-in-altadena", "title": "Drainage Design Models in Altadena", "chunk": "; ; LA County wants us to show earthwork numbers for the difference between the existing and proposed soil. Showing the contours in a 3d orbit view always looks interesting and a quick way to tell if the model is looking good or not. Altadena fire rebuilds are going to look a bit similar in the topography for drainage plans and roughly similar in how the house is on the lot. The proposed also helps to see if the model looks close to what is intended. In this case There will be a minimum crawl space height at the front of the house and this crawlspace will get larger as the land slopes down towards the rear. Above you can see how the driveway slopes down to get to the garage which is a slab on grade and then drops down to get to the crawlspace", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"3d-modeling\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-09-24-drainage-design-models-in-altadena-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/09/24/drainage-design-models-in-altadena", "title": "Drainage Design Models in Altadena", "chunk": "Further to the rear, bottom right corner, the ADU has a dropped finished floor with a separate crawlspace as well. In the middle of the house is an open to the sky slab on grade hang out area. I really like this house and figured it's an interesting one to show what the existing and proposed looks like for how we model the earthwork for Altadena drainage plans. East Palm Street Drainage Plan - Earthwork modeling and 3D design for Altadena fire rebuild with crawlspace and ADU", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"3d-modeling\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-03-altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/03/altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden", "chunk": "; ; ; ; We have another longer lot Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plan. This lot, the front yard does not slope as heavily as the previous ones we have seen, which allows more room to slightly regrade the contours to allow a less steep 5% from the house to the front area drains, and a 2% from the daylight slope coming towards the area drains. Then we split the house almost in the middle and slope towards the sideyard to the driveway and the side yard area drain. The 3d model for the existing looks right on, this time I only need to pickup the existing contours, and none of the spot elevations. The 3d model for the proposed keeps a crawlspace under the house. The driveway ties into the existing West property line and continues to the proposed garage which is slightly raised up in the rear", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"rain-garden\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-03-altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/03/altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden", "chunk": "From there all the drainage pipes and majority of the rear yard is contoured to stay onsite and drain into a plastic lined rain garden. We are trying to stay away from using stormwater sump pumps as the pumps will be about $20k in parts and also require street plans to handle the pressure pipe into a catch basin to slow the water down, which then would go out through most likely a $2k pipe in the right of way through the curb face. From the rotated 3d model, you can see how the contours all aim towards the rain garden, which also has the main drain pipe outletting into the plastic lined rain garden. Send us an email or call us if you need help with your Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage plans. Anything on the North Side of the block or sideways is going to require these", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"rain-garden\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-03-altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/03/altadena-drainage-plans-with-lined-rain-garden", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden", "chunk": "Some South lots also will require drainage plans. Cannot wait to get going on Pacific Palisades grading and drainage plans as well. Alta Crest Drive Drainage Plan - Long lot drainage plan with plastic lined rain garden for Altadena fire rebuild", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"rain-garden\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-07-altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/07/altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool", "chunk": "; Next up in the Altadena fire rebuilds is a grading plan to remove a pool. This will be our first pool removal plan in Altadena. This particular lot is a large one and the County is requiring a grading plan to remove the pool. What we are doing is connecting the contours on the property lines to get an idea of where the daylight can be and how to smooth everything out for rough grading to later on prepare for the proposed house. The proposed grading contours follow the existing lot closely. The contours themselves are sloped at 5:1 or 20% max so we aren't doing anything massive, grading wise. Also the contours were pulled around to try to minimize cut/fill on this step", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"pool-removal\"", "\"grading-plan\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-07-altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/07/altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool", "chunk": "The County is being very lax on what is being required so the homeowners can move quickly, which is nice but is causing a bit of confusion with contractors on some other projects that are under construction. The other unknown is the depth of the pool compared to the property line elevation. We are showing in the sections where to cut down to to create a pad and fill back from that point to level out the lot. There are a few stacked short retaining walls being removed. Above, you can see how we reach daylight and create a pad where the lot becomes more flat again. I wasn't sure if we would see grading plans in Altadena as LA County Grading and Drainage has said most of these plans are going to end up being drainage plans", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"pool-removal\"", "\"grading-plan\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-07-altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/07/altadena-grading-plan-to-remove-pool", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool", "chunk": "If you need grading or drainage plans with quick turnaround, please contact us. Pine Street Pool Removal - Grading plan to remove pool and restore natural landform on Altadena fire rebuild lot", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"pool-removal\"", "\"grading-plan\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-14-drainage-plans-in-altadena-fire-rebuild-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/14/drainage-plans-in-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Drainage Plans in Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "; This Altadena Drainage Plan is a corner lot fire rebuild. The proposed house sits in a similar location but we need to adjust the existing contours to keep 5% slope 10 feet from the structure at the top. From there we create a flowline that wraps around both sides of the house to drain to the street. Corner lots in Altadena present particular challenges because we need to manage drainage from multiple property lines. The key is creating a unified flow pattern that follows the natural topography while meeting all County requirements. We've found that by carefully modeling the existing contours and proposed grades in 3D, we can identify potential issues before they become costly problems during construction", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"corner-lot\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-10-14-drainage-plans-in-altadena-fire-rebuild-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/10/14/drainage-plans-in-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Drainage Plans in Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "This project is a great example of how detailed modeling helps us get the drainage right the first time. Las Flores Drive Drainage Plan - Corner lot fire rebuild with 5% slope drainage design", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"corner-lot\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-11-18-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-insurance-question-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/11/18/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-insurance-question", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans - Insurance Question", "chunk": "; Going through plan checks and getting the current requirements back in a correction, one of the projects had their insurance ask what code LA County is using to require drainage plans on some lots, and not on others. The answer is located at Los Angeles County Code section 22. This question from the insurance company is a good one, and it highlights how the rebuild process is still evolving. The County's drainage requirements are based on specific topographical and geological conditions, and we are happy to help explain these requirements to all parties involved in the rebuild. The key factor is whether the lot sits on the North side of the block or is oriented sideways, which affects how stormwater naturally flows across the property", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-11-18-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-insurance-question-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/11/18/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-insurance-question", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans - Insurance Question", "chunk": "South-facing lots on flat terrain may not require drainage plans, but most Altadena lots have enough slope to trigger the requirement. LA County has published their recovery FAQ covering drainage requirements and cross-lot drainage options. For specific questions about your Altadena project, contact B+W Engineering", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-11-19-altadena-multi-unit-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/11/19/altadena-multi-unit-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Multi-Unit Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans", "chunk": "; This is our first sideways lot in Altadena, with the entrance on the West side and the topography slopes North to South. The goal is to drain as much stormwater to the street as possible using gravity. There is about a 6 foot drop North to South over a 75 ft run and that creates enough slope to work with. Multi-unit properties in Altadena present unique challenges because the structures are longer and require more careful consideration of how stormwater moves across the site. We've been able to use gravity drainage for most of the site, with only minor interventions needed at the lowest points. Our approach for this sideways lot involved carefully analyzing the existing topography and creating a drainage plan that follows the natural slope while meeting LA County requirements", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"multi-unit\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-11-19-altadena-multi-unit-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/11/19/altadena-multi-unit-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Multi-Unit Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans", "chunk": "The key was getting the finished floor elevations correct so that gravity could do most of the work. Ganesha Avenue Multi-Unit - Drainage plans and street plans for this sideways lot Altadena fire rebuild", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"multi-unit\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-12-17-altadena-drainage-plans-being-approved-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/12/17/altadena-drainage-plans-being-approved", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans Being Approved", "chunk": "; Its been an experience, but we are finally getting the latest batch of Altadena drainage plans approved by LA County. Our technique is to keep the existing drainage pattern so we don't have to install stormwater sump pumps. This is special for the Altadena fire rebuilds. After months of working through the approval process, we're seeing our drainage plans finally get approved. The key has been demonstrating that by maintaining the original drainage patterns and using plastic lined rain gardens instead of sump pumps, we can achieve better stormwater management at a lower cost for homeowners. The County has been receptive to our approach, particularly since the plastic lined rain gardens don't trigger the same street plan requirements as sump pump systems", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2025-12-17-altadena-drainage-plans-being-approved-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2025/12/17/altadena-drainage-plans-being-approved", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans Being Approved", "chunk": "This saves homeowners significant time and money in the rebuilding process", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-01-21-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-continue-to-go-out-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/01/21/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-continue-to-go-out", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans Continue to Go Out", "chunk": "; A bit of back and forth still with LA County with our creative solutions to getting Altadena drainage plans approved. Plan check wanted some minor modifications which is fair enough to bring the plastic lined rain gardens 5 feet off the property lines and make sure everything is compliant. We've been working hard to streamline the Altadena fire rebuild drainage plan process. Our approach focuses on keeping existing drainage patterns to avoid stormwater sump pumps, which are expensive and require street plans. By using plastic lined rain gardens at low points, we can handle stormwater on-site more economically. The key to our success has been careful attention to property line setbacks and ensuring all drainage features meet County requirements", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-01-21-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-continue-to-go-out-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/01/21/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-continue-to-go-out", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans Continue to Go Out", "chunk": "We've found that proactively addressing potential issues in the initial design saves time and reduces costly revisions later in the process", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"la-county\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-02-02-domains-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/02/02/domains", "title": "Domains", "chunk": "; 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. Here is the list as sometimes its easier to say something besides bwengr. la domain has email forwarding on it, the rest are meant to forward to our bwengr. engineering - civilengineer. engineering - losangeles. engineering - drainageplans", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"bwengr\"", "\"domains\"", "\"branding\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-02-05-widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/02/05/widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "; Another Altadena fire rebuild where the client also wanted to try to widen the driveway. These are pretty straightforward normally, but some of the older streets in Altadena have a concrete slab acting like a little bridge over the street flowline to allow water to flow under this little bridge. At first we double checked with the client as this would potentially require a street plan depending on what the County says we can do here. After getting the go ahead I contacted the County to ask if there was a standard detail for this. As one would imagine there isn't a standard detail. This is also pretty rare, that no one is really familiar with how to handle this so the driveway design on a case by case basis", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-02-05-widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/02/05/widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "The County engineer mentioned we could try to adjust the flowline and tie back into the street since I mentioned if there is no standard we aren't going to design a new bridge. What we ended up doing is creating a flowline that went as close as we could get to the upper apron X and blended into the apron at 1% minimum in the flowline. Then try to keep the bottom of the apron as inline as possible while keeping a standard curb and gutter crossslope through this. Once we pass the apron, blend back in as fast as possible to the existing. What this should do is make a standard curb and gutter in the proposed area and either side neighbor if they do the same in the future can tie into this and eventually over time remove the little bridges if they want", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-02-05-widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/02/05/widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "I found 2 houses a few blocks away that did something similar but the aprons don't look standard. We are still in plan check, and curious if the County will have any comments or if they like the design on the first go around. The rest of the site is pretty standard but its a multifamily lot so the structure is a lot longer than a typical house and we are still trying to use gravity drainage to the street whenever possible. We ended up putting short walls on the North and South side to balance the building in the middle and give just enough elevation to get gravity drainage from the rear to the front. The rear of the lot has a little sliver of retaining wall and blends back into the neighbor", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-02-05-widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/02/05/widening-driveway-apron-for-an-altadena-fire-rebuild", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "The goal of the fire rebuilds is to try to blend everything we can so the lots are somewhat similar to what they were while making drainage better where we can. Ganesha Avenue Multi-Unit - Drainage plans, hydrology report, and street plans for this Altadena multi-unit fire rebuild", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"driveway\"", "\"grading\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-12-altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/12/altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Manufactured Homes", "chunk": "; ; ; Our next Altadena drainage plan is for a lot with manufactured homes, consisting of basically two ADU's. With the way this lot slopes and two smaller, separate structures, we are trying to save as much on construction costs as possible. The lot is typical though the excavated out damaged structures make the way this one ties into the neighbors a bit harder to read the survey. What we are doing is where the front edge of each ADU is located, go about 10 feet and 5% and create a flowline into the existing. Then come back to the structure and set the finished floor 8\" above grade. One we set that bring the flowline around the sideyards and see what the existing elevation is on each property line", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"adu\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-12-altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/12/altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Manufactured Homes", "chunk": "On this particular lot we were able to sheet flow by gravity the entire site to the rear, without needing area drains. The next step was locating a proposed driveway that connects to the existing driveway apron without building walls or curbs. This part was eyeballed to guess an initial grade and length that would work, then using our custom calculator we could line up the proposed contours and grade breaks and align that with the existing property line elevations. Like usual got this on the first try and had a very good tie in with the neighbor our driveway and how the ADU's sit. This is not a flat lot and averages about 17% from front to rear because of stepped walls through the property. As you can see the driveway follows slope standards and can be driven with pretty much any car", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"adu\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-12-altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/12/altadena-fire-rebuild-manufactured-homes", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Manufactured Homes", "chunk": "The grades between the structures and driveway are not flat, but they are tied pretty closely into the existing. We are also removing most of the walls that were stepping the site and creating a more flowing grade across the site. If you need drainage or grading plans in Altadena or Pacific Palisades fire rebuilds, please contact us. We specialize in hillside grading plans for LA County. We should also be taking on some more commercial projects soon that I am very excited about. Residential on Las Flores Drive - Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"adu\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-17-changing-drainage-pattern-to-remove-sump-pump-in-altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/17/changing-drainage-pattern-to-remove-sump-pump-in-altadena", "title": "Changing Drainage Pattern to Remove Sump Pump in Altadena", "chunk": "; ; ; We have another Altadena drainage plan where the goal was to not use a stormwater sump pump. The way the lot sits the existing stormwater used to drain all from the top of curb at the street to the rear of the property. When we can we try to raise the house so we reverse the drainage towards the street. Whether the rear requires a sump pump or not, if you can get less stormwater into the rear that means less water to handle. We began by looking at the existing topography which the Altadena excavated lots are a bit different than usual for surveys. The contours go all over the place, so the main places to look are at the property lines. If we come up 1% minimum from the street we can easily gravity sheet flow to the street. This sets the garage finished floor", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"gravity-drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-17-changing-drainage-pattern-to-remove-sump-pump-in-altadena-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/17/changing-drainage-pattern-to-remove-sump-pump-in-altadena", "title": "Changing Drainage Pattern to Remove Sump Pump in Altadena", "chunk": "Stepping through the outer structure we then tie into the existing, raising 8\" above the existing and that sets that house finished floor. From there we make our way around how to get as much stormwater to the front as possible. After asking the Architect if we can shift downspouts around we now have a good drainage pattern for what LA County is looking for. If you have drainage plan comments for a fire rebuild in Altadena, contact us, we possibly can save a lot of money in construction costs with our approach. Skywood Circle Drainage Plan - View the full drainage plan showing gravity sheet flow design", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"gravity-drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-25-altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/25/altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Sheet Flow", "chunk": "; ; ; We are taking over for another Civil Engineer to bring construction costs down on some Altadena fire rebuild drainage plans. This particular lot we were able to sheet flow the entire property. Besides the typical downwards sloping lot, the reverse out of the garage driveway we had to clear some items on the property. Other than that as we do more of these drainage plans, they become more straightforward. The existing lot was cleared, that's clearly excavated out with a small pile of soil where the house used to sit near the front. The 3d model of the site shows this in more detail, along with a short wall at the rear where the garage used to sit", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"sheet-flow\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-25-altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/25/altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Sheet Flow", "chunk": "The surveyors are all over the place on some of these projects, as the excavation make existing contours hard to follow sometimes, but this particular one is pretty good to tie into the existing propertly lines. For the proposed, we are trying to keep the Architect's finished floor when they give them to us, but sometimes we need to raise that finished floor to keep a 10ft 5% grade from the highest point on the building corner. We then gently regrade the front yard that's sloping down towards the house and start matching the driveway into the neighboring property line. The goal here is to not use any short retaining walls if possible", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"sheet-flow\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-03-25-altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/03/25/altadena-fire-rebuild-sheet-flow", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Sheet Flow", "chunk": "The other goal on this site was to see if we could not use area drains and pipe, and create different paths to sheet flow on grade, which we were able to accomplish. You can see how the driveway grade is about 6% and then flattens out as it gets closer to the rear and garage. Not much can be done with the rear yard between the house deck and the garage, but its flat enough to walk on or setup a picnic without rolling down the yard. If you have LA County plancheck comments requesting drainage plans, or asking for sump pumps, give us a call. There is a method to save money here. Pine Street Sheet Flow - View the full drainage plan design with sheet flow to driveway", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"sheet-flow\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-09-hillside-grading-guide-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/09/hillside-grading-guide", "title": "Understanding Grading Plans for Hillside Construction in Los Angeles", "chunk": "; ; Building on a hillside property in Los Angeles presents unique challenges that require careful planning and engineering expertise. Whether you are constructing a new home on a sloped lot in the Hollywood Hills or adding an ADU to your property in Pasadena, understanding the grading process is essential. What is a Grading Plan. A grading plan is a detailed engineering document that shows how land will be shaped to support construction. It includes: - Topographic survey showing existing terrain - Proposed finish grades for the building site - Drainage patterns and how water will be managed - Retaining wall locations and specifications - Erosion control measures during construction The example above shows a typical grading plan for a hillside property", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"", "\"construction\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-09-hillside-grading-guide-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/09/hillside-grading-guide", "title": "Understanding Grading Plans for Hillside Construction in Los Angeles", "chunk": "You can see how contours show the existing slope, spot elevations indicate specific grade points, retaining walls manage steep changes in elevation, and drainage elements are coordinated with the proposed improvements. Why Los Angeles Properties Need Special Attention Los Angeles County has some of the most complex terrain in the country. Our Mediterranean climate, with its wet winters and dry summers, creates specific challenges: 1. Fire rebuilding - Properties in fire zones require special consideration for drainage and erosion control 2. Hillside stability - Steep slopes need engineered solutions for both temporary shoring and permanent retaining structures 3. Stormwater management - LID (Low Impact Development) requirements apply to many projects What Makes LA Hillside Grading Complex", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"", "\"construction\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-09-hillside-grading-guide-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/09/hillside-grading-guide", "title": "Understanding Grading Plans for Hillside Construction in Los Angeles", "chunk": "LA hillside properties present unique engineering challenges that require careful attention: Variable terrain - Slopes can range from gentle grades to extremely steep, requiring different approaches for each site. Neighbor coordination - Hillside properties often require tying into existing grades at property boundaries, which means understanding what neighboring properties are doing as well. Drainage patterns - Water flows downhill, so hillside properties need designed drainage that accounts for where stormwater comes from and where it needs to go. Retaining structures - Hillside construction frequently requires retaining walls, which need to be designed for both the soil pressures and the proposed grades", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"", "\"construction\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-09-hillside-grading-guide-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/09/hillside-grading-guide", "title": "Understanding Grading Plans for Hillside Construction in Los Angeles", "chunk": "Getting Started If you have a sloped property and are considering construction, the first step is a consultation with a civil engineer who understands local requirements. We offer free initial consultations for properties in the Los Angeles area. Contact us today to discuss your project", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"los-angeles\"", "\"construction\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-11-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/11/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans", "chunk": "; ; The existing Altadena cleared lot has a 10ft drop from front to back with an existing pool that will remain at the front yard. The rear of the lot has been cut out into a depression where the house used to sit. The existing driveway dropped down to the garage at 10% slope. We are going to tie this lot in with gravity sheetflow for stormwater towards the back to the pre-fire drainage pattern. The proposed lot changes the driveway to be above the existing grade with about a 2% slope down to an on grade attached garage. The rest of the house will be raised off the ground. The walkway entrance door will have a new walkway directly to the street. The other exit from the house will blend into the existing pool deck", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-11-altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/11/altadena-fire-rebuild-drainage-plans", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Drainage Plans", "chunk": "Flowlines will direct to a proposed landscaped area where we will sheetflow through a cutout to the driveway and flow down the proposed stairs. We are trying to pickup stormwater anywhere we can into landscape before hitting the rear so the drainage pattern becomes better than pre-fire. At the back of the lot we will place plastic lined rain gardens to help keep some more stormwater on site. The overall post Q will be about the same as pre Q while trying to keep some stormwater on site. If you have questions about your Altadena fire rebuild or need drainage plans for your property, give us a call. We are happy to look at your site and give you an idea of what to expect. Wapello Street Drainage Plan - View the full drainage plan with rain gardens and earthwork exhibit", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-11-sump-pump-design-altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/11/sump-pump-design-altadena", "title": "Sump Pump Design in Altadena - LA County Standards", "chunk": "; The LA County Sump Pump Manual outlines three cases where a sump pump becomes necessary. Case A is when flows would naturally travel to a downstream property but no drainage facilities exist to accept them. Case B happens when the finished floor sits above sump overflow elevations but ponding depth would exceed allowable limits. Case C is when the finished floor sits below the sump overflow elevation, such as with subterranean parking. We see all three scenarios play out in Altadena fire rebuilds. The county requires a hydrology study for the Q50 to determine sump volume and pump sizing. The design must show sufficient offsite topography to understand the drainage pattern. If your drainage area is 10 acres or less, LA County provides the HydroCalc Calculator to calculate flows", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"la-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-11-sump-pump-design-altadena-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/11/sump-pump-design-altadena", "title": "Sump Pump Design in Altadena - LA County Standards", "chunk": "The key thing we tell homeowners: pumps are expensive to maintain and depend on electricity. If we can route water downhill to the street or an existing storm drain, that is always the better solution. Sometimes the grade just does not work out and a pump becomes necessary. On Altadena fire rebuilds specifically, we often use a hydrology report to show the pre-fire drainage pattern compared to post-fire conditions. If we can demonstrate that post-development Q does not exceed pre-fire Q, we can sometimes avoid requiring a pump altogether. The key is showing the site drains the same way it did before the fire and that we are not increasing cross-drainage to neighboring properties. When a pump is required, LA County mandates a duplex system with two pumps", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"la-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-11-sump-pump-design-altadena-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/11/sump-pump-design-altadena", "title": "Sump Pump Design in Altadena - LA County Standards", "chunk": "Each pump must handle the design flow with a factor of safety of 1. The system activates both pumps as water rises, preventing either from sitting idle and deteriorating. The sump basin must be at least 15 inches in diameter and 18 inches deep with a fitted cover. If you are in plan check and LADBS or LA County is asking for a sump pump design, give us a call. We can review your site, check the grades, and determine if there is a gravity solution first", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"la-county\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-altadena-rebuild-costs-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/altadena-rebuild-costs", "title": "What Does It Actually Cost to Rebuild in Altadena After the Fire?", "chunk": "We get asked about rebuild costs a lot. Here is what we see happening in Altadena. The land for a typical Altadena lot runs different amounts depending on location and size. After the fire, lot prices shifted significantly. Combined with construction costs of $400-500 per square foot for standard finishes, you can quickly look at $800k-1M+ to rebuild a modest 2000 sq ft home", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"construction\"", "\"costs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-altadena-rebuild-costs-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/altadena-rebuild-costs", "title": "What Does It Actually Cost to Rebuild in Altadena After the Fire?", "chunk": "Construction costs break down roughly like this: - Site work and grading: varies by lot, typically $20-50k - Foundation and structural: varies by design - Rough framing: varies by material selection - Mechanical (HVAC, plumbing, electrical): typically $30-80 per sq ft - Finishes: varies widely by selections Engineering fees for LA County plan check submittals typically run $4-15k depending on the lot complexity and what is required. Most Altadena fire rebuilds we see need drainage plans. Some also need grading plans if the lot has significant elevation changes. The biggest variable is what you do with the land. Three things that can add significant cost are stormwater sump pumps, any work that requires touching the street right of way, and retaining walls", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"construction\"", "\"costs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-altadena-rebuild-costs-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/altadena-rebuild-costs", "title": "What Does It Actually Cost to Rebuild in Altadena After the Fire?", "chunk": "A stormwater sump pump requires an engineered system, ongoing maintenance, and electricity to run. Street right of way work involves county approvals and permits that add time and cost. Retaining walls can be expensive and often require engineering plus soil reports. On most Altadena lots, we can design a drainage plan that avoids all three. By comparing pre-fire and post-fire drainage patterns with a hydrology report, we can often show the site drains the same way it did before the fire. This lets us skip the sump pump. We also try to blend into existing neighbor grades and keep driveways at existing grades to avoid street work and retaining walls. Some builders have told us this approach has saved them over $100k in construction costs compared to what was originally proposed", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"construction\"", "\"costs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-altadena-rebuild-costs-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/altadena-rebuild-costs", "title": "What Does It Actually Cost to Rebuild in Altadena After the Fire?", "chunk": "We have been doing drainage and grading plans for Altadena fire rebuilds since the beginning. We know what LA County wants to see and how to get plans approved without unnecessary back and forth. If you are planning a rebuild, give us a call and we can look at your specific lot", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"construction\"", "\"costs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-avoid-sump-pump-altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/avoid-sump-pump-altadena", "title": "How to Avoid a Stormwater Sump Pump on Your Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "Every week someone calls us frustrated. LA County plan check told them they need a stormwater sump pump. The builder gave them a number: $30-50k extra for the pump system. Then they call us to see if there's another way. What the county is worried about: After the fire, the land cleared. That changes how water moves across the property during construction. The county wants to make sure your project does not make drainage problems worse for neighbors downhill. Once the lot is landscaped again, water will move differently than it does right now on the cleared lot. The key question: Does your site drain the same way it did before the fire. How we approach it: We look at the current survey to understand the existing drainage pattern", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-avoid-sump-pump-altadena-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/avoid-sump-pump-altadena", "title": "How to Avoid a Stormwater Sump Pump on Your Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "We trace a historical Google Earth satellite map to assess what the site looked like before the fire. This gives us a picture of how water moved across the land when it was intact. We run the numbers comparing post-development Q to what the site handled before. If the numbers show the site drains the same way it always has, we present that with a hydrology report. We also look at infiltration carefully. Neighboring lots may build on zero lot line in the future, which changes how water infiltrates across properties. To help improve conditions from pre-fire, we often specify plastic lined rain gardens. These retain some stormwater on site and slow down runoff rather than letting it all sheet flow off the property. This can actually improve the drainage pattern compared to before the fire", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-avoid-sump-pump-altadena-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/avoid-sump-pump-altadena", "title": "How to Avoid a Stormwater Sump Pump on Your Altadena Fire Rebuild", "chunk": "What that means for you: No sump pump. No electricity needed. No $30-50k construction cost. Just a drainage plan that works with how water has always moved across your lot. When it does not work: Some lots have drainage patterns that genuinely require a pump. When that happens, it is not just the pump itself. There are also gravity pipes, catch basins on the property line, and right of way construction that can add significant time and cost. County approvals for street work are separate from your building permit and take additional coordination. We find about 95% of the Altadena lots we look at can avoid it by showing the site drains the same way it did before the fire", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-driving-through-altadena-after-fire-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/driving-through-altadena-after-fire", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire - Seeing First-hand What We're Building From", "chunk": "; ; ; ; We check on our cleared lot from time to time. My daughter had seen a few blocks from the area but not this part of Altadena. Before dropping her off at school, I wanted breakfast at Fair Oaks Burger, so we took a drive to see our lot. She was up for it, always is. She knew we had a lot in the area and was curious to see it. She knows something happened but she does not fully understand what it all means. We turned onto streets that used to be lined with houses. Now they are lined with lots. Some still have the frame of a home standing. Some have nothing at all. And in other spots, new construction is going up, studs and plywood going vertical for the first time in months. I answered what I could. We arrived at the lot", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-driving-through-altadena-after-fire-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/driving-through-altadena-after-fire", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire - Seeing First-hand What We're Building From", "chunk": "She knew this, not the details, just that Dad goes to see houses sometimes. She asked if the house was ours. A family lost their home here and we are helping them rebuild. She seemed to understand that much. What she saw was a cleared lot. The Army Corps had already been through and removed the debris. What was left was raw land, sloped with natural drainage patterns, and in this case a good amount of slope that will require thoughtful engineering. This is the starting point. Every project begins here with what is on the ground now and what the land is trying to do with stormwater. Some lots have shifted. Some drainage patterns have changed entirely. Our job is to understand what is there and design a system that works with the land, not against it", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-driving-through-altadena-after-fire-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/driving-through-altadena-after-fire", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire - Seeing First-hand What We're Building From", "chunk": "For this project, we are developing drainage plans and a hydrology report. The drainage plans will address how stormwater moves across the lot and where it needs to go. The hydrology report will calculate the flows based on the existing conditions and the proposed development. This is the drainage plan we are working from. You can see the flowlines, lineweights, elevations, and slope arrows that make up the full picture of how stormwater moves across the site. This is what we start with, a technical document that tells the story of the land in a language that contractors and county officials can understand. My daughter looked at the plan with me. She pointed at the slope arrows and asked what they meant", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-driving-through-altadena-after-fire-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/driving-through-altadena-after-fire", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire - Seeing First-hand What We're Building From", "chunk": "I told her those show which way the land slopes and where stormwater will naturally want to drain. She asked if that was important to know. I told her it is the most important thing. Without understanding how stormwater moves across the land, we cannot design anything that will work properly. My jaw was still dropped at the destruction the fire caused. She asked if we could go back when the house is being built. As I am always up for Fair Oaks Burger breakfast burritos. As we continue to check up on our lot in Altadena, I will continue to randomly drive through the neighborhood. I will keep posting updates as we move through the design phase and into construction. If you have a property in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, or Malibu and need civil engineering for a fire rebuild, reach out", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-driving-through-altadena-after-fire-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/driving-through-altadena-after-fire", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire - Seeing First-hand What We're Building From", "chunk": "We are currently accepting new projects", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-w-mariposa-drainage-plan-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/w-mariposa-drainage-plan", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design", "chunk": "; ; ; When we first pulled up the survey for the W Mariposa property in Altadena, we could see the lot had been significantly changed. The Army Corps of Engineers had come through after the Eaton Fire to clear the structure, and in doing so, they slightly excavated the site. That excavation changed the existing grade, which meant we could not just rely on old survey data. We had to account for what was actually there now. Starting With the Existing Conditions Our first step was to tie into the existing elevations along the neighbor's property lines. Since the lot had been regraded by the Army Corps, we needed to understand exactly what the current topography looked like before we could design anything", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-w-mariposa-drainage-plan-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/w-mariposa-drainage-plan", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design", "chunk": "The existing conditions showed us the slope running from rear to front, with the neighbor's property line elevations giving us our starting points. We used those elevations to establish our baseline and work backward toward what the finished grade would need to be. Setting Up the Proposed Design Once we had the existing elevations locked in, we started setting up the proposed conditions. The key was establishing the ADU finished floor elevation first. That is the anchor point for everything else. From there, we worked our way down to the main house and set its finished floor. With both finished floors established, we needed a path for water to gravity flow off the lot. We picked the rear corner of the building and moved 10 feet away, keeping the minimum 5% slope required for flowlines", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-w-mariposa-drainage-plan-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/w-mariposa-drainage-plan", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design", "chunk": "From that point, we designed flowlines that would collect water and direct it through area drains, then into pipes that gravity flow toward the front of the lot. The proposed model shows how everything connects. From the rear corner flowlines collecting water, to the area drains picking it up, to the pipes running under the proposed hardscape and exiting at the existing driveway wall. The Final Plan The completed design shows the full drainage plan with all flowlines, area drains, and pipes coordinated with the proposed topography. We had the retainer come in on a Friday with the existing survey data, and by Sunday night we had a fully designed plan ready to submit", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-12-w-mariposa-drainage-plan-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/12/w-mariposa-drainage-plan", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design", "chunk": "Being able to turn work around that fast comes down to having a clean survey from a good surveyor and a well thought out set of architectural plans. When those pieces are in place, the drainage design practically lays itself out. The plan coordinates with the existing driveway grade at the street, ensuring stormwater exits the property without issue. For this Altadena fire rebuild, getting the drainage right meant understanding what the Army Corps left behind and designing from the actual current conditions. Not assumptions based on old surveys. If you are rebuilding in Altadena and need drainage plans, get in touch. We can help you work through the existing conditions and get a plan together for LA County submittal", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-hillside-grading-pacific-palisades-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/hillside-grading-pacific-palisades", "title": "Hillside Grading in Pacific Palisades - What Fire Rebuild Projects Actually Require", "chunk": "Pacific Palisades is not the steep hillside terrain you might picture when you think Los Angeles hillside. But it is also not flat. The terrain slopes enough that most rebuild projects require careful grading and drainage planning, even when the slope is not dramatic. One thing that sets Palisades rebuilds apart from other areas is how many homes have basements. When you are rebuilding on a sloped lot and want to maximize square footage, a basement makes sense. But basements bring additional engineering requirements that many homeowners do not anticipate. When a Basement Means Additional Engineering If your project includes a basement, you will likely need an excavation plan that shows the cut and fill depths. That is something we handle at B+W", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"palisades-fire\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-hillside-grading-pacific-palisades-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/hillside-grading-pacific-palisades", "title": "Hillside Grading in Pacific Palisades - What Fire Rebuild Projects Actually Require", "chunk": "But because the excavation typically requires temporary shoring to hold back the soil during construction, you will also need a structural engineer to design the shoring plans. That is a separate engineer, not us. We can point you to structural engineers we have worked with if you need one. The benefit of getting both the excavation plan and the shoring plans designed together is coordination. When we know the shoring requirements, we can design the grading around it. Getting them from separate engineers can create conflicts that slow down your permit review. Below Grade Means Stormwater Sump Pumps In Pacific Palisades, many homes sit below street grade. When your house is lower than the street, gravity cannot drain stormwater offsite the way it typically would", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"palisades-fire\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-hillside-grading-pacific-palisades-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/hillside-grading-pacific-palisades", "title": "Hillside Grading in Pacific Palisades - What Fire Rebuild Projects Actually Require", "chunk": "That is when you need a stormwater sump pump system. The sump pump collects water in a basin and pumps it up and out to the street level storm drain. LADBS requires all proposed areas below street level to pump stormwater up to street level. Some basements also have lightwells. Those recessed areas bring daylight into below-grade spaces. Lightwells can collect stormwater that needs its own separate sump pump system. If there is a lightwell, we will design for that too. Erosion Control Plans for Winter Construction Post-fire LA County requirements include erosion control plans for any construction happening during the rainy season", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"palisades-fire\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-hillside-grading-pacific-palisades-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/hillside-grading-pacific-palisades", "title": "Hillside Grading in Pacific Palisades - What Fire Rebuild Projects Actually Require", "chunk": "Even if your project starts in summer, if it will extend into fall or winter, you will need these plans showing how you will prevent sediment from washing offsite during storms. What We Handle at B+W For Pacific Palisades fire rebuilds, we typically handle grading plans, drainage plans, erosion control plans, excavation plans, and stormwater sump pump design. For shoring plans, you will need a separate structural engineer who handles shoring design and calculations. We can coordinate with yours to make sure everything fits together. If you are rebuilding in Pacific Palisades and you want to understand what engineering your project needs, get in touch. We can review your plans and give you a clear scope of what we will handle and what else you will need", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"grading\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"palisades-fire\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-second-wapello-street-drainage-plan-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/second-wapello-street-drainage-plan", "title": "Second Wapello Street Drainage Plan - Existing Conditions and Proposed Design", "chunk": "; ; ; We received the retainer on a Wapello Street property in Altadena with the site plan and survey already in hand. This was our second project on this street, so we had some familiarity with the area. Looking at the existing topography, we could see the old house had been excavated out in the middle of the lot with the garage sitting at the rear of the downslope. The existing pool would remain part of the design. Existing Conditions The site is downsloping, which always adds complexity to drainage planning. We needed to understand exactly where the water was going to flow before we could propose any changes. The excavated house pad in the center created a bowl effect, and the existing pool at the front meant we were going to drain backwards", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology-report\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-second-wapello-street-drainage-plan-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/second-wapello-street-drainage-plan", "title": "Second Wapello Street Drainage Plan - Existing Conditions and Proposed Design", "chunk": "The existing conditions showed us the slope running from front to rear, with the garage sitting below the main grade. We had to figure out a proposed drainage pattern that worked with what was already there. Proposed Design The proposed house sits tighter to the street grade but still below it, which meant we had to drop the driveway. The existing driveway was typically 10%, which we often see. But due to the new house finished floor elevation, we only needed 2%. That 2% slope created a retaining wall along the neighbor's property line. We were able to match the house and deck into the existing pool deck, which helped keep the transitions clean. From there, we brought a flowline from the front to the driveway and let sheet gravity flow down the steps to the rear of the property", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology-report\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-second-wapello-street-drainage-plan-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/second-wapello-street-drainage-plan", "title": "Second Wapello Street Drainage Plan - Existing Conditions and Proposed Design", "chunk": "All drainage sheet flows to two plastic lined rain gardens that handle the stormwater on site. The proposed model shows how we threaded the drainage through the existing constraints. The house sits on a crawlspace, the garage is on grade, and the rear deck sits above existing grade. The rear yard grade remains similar to what was there before. Earthwork Exhibit The final design shows the earthwork cut and fill numbers. The overall site layout remains similar to existing conditions, but the garage is now on grade and the house has a crawlspace. The rear deck sits above existing grade, and the rain gardens handle the drainage without needing a sump pump or other mechanical systems. For this Altadena fire rebuild, the two rain gardens helped keep more stormwater onsite than pre-fire conditions", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology-report\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-13-second-wapello-street-drainage-plan-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/13/second-wapello-street-drainage-plan", "title": "Second Wapello Street Drainage Plan - Existing Conditions and Proposed Design", "chunk": "This storage based approach meant we did not need expensive stormwater sump pumps, which should save the client significant construction costs. If you have a downslope property in Altadena and need drainage plans, get in touch. We can help you work through the existing conditions and find a drainage solution that works", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"hydrology-report\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-17-cloudflare-workers-open-source-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/17/cloudflare-workers-open-source", "title": "Open Sourcing Our Cloudflare Workers Tools", "chunk": "We design civil engineering plans for complex hillside sites throughout Los Angeles, with a focus on drainage and grading plans for Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu fire rebuilds. But we also pay attention to bleeding edge web technology and AI agent standards. We have been working on a few internal tools for this website and decided to open source them on GitHub. You can find the repo at github. com/bwengr/cloudflare-workers. The repo contains two tools we use on this site. Markdown for Agents This is a Cloudflare Pages middleware that helps AI agents read our website better. When an AI agent requests a page with the Accept header set to text/markdown, this tool converts the HTML response into clean markdown", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"cloudflare\"", "\"open-source\"", "\"web-tools\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-17-cloudflare-workers-open-source-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/17/cloudflare-workers-open-source", "title": "Open Sourcing Our Cloudflare Workers Tools", "chunk": "It also adds Link headers that help AI agents discover our sitemap and RSS feed. This makes it easier for AI systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and other agents to understand and reference our content. If you want to check how your own site scores on agent readiness, IsItAgentReady. com runs through similar checks for things like markdown negotiation, Link headers, and sitemap availability. Contact Form Handler This is a serverless contact form backend running on Cloudflare Pages. It validates required fields, uses honeypot protection to filter out spam bots, sanitizes email inputs, and sends submissions through Mailgun. This lets us keep our contact form simple without exposing email credentials on the client side", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"cloudflare\"", "\"open-source\"", "\"web-tools\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-17-cloudflare-workers-open-source-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/17/cloudflare-workers-open-source", "title": "Open Sourcing Our Cloudflare Workers Tools", "chunk": "These tools work together to make our site work better for visitors and AI systems alike. If you use Cloudflare Pages and find these useful, feel free to adapt them for your own projects", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"cloudflare\"", "\"open-source\"", "\"web-tools\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "The Pacific Palisades fire rebuild process is different from a standard residential project. LADBS has issued specific requirements, and homeowners who go in unprepared end up with corrections that delay their permits by weeks. Here is what your grading plan needs to include. Why Palisades Rebuilds Are Different After a fire, the drainage patterns on your property may have changed. The pre-fire ground conditions that drainage systems were designed around are gone. LADBS reviews fire rebuild plans with this in mind", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "For most Palisades fire rebuilds, LADBS requires: - Grading plan showing proposed contours, drainage patterns, spot elevations, and drainage routing - Sump pump design for stormwater when gravity drainage is not possible - Erosion control plan for construction-phase soil retention The grading plan and drainage components are combined into one plan. Your grading plan shows the contours and spot elevations, and it also shows where stormwater drains and how it gets there. The Sump Pump Requirement for Stormwater This comes up often: \"My neighbor did not get stuck with a sump pump. \" On many Palisades lots, the terrain is sloped and the proposed basement floor sits below the storm drain or street elevation. When the basement floor is lower than the outlet, gravity drainage is not possible", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "A sump pump collects stormwater and lifts it to street level so it can drain properly. This is a stormwater pump, not a sewer pump. We handle the rainwater and surface runoff, not sewage or blackwater systems. Your neighbor may not have a basement, or the existing grade on their lot may allow gravity drainage to work. Or their proposed construction is at grade level without a subterranean portion. A Common Scenario: Street-Level Front, Sloped Rear You may not even have a basement and still need a sump pump. This happens when your front yard is at street grade, but the rear of your lot slopes down below the street flowline. Stormwater in the rear of the lot has no gravity path to the street drain", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "If the rear of your lot sits lower than the street flowline, any rain that falls there will pool or flow the wrong way unless it is collected and pumped to street level. This is a common situation in the hilly terrain of the Palisades", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "What Goes Into a Complete Grading Package Grading plan (including drainage): - Existing and proposed contour lines - Spot elevations at key points (corners, drainage low points, basement floor, inlet invert elevations) - Slope ratios for proposed grading - Drainage area delineation and flow arrows - Invert elevations at catch basins or drainage outlets - Pipe sizing, gradient, and routing to public right-of-way or approved outlet - Retaining wall locations and heights if applicable Sump pump design (when required): - Sump location and pit sizing - Duplex pump specs (LA City typically requires dual pumps) - Discharge routing to street or approved outlet Erosion control plan: - Construction-phase best management practices - Soil stabilization measures - Perimeter control Getting Started If you have a property in the Palisades and are planning to rebuild, send us your site address and a copy of your plot plan or survey", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-19-pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans-5", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/19/pacific-palisades-fire-rebuild-grading-plans", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Grading Plans: What LADBS Requires", "chunk": "We will review what LADBS will likely require for your specific project and put together a proposal. For most Palisades rebuilds, the initial review takes 1-2 business days. The grading plan itself can be ready in 1-2 weeks depending on the complexity of the site. If you are already in the LADBS review process and have received correction comments, we can help with that too. We are used to working with plans that need corrections. --- Want to see an example. Our portfolio includes grading and drainage projects in the Pacific Palisades area. Related Portfolio Project: Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild Projects", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"ladbs\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-20-canon-boulevard-grading-plan-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/20/canon-boulevard-grading-plan", "title": "Canon Boulevard Grading Plan: Steep Altadena Hillside", "chunk": "; ; ; We took over this Altadena grading plan from another civil engineer. The goal was to redesign the grading and drainage to be as cost-effective as possible for the homeowner while meeting LA County requirements. This is a large lot near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains with steep topography that required careful analysis to get right. The existing site has a lot of concrete around it. Some of this the new project can connect into, but other areas will need to be removed and regraded. The original drainage pattern used the driveway to sheet flow stormwater to the street. Our approach was to maintain this pattern where possible and use the existing concrete to our advantage rather than removing and replacing it all. The hillside on the north side is complex", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-20-canon-boulevard-grading-plan-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/20/canon-boulevard-grading-plan", "title": "Canon Boulevard Grading Plan: Steep Altadena Hillside", "chunk": "To keep things simple, we placed new retaining walls on the north side of the house with 2-foot wide swales to collect drainage coming down from the upper mountain drainage pattern. These swales drain into catch basins that connect by pipe to the north side of the proposed deck, where area drains on the deck collect everything. From there, the water gravity-flows down through piping to the front of a new short wall at the property line. We tried to minimize piping as much as possible. On the south side, we extended the existing house footprint slightly to create a walkway. The drainage here sheet flows using a flowline along the sideyard down to the driveway. We did a slight pad cut behind this sideyard to allow a 2-foot maximum height wall by cutting down slightly", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-20-canon-boulevard-grading-plan-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/20/canon-boulevard-grading-plan", "title": "Canon Boulevard Grading Plan: Steep Altadena Hillside", "chunk": "Everything drains to the driveway, which matches the pre-fire drainage pattern exactly. This is a good example of working with existing conditions rather than against them. By using the natural drainage paths and connecting into existing concrete where possible, we keep construction simple and cost-effective. If you have an Altadena fire rebuild and need grading plans, contact us. Sometimes taking over from where someone else left off and redesigning for cost effectiveness makes sense", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-21-olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/21/olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot", "title": "Olive Ave Drainage Plan - Sideways Lot with 7% East to West Slope", "chunk": "; ; We received a new project on Olive Ave in Altadena for a single-family residential fire rebuild. We completed the drainage plans for this 0. 1685-acre sideways lot with the entrance on the side street. The lot presented an interesting drainage challenge: it slopes from east to west at approximately 7%, while the north-south elevation change is minimal at only about 2 feet. Existing Conditions The existing conditions showed a relatively simple slope pattern. The 7% east-to-west grade meant stormwater would naturally want to flow toward the western edge of the property. The existing driveway apron would remain as part of the final design, which gave us a constraint to work around. Our approach was to minimize cross drainage throughout the site", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-21-olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/21/olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot", "title": "Olive Ave Drainage Plan - Sideways Lot with 7% East to West Slope", "chunk": "Instead of trying to fight the natural slope, we designed a system that works with it. Proposed Design The existing driveway apron remains, and we regraded it slightly to widen it, a small change that improved the transition for the new construction. The front of the house was designed to slope 10 feet at 5% to a flowline that splits the drainage into two directions: North to the sideyard and South to the driveway. Neither sideyard requires retaining walls, a significant cost savings for the project. The driveway itself was matched into existing grades to minimize disturbance. The rear of the property slopes behind the garage at the Southwest corner. Sheet Flow by Gravity The entire site sheet flows by gravity through landscape areas to the low point of the lot", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-21-olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/21/olive-ave-drainage-plan-sideways-lot", "title": "Olive Ave Drainage Plan - Sideways Lot with 7% East to West Slope", "chunk": "This approach avoids the need for any sump pumps or mechanical drainage systems, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install and require ongoing maintenance. The proposed model shows how we threaded the drainage through the existing constraints while maintaining the natural grade as much as possible. The building finished floor is 8\" minimum above finished grade, and the garage is tied into the driveway and rear landscape. If you have a sideways lot in Altadena that needs drainage plans, get in touch. We can help you work through the existing conditions and find a drainage solution that works with your site's natural slope", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-24-draining-sideways-lot-addition-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/24/draining-sideways-lot-addition", "title": "Draining a Sideways Lot Addition When You Cannot Slope to the Rear", "chunk": "We talked with an architect and contractor about an Altadena fire rebuild addition. The lot slopes east to west, which puts the higher elevation at one side property line and the lower elevation at the opposite side. The existing garage sits at the higher side of the property. The addition would push back toward the lower side of the lot. Drainage plans were part of solving this one. The Problem The addition rear sat lower than the existing garage elevation. This created two requirements. First, the 8 inch minimum from landscape to finished floor. Standard practice to keep water away from the foundation. The addition floor had to be at least 8 inches above the surrounding grade. Second, the garage floor transition", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"sideways-lot\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-24-draining-sideways-lot-addition-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/24/draining-sideways-lot-addition", "title": "Draining a Sideways Lot Addition When You Cannot Slope to the Rear", "chunk": "The garage sits below the new addition floor, and they planned steps down with a 3ft wide path between them. But this raised a drainage question. If you have steps down and the rear of the addition sits lower, where does the water go. Initial Options The team discussed several approaches. A gravel-filled pit that allows water to percolate into the ground. LA County allows infiltration pits but requires 15ft from structures and 5ft from property lines. On tight hillside lots, those setbacks can be hard to fit. Catch water in tanks and pump it out. Works but adds cost, maintenance, and mechanical complexity. Plastic-lined rain garden. A vegetated depression that collects and filters stormwater. Sometimes we skip the rain garden entirely and pipe stormwater directly to daylight it out", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"sideways-lot\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-24-draining-sideways-lot-addition-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/24/draining-sideways-lot-addition", "title": "Draining a Sideways Lot Addition When You Cannot Slope to the Rear", "chunk": "The Better Alternative Instead of bringing area drains and pipes down to the rear of the lot, we looked at the sideyard. The solution: pipe down to the sideyard, run laterally to the front of the property, and daylight the pipe into the front yard. The pipe exits at a lower elevation and water flows out by gravity, no pump required. This approach works when the sideyard has enough slope to carry water toward the front, the front yard has capacity to absorb or redirect the discharge, and the drainage does not change the pre-fire flow patterns going onto adjacent properties. Why This Wins No mechanical system means no pump to maintain, no electricity to pay, and no failure point if the pump breaks. Gravity does the work", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"sideways-lot\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-24-draining-sideways-lot-addition-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/24/draining-sideways-lot-addition", "title": "Draining a Sideways Lot Addition When You Cannot Slope to the Rear", "chunk": "For a sideways lot where rear drainage is difficult, looking at the sideyard and piping to the front is often the simplest solution. It requires less pipe, fewer fixtures, and keeps everything above grade where it can be inspected and maintained. The pre-fire and post-fire drainage patterns stay the same or improve. Have a sideways lot in Altadena with drainage questions. Get in touch before your architect finalizes the plans. We can help identify the drainage solution early in the design process", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"", "\"sideways-lot\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "Most homeowners and contractors hear the words \"Hillside Ordinance\" and glaze over. The Baseline Hillside Ordinance is one of those regulations that seems designed to be confusing. But if you are building on a hillside property in Los Angeles, understanding it matters, because it controls what you can build and how much it costs. Here is what the BHO actually says, in plain terms. What Is the Baseline Hillside Ordinance The Baseline Hillside Ordinance is a section of the Los Angeles Municipal Code that regulates development on hillside properties. It was established to manage the environmental impact of hillside construction, limit excessive grading, and maintain the character of Los Angeles hillside neighborhoods", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "The BHO controls several things: how much you can grade, how big your house can be, how tall it can be, where it must sit on the lot, and how tall your retaining walls can be. Of these, grading limits are usually the first constraint that bites on a hillside project. When Does the BHO Apply The BHO applies when your property falls within a designated Hillside Area. The City of Los Angeles determines hillside areas using slope. If your property has natural slopes of 15% or greater, based on USGS topographic data, it likely falls under the BHO. You can check your property on ZIMAS, the Zoning Information and Map Access System maintained by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning. Look for the \"Hillside Area (Zoning Code)\" field under the Zoning tab", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "The BHO Grading Formula The BHO limits cumulative grading to 500 cubic yards plus 5% of your lot size. Cumulative means total cut AND fill combined. If you cut 600 cubic yards and fill 300 cubic yards, your cumulative grading is 900 cubic yards. The BHO does not let you subtract fill from cut to arrive at a smaller number. On a 5,000 square foot lot, your maximum allowable grading would be 500 plus 250 cubic yards, totaling 750 cubic yards. On a 10,000 square foot lot, your maximum would be 500 plus 500 cubic yards, totaling 1,000 cubic yards. Zone Caps Override the Formula The BHO also sets maximum cumulative grading by zone", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "Regardless of what the formula produces, your grading cannot exceed these caps: | Zone | Maximum Grading | |------|-----------------| | R1 | 1,000 cubic yards | | RS | 1,100 cubic yards | | RE9 | 1,200 cubic yards | | RE11 | 1,400 cubic yards | | RE15 | 1,600 cubic yards | | RE20 | 2,000 cubic yards | | RE40 | 3,300 cubic yards | | RA | 1,800 cubic yards | These caps override the formula when the formula produces a higher number. So an R1 zoned lot of any size caps at 1,000 cubic yards, even if the formula would allow more. When You Need a ZAD If your project exceeds the BHO grading allowance, you need a Zoning Administrator Determination. The ZAD process involves an application to the Department of City Planning, a public hearing, and discretionary review", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "This adds months to your permitting timeline and significant cost. The ZAD exists for projects that genuinely cannot fit within the standard limits. Maybe your lot is small and your house is large. Maybe your basement excavation requires more grading than the formula allows. The ZAD process gives the city a way to review these cases individually. Grading Bonds The BHO is separate from the grading bond requirement. A grading bond is required when your project involves 250 cubic yards or more of excavation or fill in a Hillside Grading Area. This is a separate threshold from the BHO formula and applies to the Hillside Grading Area designation, which is mapped separately from the Hillside Area zoning designation. Your grading plans must be approved before the bond is posted", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-5", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "What This Means for Your Project The BHO grading limits are among the first things we look at when we review a hillside project. If your project exceeds the allowance, we need to know early, because it affects the entire design. A smaller house, a different foundation system, or stepping the building into the slope can all help reduce grading quantities. For flat lots in Los Angeles, the BHO does not apply. But grading permits may still be required for certain work, and the 250 cubic yard bonding threshold still applies in Hillside Grading Areas. If you are planning a project in a Los Angeles hillside area, get us involved early. We typically review a siteplan and survey, then run the earthwork numbers after putting a design together", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained-6", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-baseline-hillside-ordinance-explained", "title": "The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained: What Homeowners and Contractors Need to Know", "chunk": "This lets us tell you quickly whether your project hits the BHO limits and what options exist if it does. For the full official requirements, LADBS maintains a grading permits page with current submittal requirements and procedures at the LADBS Grading Permits page. Related Blog Post: When Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"baseline-hillside-ordinance\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements", "title": "When Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Requirements Explained", "chunk": "Most homeowners and contractors do not think about grading plans until LADBS rejects their project. By then, you have already spent money on architectural drawings and surveys. Then someone tells you that you need a civil engineer, and you have to backtrack. Here is what actually triggers the grading plan requirement in Los Angeles, so you can plan accordingly. What Is a Grading Plan Anyway A grading plan shows the existing and proposed topography of your site. It tells LADBS how you are cutting into slopes, where you are filling, and how water drains across the property after construction. Without it, LADBS does not know if your project will cause drainage problems for you or your neighbors. The Three Main Triggers 1", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"ADU\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements", "title": "When Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Requirements Explained", "chunk": "Hillside Slope Over 15% If your property falls in a hillside zone, LADBS treats it differently. The Hillside Ordinance limits how much you can grade. Most hillside properties in Los Angeles areas like the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, and surrounding hillside neighborhoods fall under these rules. The 15% slope threshold is how LADBS designates hillside areas. More Than 500 Cubic Yards of Grading The rule is 500 cubic yards plus 5% of your lot size. A typical hillside lot might allow 500 to 800 cubic yards depending on size. If your basement excavation and driveway cut add up to more than this, you hit bonding requirements and additional approvals. ADU in a Hillside Zone Building an ADU in Los Angeles hillside zones requires civil engineer sign-off and grading plans", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"ADU\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements", "title": "When Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Requirements Explained", "chunk": "The grading plan must show how the ADU fits into the slope, how you handle drainage, and that you are not changing where water flows onto neighboring properties. What Happens If You Skip It LADBS catches it at plan check. Your architectural drawings get rejected, you pay additional fees for corrections, and your timeline stretches. We have seen contractors pour foundations and then find out they needed a grading plan. That is an expensive problem to fix. How B+W Helps We review the project early, identify what triggers grading requirements, and design accordingly. For hillside properties, we know how to work within the 500 cubic yard limit. For ADUs, we coordinate with your architect so the civil and structural engineering fit together without conflicts", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"ADU\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/los-angeles-grading-plans-ladbs-requirements", "title": "When Does Your Los Angeles Project Need a Grading Plan? LADBS Requirements Explained", "chunk": "If you are planning a project in Los Angeles hillside areas, get us involved before you submit for permits. We can usually tell you within a day whether your project triggers grading requirements. Have a project in Los Angeles that might need grading plans. Get in touch before you spend money on plans that will get rejected. Related Blog Post: The Los Angeles Baseline Hillside Ordinance Explained", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"", "\"ADU\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan", "title": "Who Do You Hire for a Grading Plan in Los Angeles?", "chunk": "We get asked this question regularly. Someone is planning a project, they talk to an architect, the architect mentions grading, and then the question comes up: who actually produces this grading plan. Here is the short answer. A Civil Engineer Produces Grading Plans You hire a civil engineer, not an architect. Architects design buildings. Civil engineers design site work. The grading plan shows how the land will be shaped, how water drains across the property, and how the building sits on the site. It involves calculations for cut and fill volumes, slope stability, and drainage patterns. This is civil engineering work", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"civil-engineer\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan", "title": "Who Do You Hire for a Grading Plan in Los Angeles?", "chunk": "What the Grading Plan Actually Is A grading plan shows: - Existing topography and spot elevations - Proposed topography after construction - Drainage patterns and flow directions - Retaining wall locations and heights - Driveway grades and transitions - Cut and fill calculations LADBS requires this plan for hillside properties, basement excavations, pool installations, and any project that substantially changes how water moves across the site. The plan must bear a civil engineer's stamp and signature. When to Hire a Civil Engineer Hire us early. Before the architect locks in the building design. Civil engineering constraints often affect the building design. If the driveway grade is too steep, the building footprint shifts", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"civil-engineer\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-25-who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/25/who-do-you-hire-for-grading-plan", "title": "Who Do You Hire for a Grading Plan in Los Angeles?", "chunk": "If the retaining wall height hits a limit, the building sits differently. If the drainage cannot be solved within the lot, the design changes. Getting a civil engineer involved during schematic design prevents expensive redesigns later. The Short Version For grading plans in Los Angeles, you need a civil engineer. Architects coordinate the overall design but do not produce the site engineering documents. Contractors build according to the plans but do not create them. Have a project in Los Angeles hillside areas. Get in touch before you finalize your architectural drawings. We can tell you what the site requires and what the grading plan will involve", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"los-angeles\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"civil-engineer\"", "\"LADBS\"", "\"hillside\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan", "title": "Most Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.", "chunk": "LA County has been changing requirements every week since the Eaton Fire. If you have been trying to rebuild in Altadena, you already know this. Contractors, civil engineers, and homeowners are all trying to figure out the same thing: what does LA County actually require to issue a permit. We have been in the middle of this since day one. Here is what we have learned. Grading Plan: What Is the Difference A drainage plan handles water flow, minor grading, and keeping slopes at reasonable angles. A grading plan is full civil engineering. It is required when a site has more complex work happening outside the building footprint. The difference matters for timeline and coordination. But here is the thing", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan", "title": "Most Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.", "chunk": "LA County has not published clear thresholds for what triggers a grading plan on fire rebuilds specifically. We have all been figuring this out as we go. What We Have Learned About What Triggers a Grading Plan Through working through plan check with LA County DPW week after week, we have a better idea of what pushes a project into grading plan territory. Most fire rebuild applications are going through the One-Stop Permit Centers, which has been changing how things move", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan", "title": "Most Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.", "chunk": "When a Full Grading Plan May Be Required You likely need a grading plan when: - Large cuts or fills beyond the building footprint - Retaining walls beyond the building footprint - Driveway requiring tall retaining walls - Rear hillside needing slope stabilization When a Drainage Plan May Be Enough If the work stays within or under the building footprint and we can keep slopes at 5:1 or gentler and blend into existing grades, a drainage plan is often all you need. In some cases, a hydrology report is also required to document pre-fire drainage patterns and show LA County how post-development drainage compares to pre-fire conditions. LA County has not made this official. The rules have been shifting since early 2025. But this is what we have seen work in practice", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan", "title": "Most Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.", "chunk": "How We Approach Each Site We look at your specific lot and your proposed structure. We try to design in a way that keeps you in drainage plan territory when possible. Keeping slopes at 5:1 or gentler and blending into existing grades is the goal. If your site needs more than that, we will tell you upfront. We are not going to tell you that you need a full grading plan when a drainage plan will get your permit approved. Contractors have been coming to us for this reason. They have projects in Altadena and they need a civil engineer who can give them a straight answer about what the site actually needs. Questions to Ask Before You Start Ask your civil engineer these questions before you commit: - Can we design this to stay within drainage plan requirements", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/altadena-drainage-plan-vs-grading-plan", "title": "Most Altadena Fire Rebuilds Do Not Need a Full Grading Plan. Here's How to Know If Yours Does.", "chunk": "- What on my specific lot would trigger a grading plan. - How has LA County been handling fire rebuild plans recently. If your civil engineer cannot answer these questions, that tells you something. Start a Conversation About Your Altadena Lot We are still learning alongside LA County as they continue to shift requirements. When you talk to us, you are talking to people who are in the thick of it every week. If you have a lot in Altadena and you are trying to figure out what your rebuild needs, start a conversation. We will look at your specific site and tell you what you actually need", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"drainage-plans\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"eaton-fire\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "; ; ; We recently wrapped up a fire rebuild on Chapala Drive in Pacific Palisades with basement-level lightwells and a pool. The pre-fire house had been excavated into the slope with drainage patterns that flowed from NorthWest to SouthEast across the property. The previous driveway apron's southwest side was being closed as part of the new development. This was a corner lot, which meant tighter constraints on driveway placement and drainage routing. Existing Conditions The existing 3D model shows what we were working with. The pre-fire house was set into the slope, which meant the drainage patterns had been established around that configuration", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "On a corner lot, you typically have two street frontages, which gives you more options for access but also more constraints on where you can put driveways and how you handle drainage outlets. The existing driveway was on the southwest side of the property. That would be closed as part of the new work. The Project Requirements The new house would have a basement with two stories above. There was a proposed pool. The garage sat on the northeast side of the property with a relocated driveway apron. The lot was somewhat flat, with only about 2 feet of drop from rear to front. That is not much slope to work with, especially when you have basement lightwells and a sunken pool cover that need to be below the street flowline grade", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "When basement lightwells and sunken pool covers are below the street flowline, you cannot gravity drain them. That is when you need a pump. How We Handled the Drainage The basement lightwells and the sunken pool cover required a stormwater sump pump. We designed the pump system and provided the calculations for it. For the rest of the site, the drainage was handled by downspouts collecting roof runoff into underground pipes. From there, sheet flow was directed to area drains that all connected to a catch basin on the southeast side of the property. The catch basin gravity flows under the sidewalk and out to the curbface on Chapala Drive. No pump needed for the main site drainage. Only for the lightwells and pool cover that sit below the flowline", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "Services Provided This corner lot project with a basement and pool required: - Grading plan — worked with the 2-foot slope drop while accommodating lightwells that extended below street grade - Excavation plan — mass excavation for basement with 2 stories above, plus pool and lightwell locations - Erosion control plan — standard for LA hillside construction - Stormwater sump pump design and calculations — required because the basement lightwells and sunken pool cover sit below the street flowline and cannot gravity drain Plan Check Timeline This was not a like-for-like rebuild. The new house was substantially different from what existed before, which meant it required a full plan check rather than the streamlined ministerial review that applies to like-for-like replacements", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "The first plan check took 6 months. For fire rebuilds in Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles City where the new construction differs from what existed pre-fire, expect longer review timelines. LA City reviews each change from pre-fire conditions and requires documentation that the new work does not worsen drainage onto adjacent properties. Key Takeaway On flat lots with basement construction, if the lightwells and pool features sit below the street flowline, a sump pump becomes necessary. The pump handles only the below-grade elements. The rest of the site can often drain by gravity if the grade allows. If you have a fire rebuild project in Pacific Palisades or Altadena with a basement, get us involved early", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-26-pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild-5", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/26/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-fire-rebuild", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive", "chunk": "We can tell you whether the site will require a pump and what the drainage strategy needs to be before the architect finalizes the building design", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"pacific-palisades\"", "\"grading-plans\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"excavation-plan\"", "\"erosion-control\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "Every few weeks we see a project where LA County plan check initially requires something, then after reviewing the engineering, removes that requirement. A recent Altadena project went through exactly that. The county initially said the drainage design needed a LID maintenance covenant. We explained why it did not. Plan check agreed and removed the requirement. Here is the engineering behind why it worked. What a LID Covenant Actually Requires First, what are we talking about when we say LID covenant. LID stands for Low Impact Development. LA County requires LID analysis on many projects to make sure stormwater is being managed responsibly, per the 2025 LA County LID Ordinance", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "When a project triggers full LID requirements, it often comes with a maintenance covenant that gets recorded against your property. This covenant is a legal document. It commits the property owner to ongoing maintenance of stormwater management features. It typically requires periodic inspections and documentation sent to the county. It stays with the property when you sell. For some projects, this is appropriate. But for many Altadena fire rebuilds, there is a way to design the drainage that avoids triggering LID requirements in the first place. The Key Question: Does the Site Drain the Same Way It Did Before the Fire. After the Eaton Fire, LA County became more cautious about drainage. They want to make sure new construction does not create problems for neighboring properties downhill", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "When land is cleared, water behaves differently than when it was covered with vegetation. The county wants to see how your project handles that change. The key question is not just about what happens on your property now. It is about whether your site drains the same way it did before the fire. We document this through hydrology analysis. We look at the pre-fire conditions of your site, model the post-development drainage pattern, and calculate whether the peak flow rates and volumes have changed. How Plastic Lined Rain Gardens Work (And Why They Are Not LID) When we design drainage for Altadena fire rebuilds, we often include rain gardens. But not all rain gardens are the same. LID rain gardens are designed to infiltrate stormwater into the ground", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "They are meant to let water soak in and reduce runoff at the source. This is good for the environment, but it requires ongoing maintenance to ensure the infiltration capacity does not degrade over time. The rain gardens we typically specify are different. They are plastic lined. They store stormwater volume during a storm and release it once the storage capacity is reached. They are not infiltrating into the ground. This matters for two reasons. First, because they are not infiltrating, they do not trigger the same maintenance concerns that LID devices do. There is no infiltration capacity that can become clogged or fail over time. Second, because we are storing volume rather than infiltrating, we can show the site is handling water the same way it did before the fire", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "The pre-fire drainage pattern had water sheet flowing across the surface and eventually making its way off the property. The rain gardens replicate that behavior at a small scale. The 50% Impervious Threshold LID requirements in LA County are typically triggered when a project exceeds certain thresholds for impervious surface area. One key threshold is when post-development impervious surface increases by more than 50% compared to pre-development conditions. For most Altadena fire rebuilds, this is where we focus our analysis. If we can show that the project does not exceed that threshold, LID requirements generally do not apply. We document this in the hydrology report with calculations showing pre-fire and post-fire runoff volumes and impervious surface percentages", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-5", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "If the numbers show the site is still within acceptable ranges, we present that to plan check. What the Hydrology Numbers Look Like Here is an example of what this looks like in practice. For one recent Altadena project, the pre-fire 24-hour clear runoff volume was 2,465 cubic feet. After the fire and proposed development, the post-development 24-hour clear runoff volume was 2,252 cubic feet. The post-development volume is actually less than the pre-fire volume. This is partly because some of the previous impervious surface (like a pool or previous structures) is being removed and replaced with landscape area. When the numbers work out this way, we can show the site drains the same way it always has", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-6", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "LA County reviews the hydrology report and if the calculations are sound, they often remove the sump pump or LID requirements that were initially imposed. Our hydrology calculations use LA County HydroCalc v1. 3 to verify pre-fire and post-development runoff volumes. Concentrated Flow Matters Another factor plan check looks at is whether drainage is being handled as sheet flow or concentrated flow. Sheet flow is water spreading out across the surface in a thin layer, following the natural slope of the land. This is how water typically moves across an undeveloped hillside. Concentrated flow is water being collected and channeled into specific points, like a catch basin or a pipe. Concentrated flow can create erosion problems downstream and typically requires more engineering controls", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-7", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "When we design drainage, we try to maintain sheet flow wherever possible. The rain gardens are positioned to accept sheet flow from the surrounding landscape and store it temporarily, then release it in a controlled manner that continues the sheet flow pattern off the property. If the overflow from a rain garden is going to be sheet flow (spreading out across landscape rather than concentrating into a pipe or channel), that is a different engineering situation than if the overflow is concentrated at a single point. Plan check reviews this carefully. When we can show the design maintains sheet flow and follows the pre-fire drainage pattern, that often resolves their concerns about downstream impacts", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-8", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "What This Means for Your Altadena Rebuild Not every project can avoid a sump pump or LID covenant. Some lots have genuine drainage challenges that require engineering solutions. But many Altadena lots can avoid these requirements if the drainage plan is designed correctly from the start. Our Altadena drainage plans page covers our approach for fire rebuilds. It starts with understanding pre-fire hydrology, designing to maintain the same drainage pattern, and being able to demonstrate that to plan check with clear calculations. The earlier in the process this analysis happens, the better. If you are already mid-plan check and being told you need a sump pump, it is still worth asking the question about whether the hydrology supports an alternative approach. We look at a lot of Altadena lots", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-9", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "Many of them can avoid a sump pump by demonstrating the site drains the same way it did before the fire. The same principles apply to LID covenants. If you are working through this on your Altadena rebuild, feel free to reach out. For your Altadena fire rebuild drainage plan We get asked a lot about whether a project needs a sump pump, LID requirements, grading plan, or drainage plan. The short answer is it depends on your site, your pre-fire conditions, and what your engineering actually shows. If you are in Altadena and going through the fire rebuild process, we can look at your specific site and tell you what LA County will likely require before you spend money on designs that might not pass plan check. Here's how it works with us", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-04-27-altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant-10", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/04/27/altadena-drainage-plan-without-sump-pump-or-lid-covenant", "title": "Why Your Altadena Fire Rebuild Might Not Need a Sump Pump or LID Covenant", "chunk": "Once your surveyor sends over the field survey and your architect sends over the proposed site plan, we design the drainage plan and hydrology report if required. Your architect or builder then submits those to LA County with the rest of your building permit package. We handle the technical engineering and stay in contact through plan check comments until it clears. For Altadena projects, our Altadena drainage plans page covers what we do, typical costs, and how long it takes. Just useful information if you are early in the process and trying to figure out what you actually need", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"altadena\"", "\"fire-rebuild\"", "\"drainage\"", "\"sump-pump\"", "\"hydrology\"", "\"lid\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-05-02-ai-powered-search-status-monitor-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/05/02/ai-powered-search-status-monitor", "title": "AI Search and Status Monitoring for Civil Engineering", "chunk": "; ; We relied on a GitHub public repo for status monitoring. It never worked right, so we decided to build our own. We stay current with web infrastructure the same way we stay current with civil engineering for Los Angeles properties: using real data, not estimates. Since 2011, that approach has worked for our grading, drainage, and general civil engineering work. Both tools run on Cloudflare Pages without a traditional server. Real-Time Status Monitoring for Our Civil Engineering Services The status page at status. com shows the current state of our web properties. Here's how it works: A Cloudflare Worker triggers a GitHub Actions workflow every 5 minutes. That workflow checks each endpoint using curl, records the response time, and deploys updated data to our static Cloudflare Pages site", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"infrastructure\"", "\"cloudflare\"", "\"ai\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-05-02-ai-powered-search-status-monitor-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/05/02/ai-powered-search-status-monitor", "title": "AI Search and Status Monitoring for Civil Engineering", "chunk": "We track seven endpoints across our civil engineering and grading services: - bwengr. com Main website and portfolio - drainageplans. la Altadena fire rebuild drainage plans - gradingplans. la Los Angeles Grading Plans - civilengineer. la Civil engineer redirect - bw. engineering B+W Engineering short URL - losangeles. engineering Los Angeles engineering redirect - api. com AI search API The status page calculates a 30-day uptime percentage from actual check history. If something is slow or down, you'll see it there in real-time. We also publish an RSS feed for programmatic monitoring. The repository is public on GitHub if you want to see how it works: github", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"infrastructure\"", "\"cloudflare\"", "\"ai\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-05-02-ai-powered-search-status-monitor-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/05/02/ai-powered-search-status-monitor", "title": "AI Search and Status Monitoring for Civil Engineering", "chunk": "com/bwengr/bwengr-status AI Search for Civil Engineering Questions The search bar on our homepage connects to an API that understands our civil engineering work. Ask about drainage plans in Altadena, hillside grading in Sherman Oaks, or hydrology reports, and it pulls relevant information from our project history and blog posts. How the Knowledge Base Works When we publish new content, a GitHub Actions workflow scans our blog posts, portfolio projects, and service pages. It breaks each page into sections of a few paragraphs. Each section keeps a reference back to the original source URL. This is our knowledge base, stored as a public static JSON file on Cloudflare Pages", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"infrastructure\"", "\"cloudflare\"", "\"ai\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-05-02-ai-powered-search-status-monitor-3", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/05/02/ai-powered-search-status-monitor", "title": "AI Search and Status Monitoring for Civil Engineering", "chunk": "How the Query Works When you type a question, the API finds the top 5 most relevant sections from the knowledge base, builds context for the AI from those sections, and sends everything to a language model with formatting instructions. The response comes back as structured JSON with paragraphs and source URLs. Queries run against static files, no database involved. The search API runs as a Cloudflare Worker handling queries in real-time. Our prompt engineering and API setup stay private while the knowledge base is public. We wanted answers that cite our actual work, not generic AI hallucinations. By grounding every response in our real content, you get practical information that reflects how we approach projects like our Altadena fire rebuild drainage plans and hillside grading work", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"infrastructure\"", "\"cloudflare\"", "\"ai\"]" ] }, { "id": "2026-05-02-ai-powered-search-status-monitor-4", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/2026/05/02/ai-powered-search-status-monitor", "title": "AI Search and Status Monitoring for Civil Engineering", "chunk": "If you have a project in Los Angeles and want to discuss what civil engineering services you need, contact us or call 323-739-3913", "type": "blog", "tags": [ "[\"infrastructure\"", "\"cloudflare\"", "\"ai\"]" ] }, { "id": "aerovoice-el-segundo-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/aerovoice-el-segundo", "title": "aerovoice el segundo", "chunk": "title: \"Aerovoice\" location: \"El Segundo\" cityUrl: null description: \"Worked with Partners by Design on a parking lot repaving and infill of loading docks. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/aerovoice-el-segundo. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Aerovoice office building in El Segundo\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-alta-crest-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-alta-crest-drive-1", "title": "altadena alta crest drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Alta Crest Drive\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-alta-crest-drive-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: true status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-alta-crest/altadena-guest-house-foundation-dual-rain-garden. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena construction site featuring guest house foundation with dual rain garden drainage design\" pubDate: 2025-07-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "altadena east las flores drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on East Las Flores Drive\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Approved\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-east-las-flores-drive/altadena-lot-erosion-wattle-sandbags-rebuild. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena lot showing erosion control with wattle and sandbags during rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-05-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-avenue-1", "title": "altadena east palm avenue 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on East Palm Avenue\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-avenue-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-east-palm/altadena-residential-lot-palm-trees-slope-drainage. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena residential lot with palm trees showing slope and natural drainage conditions\" pubDate: 2025-08-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-street-2-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-street-2", "title": "altadena east palm street 2", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on East Palm Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-street-2/\" description: \"Drainage Plans, Hydrology Report, Sump Pump, Street Plan for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" - \"Sump Pump Design\" - \"Street Plan\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-east-palm/altadena-east-palm-street-plan. webp\" imageAlt: \"Drainage plan for East Palm Street Altadena fire rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-07-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-pine-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-pine-street-1", "title": "altadena east pine street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on East Pine Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-east-pine-street-1/\" description: \"Rough Grading Plan for fire rebuild with pool removal and 5:1 slope fill. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-east-pine-street/altadena-property-natural-slope-grading-plan. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena lot after pool removal and rough grading with natural slope ready for new construction\" pubDate: 2025-09-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1", "title": "altadena east poppyfields drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on East Poppyfields Drive\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-east-poppyfields-drive/altadena-poppyfields-preconstruction-1. webp\" imageAlt: \"Pre-construction view of Altadena fire rebuild lot showing cleared dirt site with chain-link fencing, privacy screening, and construction materials\" pubDate: 2025-10-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-ganesha-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-ganesha-avenue-1", "title": "altadena ganesha avenue 1", "chunk": "title: \"Multi-Unit on Ganesha Avenue\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-ganesha-avenue-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for multi-unit fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" - \"Street Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-ganesha-avenue/altadena-ganesha-preconstruction-1. webp\" imageAlt: \"Overgrown vacant lot in Altadena with cracked concrete driveway and mountain views for multi-unit fire rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-11-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-las-flores-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "altadena las flores drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Las Flores Drive\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-las-flores-drive-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Approved\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-las-flores/altadena-las-flores-plan. webp\" imageAlt: \"Drainage plan for Las Flores Drive Altadena fire rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-05-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marathon-road-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marathon-road-1", "title": "altadena marathon road 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Marathon Road\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-marathon-road-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-marathon-road/altadena-construction-scott-j-woodland. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena Marathon Road construction site featuring Scott J woodland materials\" pubDate: 2025-09-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marengo-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marengo-avenue-1", "title": "altadena marengo avenue 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Marengo Avenue\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-marengo-avenue-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-marengo/altadena-new-home-gated-entrance-1325-gallon-fire-tank. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena new home construction behind gated entrance featuring 1325-gallon underground fire tank\" pubDate: 2025-06-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1", "title": "altadena mount curve avenue 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Mount Curve Avenue\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1/\" description: \"Grading Plans and Hydrology Report for like-for-like fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Under Construction\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-mount-curve-ave/altadena-single-story-eaton-fire-sheet-flow. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena single story construction with Eaton Fire sheet flow drainage design\" pubDate: 2025-08-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-olive-ave-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-olive-ave", "title": "altadena olive ave", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Olive Ave\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-olive-ave/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-olive-ave/altadena-olive-ave-drainage-plan. webp\" imageAlt: \"Drainage plan for Altadena Olive Ave property showing proposed grading, flowlines, and spot elevations\" pubDate: 2026-04-21", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-pine-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-pine-street-1", "title": "altadena pine street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Pine Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-pine-street-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-pine-street/altadena-pine-street-plan. webp\" imageAlt: \"Pine Street drainage plan showing sheet flow design\" pubDate: 2025-04-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-skywood-circle-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-skywood-circle-1", "title": "altadena skywood circle 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Skywood Circle\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-skywood-circle-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-skywood/altadena-skywood-circle-plan. webp\" imageAlt: \"Skywood Circle drainage plan for Altadena fire rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-03-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-1", "title": "altadena wapello 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Wapello Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-wapello-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for hillside rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-lot/altadena-post-fire-eroded-terrain-concrete-walkway-drainage. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena post-fire eroded terrain with concrete walkway showing drainage assessment\" pubDate: 2025-03-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-street-2-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-street-2", "title": "altadena wapello street 2", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Wapello Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-wapello-street-2/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for downslope fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-wapello-street-2/wapello-street-earthwork-exhibit. webp\" imageAlt: \"Wapello Street earthwork exhibit for Altadena downslope fire rebuild\" pubDate: 2025-03-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-harriet-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-harriet-street-1", "title": "altadena west harriet street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on West Harriet Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-west-harriet-street-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Under Construction\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-west-harriet-street/altadena-west-harriet-preconstruction-1. webp\" imageAlt: \"Pre-construction Altadena fire rebuild lot with Alto Builders sign and mountain views\" pubDate: 2025-11-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-mariposa-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-mariposa-street-1", "title": "altadena west mariposa street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on West Mariposa Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-west-mariposa-street-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Under Construction\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-west-mariposa/altadena-west-mariposa-wheel-loader. webp\" imageAlt: \"Yellow Caterpillar wheel loader on Altadena construction site with mountain backdrop\" pubDate: 2025-10-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-palm-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-palm-street-1", "title": "altadena west palm street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on West Palm Street\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/altadena-west-palm-street-1/\" description: \"Drainage Plans and Hydrology Report for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Approved\" services: - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/altadena-west-palm/altadena-residential-lot-alto-builders-sign. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Altadena residential lot requiring drainage plan with Alto Builders sign indicating active construction\" pubDate: 2025-11-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive", "title": "beverly hills alto cedro drive", "chunk": "title: \"Alto Cedro Drive\" location: \"Beverly Hills\" cityUrl: \"/cities/beverly-hills/\" portfolioUrl: \"/portfolio/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive/\" description: \"Grading plans, stormwater sump pump, and LID design for a Beverly Hills residential remodel with permeable paver motorcourt and retaining walls. \" featured: false status: \"Built\" category: \"residential\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Stormwater Sump Pump\" - \"LID\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive-complete-home. webp\" imageAlt: \"Completed luxury residence on Alto Cedro Drive in Beverly Hills featuring cedar wood cladding, white stucco exterior, permeable paver motorcourt, concrete driveway, and professional landscaping\" pubDate: 2026-04-28", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "canon-blvd-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/canon-blvd", "title": "canon blvd", "chunk": "title: \"Canon Boulevard Steep Hillside Grading\" location: \"Altadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/canon-blvd/\" description: \"Hillside Grading Plans for fire rebuild. \" featured: true services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/canon-blvd/canon-blvd-steep-hillside-existing-walls. webp\" imageAlt: \"Steep hillside with existing concrete retaining walls\" pubDate: 2026-04-20", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "chevy-chase-country-club-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/chevy-chase-country-club", "title": "chevy chase country club", "chunk": "title: \"Chevy Chase Country Club\" location: \"Glendale\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/chevy-chase-country-club/\" description: \"Grading, LID, erosion control and hydrology for commercial site in Glendale. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID\" - \"Erosion Control Plans\" - \"Hydrology Reports\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/chevy-chase-country-club/chevy-chase-country-club-golf-ball-display-heritage-grading. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Chevy Chase Country Club golf ball display honoring the club's heritage following our grading plan completion\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "christian-life-church-glendale-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/christian-life-church-glendale", "title": "christian life church glendale", "chunk": "title: \"Christian Life Church\" location: \"Glendale\" cityUrl: \"/cities/glendale/\" description: \"Grading and LID for new Church on sloped lot in Glendale. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/christian-life-church-glendale. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Christian Life Church in Glendale\" pubDate: 2023-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue", "title": "costa mesa red hill avenue", "chunk": "title: \"Ferrari of Newport Beach Service Center\" location: \"Costa Mesa\" cityUrl: null portfolioUrl: \"/portfolio/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue/\" description: \"Grading plan for Ferrari and Maserati of Newport Beach commercial dealership in Costa Mesa. Swale removal, ADA parking, and flat-grade parking lot for low exotic cars. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue-ferrari-maserati-dealership. webp\" imageAlt: \"Completed Ferrari and Maserati of Newport Beach luxury dealership in Costa Mesa showing modern gray facade, large structural bay opening, and professional asphalt parking lot with site markings\" pubDate: 2026-04-28", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "enterprise-glendale-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/enterprise-glendale", "title": "enterprise glendale", "chunk": "title: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car\" location: \"Glendale\" cityUrl: \"/cities/glendale/\" description: \"Grading for a commercial building in Glendale. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/enterprise-glendale. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car location in Glendale\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "enterprise-hollywood-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/enterprise-hollywood", "title": "enterprise hollywood", "chunk": "title: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car\" location: \"Hollywood\" cityUrl: \"/cities/hollywood/\" description: \"Grading for a commercial building in Hollywood. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/enterprise-hollywood. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car location in Hollywood\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "enterprise-santa-clarita-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/enterprise-santa-clarita", "title": "enterprise santa clarita", "chunk": "title: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car\" location: \"Santa Clarita\" cityUrl: null description: \"Grading for a commercial building in Santa Clarita. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/enterprise-santa-clarita. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Enterprise Rent-A-Car location in Santa Clarita\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "gordon-north-los-angeles-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/gordon-north-los-angeles", "title": "gordon north los angeles", "chunk": "title: \"Gordon North Apartments\" location: \"Los Angeles\" cityUrl: \"/cities/los-angeles/\" description: \"Grading for a multi-story residential building in Los Angeles. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/gordon-north-los-angeles. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Gordon North Apartments multi-story residential building in Los Angeles\" pubDate: 2023-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hermosa-beach-18th-street-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/hermosa-beach-18th-street", "title": "hermosa beach 18th street", "chunk": "title: \"18th Street\" location: \"Hermosa Beach\" cityUrl: \"/cities/hermosa-beach/\" portfolioUrl: \"/portfolio/hermosa-beach-18th-street/\" description: \"C-Sheet (grading plan), LID, and stormwater sump pump design for a Hermosa Beach 3-story SFR with walk street front and alley rear. \" featured: false status: \"Built\" category: \"residential\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID\" - \"Stormwater Sump Pump\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/hermosa-beach-18th-street/hermosa-beach-18th-street-complete-home. webp\" imageAlt: \"Completed modern three-story white stucco residence on 18th Street Hermosa Beach with cantilevered facade, black-framed windows, wood garage door, and professional landscaping\" pubDate: 2026-04-28", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "los-angeles-devlin-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/los-angeles-devlin-drive-1", "title": "los angeles devlin drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Devlin Drive\" location: \"Los Angeles\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/los-angeles-devlin-drive-1/\" description: \"Grading and LID design for Devlin Drive above Sunset Strip. New driveway, 2-story addition, pool deck, rain garden outlets to curbface. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID Design\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/los-angeles-devlin-drive/los-angeles-devlin-drive-modern-residence. webp\" imageAlt: \"Modern mid-century residence above the Sunset Strip with vertical wood batten siding, flagstone driveway, cedar gates, and mature landscaping\" pubDate: 2024-05-15", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades", "title": "marquez terrace pacific palisades", "chunk": "title: \"Marquez Terrace\" location: \"Pacific Palisades\" cityUrl: \"/cities/pacific-palisades/\" portfolioUrl: \"/portfolio/marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades/\" description: \"Grading plans, LID report, and excavation plans for a Pacific Palisades residential remodel. 2-story SFR with basement, existing pool remained, LID drainage to lined rain garden. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" category: \"residential\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Low Impact Development\" - \"Excavation Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades/marquez-terrace-modern-three-story-home-front. webp\" imageAlt: \"Completed 3-story modern home on Marquez Terrace in Pacific Palisades with hillside grading and LID drainage\" pubDate: 2026-04-28", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "onyx-on-central-glendale-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/onyx-on-central-glendale", "title": "onyx on central glendale", "chunk": "title: \"Onyx on Central\" location: \"Glendale\" cityUrl: \"/cities/glendale/\" description: \"Grading and LID for Mixed-Use project on 1+ acres in Glendale. \" featured: true status: \"Under Construction\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/onyx-on-central-glendale. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Onyx on Central apartment building under construction with wood framing and scaffolding in Glendale\" pubDate: 2024-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1", "title": "pacific palisades chapala drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Chapala Drive\" location: \"Pacific Palisades\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1/\" description: \"Grading Plans, Excavation, Erosion Control, Sump Pump for fire rebuild. \" featured: false status: \"Submittal Stage\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Excavation Plans\" - \"Erosion Control Plans\" - \"Sump Pump Design\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/pacific-palisades-chapala/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-sections. webp\" imageAlt: \"Grading cross-sections for Pacific Palisades residence showing basement excavation and floor elevations\" pubDate: 2025-04-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1", "title": "redondo beach sapphire street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Sapphire Street\" location: \"Redondo Beach\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1/\" description: \"Grading plan and stormwater sump pump for Redondo Beach residence. New garage, addition, rear deck, existing driveway remained. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Stormwater Sump Pump\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/redondo-beach-sapphire-street/redondo-beach-sapphire-street-modern-two-story. webp\" imageAlt: \"Modern two-story residence in Redondo Beach with metal siding, wood slat cladding, xeriscaping, and paver driveway\" pubDate: 2024-04-22", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue", "title": "redondo beach st lucia avenue", "chunk": "title: \"St Lucia Avenue\" location: \"Redondo Beach\" cityUrl: \"/cities/redondo-beach/\" portfolioUrl: \"/portfolio/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue/\" description: \"Grading plans, hydrology report, and stormwater sump pump design for two connected 2-story container homes on a sloped Redondo Beach lot. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" category: \"residential\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Hydrology Reports\" - \"Stormwater Sump Pump Design\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue-complete-home", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue", "title": "redondo beach st lucia avenue", "chunk": "webp\" imageAlt: \"Completed modern hillside residential project on St Lucia Avenue in Redondo Beach featuring two connected 2-story container homes with bridge, white stucco and brown textured panels, cantilevered balcony, concrete retaining walls, and drought-tolerant landscaping\" pubDate: 2026-04-28", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1", "title": "sherman oaks alomar drive 1", "chunk": "title: \"Alomar Drive\" location: \"Sherman Oaks\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1/\" description: \"Grading and excavation for steep hillside residence in Sherman Oaks. Proposed garage, deck, rec room below, rain garden, and permeable pavers. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Excavation Plans\" - \"LID Design\" - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"Erosion Control Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-mediterranean-complete. webp\" imageAlt: \"Mediterranean-style residence in Sherman Oaks with terracotta tile roof, stucco walls, gated driveway entrance, and mature landscaping\" pubDate: 2024-06-12", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "silver-lake-redcliff-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/silver-lake-redcliff-street-1", "title": "silver lake redcliff street 1", "chunk": "title: \"Residential on Redcliff Street\" location: \"Silver Lake\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/silver-lake-redcliff-street-1/\" description: \"Grading plans and stormwater management for steep Silver Lake hillside. New driveway entrance and 2:1 slopes. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Low Impact Development\" - \"Hydrology Report\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/silver-lake-redcliff-street/silver-lake-redcliff-steep-hillside-construction. webp\" imageAlt: \"Two-story residential house under construction with OSB sheathing sits atop a steep, newly graded dirt slope with erosion control measures\" pubDate: 2019-04-17", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1", "title": "south pasadena orange grove place 1", "chunk": "title: \"Orange Grove Place\" location: \"South Pasadena\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1/\" description: \"Grading and drainage for 2-unit residential in South Pasadena. 2% slope lot with LID planter boxes and trellis covered parking. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"Drainage Plans\" - \"LID Design\" - \"Erosion Control Plans\" - \"OverEx Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-modern-dual-unit-construction. webp\" imageAlt: \"Modern two-unit residential construction with stucco walls and metal roof in South Pasadena. Covered trellis parking structure in center with paver driveway\" pubDate: 2024-03-15", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "studio-city-wrightwood-court-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/studio-city-wrightwood-court-1", "title": "studio city wrightwood court 1", "chunk": "title: \"Wrightwood Court\" location: \"Studio City\" cityUrl: \"/portfolio/studio-city-wrightwood-court-1/\" description: \"Grading and LID design for Studio City residence. New 2-story house, pool, rain tanks, rain gardens, all drainage to curbface under sidewalk. \" featured: true status: \"Built\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" - \"LID Design\" image: \". /assets/images/blog/studio-city-wrightwood-court/studio-city-wrightwood-court-modern-entrance-security. webp\" imageAlt: \"Modern residential entrance at 3523 Wrightwood Court with charcoal grey perimeter wall, Corten steel accent panel, glass driveway gate, and mature oak trees\" pubDate: 2024-08-20", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "vincent-park-redondo-beach-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/vincent-park-redondo-beach", "title": "vincent park redondo beach", "chunk": "title: \"Condo - Vincent Park\" location: \"Redondo Beach\" cityUrl: \"/cities/redondo-beach/\" description: \"Grading for a 2-unit Condo in Redondo Beach. \" featured: false status: \"Completed\" category: \"commercial\" services: - \"Grading Plans\" image: \". /assets/images/portfolio/vincent-park-redondo-beach. jpg\" imageAlt: \"Vincent Park Condo project in Redondo Beach\" pubDate: 2023-01-01", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [] }, { "id": "blog-TEMPLATE-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog-TEMPLATE", "title": "Your Blog Post Title Here", "chunk": "Your blog post content goes here. You can use markdown formatting. Section Heading More content here. Descriptive alt text for image Another Section More content", "type": "portfolio", "tags": [ "[\"tag1\"", "\"tag2\"", "\"tag3\"]" ] }, { "id": "[slug]-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/[slug]", "title": "[slug]", "chunk": "} ))} )} View the full project )} Back to Blog )-(\\d )-(\\d )-/, '$1/$2/$3/')} ; const initial = relatedPost. charAt(0); return ( )} ); })} )}", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "index-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/index", "title": "index", "chunk": "Engineering Insights Perspectives on civil engineering, hillside construction, and grading in Los Angeles. Latest )} Read More )} )} ))} )} Read More ))} , ( , i) => i + 1)", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "[page]-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/[page]", "title": "[page]", "chunk": "Engineering Insights Perspectives on civil engineering, hillside construction, grading, and structural engineering in Los Angeles. )} ))} )} Read More ))} , ( , i) => i + 1)", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "[tag]-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/blog/[tag]", "title": "[tag]", "chunk": "Tag tagged with \" \" All Posts )} ))} )} Read More ))}", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/altadena", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Alta Crest Drive Dual rain gardens, guest house and carport drainage East Las Flores Drive Corner lot, flowline wraps house to street East Palm Avenue Trench drain to lined rain garden, 13-step deck Permitting Authority Los Angeles County Department of Public Works", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "beverly-hills-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/beverly-hills", "title": "Hillside and Flat Lot Experience',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Alto Cedro Drive Beverly Hills remodel with permeable paver motorcourt, sump pump, and LID design Permitting Authority Beverly Hills Building and Safety", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "echo-park-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/echo-park", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hermosa-beach-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/hermosa-beach", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview 18th Street Hermosa Beach 3-story with C-Sheet, underground rain tanks, and sump pump to alley Permitting Authority Hermosa Beach Building and Safety", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "los-angeles-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/los-angeles", "title": "Navigating LA City and LA County Requirements',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Devlin Drive Hillside residence above Sunset Strip with rain garden and pool Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "pacific-palisades-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/pacific-palisades", "title": "Working With Architects and Homeowners',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Chapala Drive Palisades fire rebuild with basement, pool, and sump pump Marquez Terrace Completed residential remodel with basement, pool deck, and LID rain garden Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/redondo-beach", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Sapphire Street Coastal residence with sump pump for high water table St Lucia Avenue Two connected container homes with bridge, sump pump for sloped lot Permitting Authority City of Redondo Beach Building and Safety Division", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sherman-oaks-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/sherman-oaks", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Alomar Drive Hillside residence with rain garden, excavation, and LID design Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "silver-lake-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/silver-lake", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Redcliff Street Steep hillside with new driveway, 2:1 slopes, and rain barrels Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "south-pasadena-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/south-pasadena", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Orange Grove Place Hillside dual-unit with 4-levels, caissons, and LID stormwater design Permitting Authority City of South Pasadena Building Division", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "studio-city-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/cities/studio-city", "title": "Working With Homeowners and Architects',", "chunk": "Portfolio Preview Wrightwood Court New 2-story with pool, rain tanks, and rain gardens Permitting Authority Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS)", "type": "city", "tags": [] }, { "id": "for-professionals-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/for-professionals", "title": "for professionals", "chunk": "Home / For Architects & Professionals For Architects & Professionals We work with architects, builders and contractors to handle the civil engineering side of residential and commercial projects across Los Angeles. Serving Los Angeles since 2011 Active in Altadena, Pacific Palisades & Malibu fire rebuilds For Architects We receive your drawings, handle the civil engineering, and send everything back for integration. You focus on the architecture, we handle the site work. Same-day initial review when drawings are submitted DWG/DXF and PDF compatible We coordinate directly with LADBS and LA County as needed, handling plan check comments and corrections. Clear scope and pricing before work begins For Contractors Quick turnaround for bid packages and plan review", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "for-professionals-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/for-professionals", "title": "for professionals", "chunk": "We help you understand what the civil engineering requires so you can build it correctly. Fast turnaround on grading and drainage plans Clear material and staging specs in the plans We respond quickly to contractor questions in the field Experience with hillside and difficult sites How It Works 1 Send Us Your Project Email us the architect's drawings or project details. We review and respond same day. 2 Get a Proposal We send a clear scope and fee proposal. No surprises, no hidden costs. 3 We Design Our team creates the civil engineering plans. We coordinate with the city as needed. 4 Plans Go to You Stamped plans delivered for your architect to integrate. Ready to Work Together. Whether you have a project in mind or just want to talk through requirements, give us a call", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "for-professionals-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/for-professionals", "title": "for professionals", "chunk": "323-739-3913 info@bwengr", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-alta-crest-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-alta-crest-drive-1", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Alta Crest Drive Altadena Residential on Alta Crest Drive Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Altadena Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 2398-acre lot drops 13 feet from street to rear, with a single-story house, a small guest house at the rear, and a carport on the opposite rear side. This was one of our first Altadena fire rebuild projects, and it holds significance as the first approved Altadena fire rebuild drainage plan from our firm. We learned on this project that plastic-lined rain gardens could manage stormwater without requiring a full hydrology report to prove the numbers", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-alta-crest-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-alta-crest-drive-1", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden\",", "chunk": "At the front of the property, we kept the existing walkway and a short wall, tying the new entrance into these existing elements. Downspouts along the front and west sideyard pipe into a plastic-lined rain garden that handles stormwater from the primary structure. On the east side, we preserved the existing driveway apron and matched a portion of it, extending a new driveway from front to a rear garage. The garage has a trench drain in front, piped to a second plastic-lined rain garden. The rear of the property steps down from the main house level to a deck, then a smaller lower deck, with pavers leading to the rear yard. Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) simplified the LA County approval process since the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-alta-crest-drive-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-alta-crest-drive-1", "title": "Altadena Drainage Plans with Lined Rain Garden\",", "chunk": "Site Photos Project Progress August 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. September 2025 Plans Submitted Drainage plans submitted to LA County for review. September 2025 Plans Approved Drainage plans approved. Ready for construction. Current Under Construction Construction has begun on the project. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "Drainage Plans in Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on East Las Flores Drive Altadena Residential on East Las Flores Drive Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Altadena Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 1768-acre corner lot drops 10 feet from top of street to rear, requiring careful drainage design across multiple grade transitions. Along the front of the property, we established maximum 5:1 (20%) slopes, then transitioned to a 10-foot-wide 5% slope away from the foundation into a flowline that wraps around each side of the house", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "Drainage Plans in Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "This flowline continues to Santa Anita Avenue, where stormwater sheets over the property line above the existing driveway apron and into the street right-of-way. A new driveway leads to a new garage, with 2. 5-foot maximum height walls lifting the driveway enough to maintain 1% minimum sheet flow to the driveway apron and street. Matching into the existing Santa Anita Avenue right-of-way required careful attention to keep the house at a good finished floor elevation while minimizing steps between the house and garage. Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) meant the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan, simplifying LA County approval. Site Photos Project Progress October 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "Drainage Plans in Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "October 2025 Submittal Drainage plans submitted to LA County for review. April 2026 Approved Drainage plans approved by LA County. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-avenue-1", "title": "altadena east palm avenue 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on East Palm Avenue Altadena Residential on East Palm Avenue Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Altadena Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 199-acre lot drops 13 feet from street to rear, one of the steeper slopes we've worked with in Altadena. The new driveway ties into existing grades along the property line with no retaining walls needed, leading to a rear detached garage. A trench drain in front of the garage manages stormwater from the garage roof and any surface flow. Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) meant the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-avenue-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-avenue-1", "title": "altadena east palm avenue 1", "chunk": "Area drains at the front of the house collect stormwater, with pipes running down the sideyard connecting the area drains and downspouts. These pipes route to the garage trench drain, which exits into a plastic-lined rain garden at the rear. We offset the rain garden placement due to an existing sewer manhole at the rear corner, ensuring we avoided any conflict with potential sewer infrastructure. The front-to-back slope means the rear deck has 13 steps coming down from the main level to the lower yard. Site Photos Project Progress September 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. October 2025 Plans Submitted Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-avenue-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-avenue-1", "title": "altadena east palm avenue 1", "chunk": "November 2025 Plans Approved Drainage plans and hydrology report approved. Ready for construction. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-street-2-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-street-2", "title": "Drainage Design Models in Altadena\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on East Palm Street Altadena Residential on East Palm Street Drainage plans, hydrology report, stormwater sump pump design, and street plan for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ) : ( )} ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Initial assessment completed August 2025 with existing site conditions documented and drainage patterns identified. Given the property sits below street grade, a stormwater sump pump system was required. Drainage plans , hydrology report , sump pump design, and street plan submitted to LA County for review in September 2025. Project Progress August 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-palm-street-2-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-palm-street-2", "title": "Drainage Design Models in Altadena\",", "chunk": "Drainage patterns identified. Sump pump requirement determined. Current Submittal Drainage plans, hydrology report, sump pump design, and street plan submitted to LA County. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-pine-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-pine-street-1", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on East Pine Street Altadena Residential on East Pine Street Rough grading plan for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 4986-acre lot is the largest we've worked with in Altadena, sloping 17 feet from high at the rear to low at the street. This project required removing an existing pool and re-grading the land to prepare for the new construction. We used a maximum 5:1 slope and daylighted to the architect's designated starting point for the re-grade, filling the excavated lot and creating proper transitions to existing grades", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-pine-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-pine-street-1", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool\",", "chunk": "The grading plan sections document the pool removal with a 1:1 maximum cut slope and 1 foot of cover under the pool shell. Where vertical cuts were needed, we used a maximum 3-foot height to avoid the 1:1 cut extending into the neighboring property. The excavated pool and surrounding area were then filled using 5:1 maximum slopes extending toward the street until daylight was achieved. While this is a grading plan rather than a drainage plan , we still aim to keep slopes at 5:1 maximum whenever possible to minimize re-grading requirements and streamline the LA County approval process. Site Photos Project Progress September 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Excavated lot and pool removal identified. 5:1 slope solution developed", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-pine-street-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-pine-street-1", "title": "Altadena Grading Plan to Remove Pool\",", "chunk": "Current Submittal Stage Rough grading plan submitted to LA County for review in October 2025. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1", "title": "altadena east poppyfields drive 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on East Poppyfields Drive Altadena Residential on East Poppyfields Drive Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 1795-acre lot slopes 13 feet down from street to rear over 154 feet, a long narrow lot with garage at the rear. We maintained 5:1 (20%) max slopes throughout, with 5% minimum grade 10 feet away from the front of the house to create a flowline on one side that sheet flows towards the easterly driveway. The driveway sheet flows towards a garage at the rear corner", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-east-poppyfields-drive-1", "title": "altadena east poppyfields drive 1", "chunk": "The garage has a trench drain in front to collect stormwater, piped to downspout connections on the west side of the house. All drainage flows into a plastic-lined rain garden at the 5-foot offset from the rear corner of the low point of the lot. A hydrology report was used to demonstrate post-development flows match pre-fire conditions, avoiding the need for an expensive stormwater sump pump. Site Photos Project Progress October 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns analyzed. Hydrology study initiated. Current Submittal Stage Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review in December 2025. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-ganesha-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-ganesha-avenue-1", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Multi-Unit Residential on Ganesha Avenue Altadena Multi-Unit Residential on Ganesha Avenue Drainage plans, hydrology report, and street plans for a multi-unit residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ) : ( )} ))} Current Phase Project Overview Multi-unit residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. This sideways lot has the entrance on the West side with topography sloping North to South. There is about a 6-foot drop North to South over a 75-foot run, creating enough slope to work with for gravity drainage. The structure is longer than a typical house, requiring careful consideration of how stormwater moves across the site. We used gravity drainage wherever possible with only minor interventions needed at the lowest points", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-ganesha-avenue-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-ganesha-avenue-1", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "Short walls on the North and South sides balance the building in the middle and provide just enough elevation to get gravity drainage from the rear to the front. A unique challenge was the driveway apron design, which required adjusting the flowline to work around a concrete slab acting like a little bridge over the street flowline. We created a flowline that blended into the apron at 1% minimum while maintaining standard curb and gutter crossslope. The drainage ultimately flows into a plastic-lined rain garden at the rear corner of the lot. A hydrology report demonstrates post-development flows match pre-fire conditions, avoiding the need for a stormwater sump pump. Site Photos Project Progress October 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-ganesha-avenue-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-ganesha-avenue-1", "title": "Widening Driveway Apron for an Altadena Fire Rebuild\",", "chunk": "Current Submittal Stage Drainage plans, hydrology report, and street plans submitted to LA County for review. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-las-flores-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "How Fire Rebuilds Are Changing Altadena Manufactured Home Lots\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Las Flores Drive Altadena Residential on Las Flores Drive Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 266-acre lot features two manufactured homes (ADUs) on a hillside property averaging 17% slope from front to rear. We set each finished floor 8\" above grade at the front edge of each structure, then brought flowlines around the sideyards to connect with existing property line elevations. The site sheet flows entirely by gravity to the rear without needing area drains", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-las-flores-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-las-flores-drive-1", "title": "How Fire Rebuilds Are Changing Altadena Manufactured Home Lots\",", "chunk": "The driveway ties into the existing apron at standard slope grades, eliminating the need for retaining walls. We removed most of the stepped walls that were previously dividing the site, creating a more flowing grade across the property. Project Progress February 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. March 2026 Submittal Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review. March 2026 Approved Drainage plans and hydrology report approved by LA County. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marathon-road-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marathon-road-1", "title": "altadena marathon road 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Marathon Road Altadena Residential on Marathon Road Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 1309-acre lot drops 10 feet from street to rear over 114 feet, requiring thoughtful grading to work with the natural slope. We used area drains at the front of the house and a trench drain in front of the attached garage, routing stormwater through gravity pipes into two separate plastic-lined rain gardens at the rear. Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) meant the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan, simplifying LA County approval", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marathon-road-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marathon-road-1", "title": "altadena marathon road 1", "chunk": "The hydrology report demonstrated that post-development stormwater flow would not exceed pre-fire conditions, eliminating the need for a sump pump. The rear deck required 11 steps to accommodate the slope, and the design maximized the sideyard setback at 5 feet on both sides to make the most of the available area while meeting code requirements. The new single-story residential ties into the existing driveway which leads to the attached garage. Site Photos Project Progress September 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns analyzed. Hydrology study initiated. November 2025 Submittal Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review. December 2025 Approved Plans approved by LA County. Project cleared for construction", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marathon-road-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marathon-road-1", "title": "altadena marathon road 1", "chunk": "Current Under Construction Construction has begun on the project. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marengo-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marengo-avenue-1", "title": "altadena marengo avenue 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Marengo Avenue Altadena Residential on Marengo Avenue Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 229-acre lot drains west to east with part of the rear lower than the rest of the property. The site includes a single-family house, a detached garage in the middle of the lot, and an ADU at the rear. A new driveway apron was shifted slightly north of the existing one, with the driveway sitting 2 feet higher than the grade around the house. Between the house and garage, the lot steps down to the rear sideyard which continues to a pool at the far rear", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marengo-avenue-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marengo-avenue-1", "title": "altadena marengo avenue 1", "chunk": "This project specifically requested a large underground tank to hold water in case of another fire. We sized a 1,325-gallon underground tank at the rear of the property to capture and store fire protection water. LA County required that overflow from the tank be handled for stormwater, so we installed a plastic-lined rain garden offset 5 feet from the property line at the lowest point of the lot to accept overflow when the tank reaches capacity. A combination of downspouts and trench drains throughout the property pipe into this underground tank. A short new wall was added between the driveway and house to address grade differences. Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) meant the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan, which simplified LA County approval", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-marengo-avenue-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-marengo-avenue-1", "title": "altadena marengo avenue 1", "chunk": "Site Photos Project Progress August 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. August 2025 Plans Submitted Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review. December 2025 Plans Approved Drainage plans and hydrology report approved. Ready for construction. Current Under Construction Construction has begun on the project. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1", "title": "First Altadena Like for Like into Plancheck\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Mount Curve Avenue Altadena Residential on Mount Curve Avenue Grading plan and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 247-acre lot holds a single-story house. This was our second Altadena fire rebuild project to be approved, and it marked an important learning moment: this was the first Altadena rebuild where we used a hydrology report to demonstrate that post-development stormwater would not exceed pre-fire conditions, allowing us to avoid specifying a stormwater sump pump", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1", "title": "First Altadena Like for Like into Plancheck\",", "chunk": "We slightly regraded the front yard using maximum 5:1 (20%) slopes to sheet flow as much stormwater as possible directly to the street. Downspouts along the front connect to pipes that exit under the patio to daylight, capturing the upper portion of the property and routing it to sheet flow toward the street. At the rear, downspouts pipe to the existing patio, and we regraded below the patio to daylight into the lower rear property. This approach allowed the existing patio to expand to about twice its original size. We kept the existing driveway apron but regraded it slightly higher to ensure positive drainage from the garage door to the street", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-mount-curve-avenue-1", "title": "First Altadena Like for Like into Plancheck\",", "chunk": "Keeping slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) meant the project qualified as a grading plan rather than a full grading plan, which streamlined the LA County approval process. Site Photos Project Progress July 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Like-for-like approach identified. Hydrology study initiated. Approved Plans Approved Grading plan and hydrology report approved by LA County. Current Under Construction Construction has begun on the project. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-olive-ave-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-olive-ave", "title": "Olive Ave Drainage Plan - Sideways Lot with 7% East to West Slope\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Olive Ave Altadena Residential on Olive Ave Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 1685-acre lot is a sideways lot with the entrance on the side street. The lot slopes from east to west at approximately 7% and from north to south with only about 2 feet of elevation change. The existing driveway apron remains, and the design minimizes cross drainage throughout the site. We regraded the existing driveway slightly to widen it, creating better transition for the new construction", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-olive-ave-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-olive-ave", "title": "Olive Ave Drainage Plan - Sideways Lot with 7% East to West Slope\",", "chunk": "The front of the house slopes 10 feet at 5% to a flowline that splits drainage to the North sideyard and South to the driveway. Neither sideyard requires retaining walls. The rear of the property slopes behind the garage at the Southwest corner. The entire site sheet flows by gravity through landscape areas to the low point of the lot. No sump pump or mechanical drainage systems required. Builder: Alto Builders Project Progress April 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. April 2026 Submittal Stage Drainage plans submitted to LA County for review. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-pine-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-pine-street-1", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Sheet Flow\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Pine Street Altadena Residential on Pine Street Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Site assessment completed with existing conditions documented and drainage patterns identified. Drainage plans and hydrology report developed to address how stormwater moves across the lot and where it needs to go. Project Progress February 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. March 2026 Submittal Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-pine-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-pine-street-1", "title": "Altadena Fire Rebuild Sheet Flow\",", "chunk": "April 2026 Approved Drainage plans and hydrology report approved by LA County. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-skywood-circle-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-skywood-circle-1", "title": "Changing Drainage Pattern to Remove Sump Pump in Altadena\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Skywood Circle Altadena Residential on Skywood Circle Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Site assessment completed with existing conditions documented and drainage patterns identified. Drainage plans and hydrology report developed to address how stormwater moves across the lot and where it needs to go. Project Progress February 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. Current Submittal Stage Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-skywood-circle-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-skywood-circle-1", "title": "Changing Drainage Pattern to Remove Sump Pump in Altadena\",", "chunk": "We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-1", "title": "altadena wapello 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Wapello Street Altadena Residential on Wapello Street Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Site assessment completed with existing conditions documented and drainage patterns identified. Drainage plans and hydrology report developed to address how stormwater moves across the lot and where it needs to go. Site Photos Project Progress February 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. Current Submittal Stage Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-1", "title": "altadena wapello 1", "chunk": "Upcoming Plans Approved Once approved, construction can begin on the project. Upcoming Construction Photos and updates to follow as work progresses. Related Blog Posts April 12, 2026 Driving Through Altadena After the Fire A personal look at what the Altadena community is dealing with after the January 2025 Eaton Fire. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-street-2-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-street-2", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Wapello Street Altadena Residential on Wapello Street Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Second project on this street. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Second project on Wapello Street. Site presented challenges with downslope conditions, an existing pool to work around, and a tight grade requirement that resulted in a retaining wall along the property line. Drainage plans and hydrology report currently in development. Project Progress April 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns analyzed", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-wapello-street-2-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-wapello-street-2", "title": "Driving Through Altadena After the Fire\",", "chunk": "Current Design Stage Drainage plans and hydrology report in development, preparing for LA County submittal. Design Process The design process involved analyzing the downslope existing conditions and developing a proposed drainage pattern that works with the tight 2% grade, resulting in a retaining wall along the property line and two plastic lined rain gardens for on-site storm water management. Related Blog Posts ))} First Wapello Street Project Residential on Wapello Street (First Project) View our first drainage plan project on Wapello Street. Different site conditions, different approach. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-harriet-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-harriet-street-1", "title": "altadena west harriet street 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on West Harriet Street Altadena Residential on West Harriet Street Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 123-acre lot slopes upwards 5 feet from the street, requiring careful drainage planning to manage stormwater runoff. Short walls on the rear of the property create a 5:1 (20%) slope with a flowline wrapping around the garage towards the middle of the lot. We maintained 5% slope 10 feet from the house to match into this flowline, which gets picked up in area drains", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-harriet-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-harriet-street-1", "title": "altadena west harriet street 1", "chunk": "The west sideyard sheet flows towards these area drains, which outlet to the front yard near the end of the existing gentle slope. The east driveway sheet flows directly to the street. The driveway apron remains in place, and the driveway itself gets slightly regraded to match into the existing property line elevations with no walls along the driveway. A hydrology report demonstrates post-development flows match pre-fire conditions. Site Photos Project Progress November 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. December 2025 Submittal Drainage plans submitted to LA County for review. Current Under Construction Construction underway following LA County approval. Need similar services", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-harriet-street-1-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-harriet-street-1", "title": "altadena west harriet street 1", "chunk": "We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-mariposa-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-mariposa-street-1", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on West Mariposa Street Altadena Residential on West Mariposa Street Drainage plans for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. Site assessment completed with existing conditions documented and drainage patterns identified. Drainage plans in development to address how stormwater moves across the lot and where it needs to go. Project Progress April 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. April 2026 Drainage Plans in Development Drainage plans being prepared. April 2026 Completed Plans Drainage plans completed and delivered", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-mariposa-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-mariposa-street-1", "title": "W Mariposa Drainage Plan - From Existing Conditions to Final Design\",", "chunk": "April 2026 Under Construction Project in progress. Site Photos Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-palm-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-palm-street-1", "title": "altadena west palm street 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on West Palm Street Altadena Residential on West Palm Street Drainage plans and hydrology report for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Eaton Fire. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Single-family residential fire rebuild in Altadena following the Eaton Fire. 1745-acre lot slopes 7 feet down from street to rear over 142 feet, requiring careful drainage planning. We used sheet flow across the lot surface instead of gravity drain pipes, directing stormwater into plastic-lined rain gardens at the rear of the property. The driveway design tied into existing property line elevations, eliminating the need for retaining walls", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "altadena-west-palm-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/altadena-west-palm-street-1", "title": "altadena west palm street 1", "chunk": "An ADU at the rear required additional drainage consideration to ensure proper stormwater management for the entire site. Keeping all slopes at or under 5:1 (20%) simplified the LA County approval process since the project qualified as a drainage plan rather than a full grading plan. Site Photos Project Progress January 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Drainage patterns identified. January 2026 Submittal Drainage plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County for review. April 2026 Approved Drainage plans and hydrology report approved by LA County. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive", "title": "beverly hills alto cedro drive", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Alto Cedro Drive Beverly Hills Alto Cedro Drive Grading plans, stormwater sump pump, and LID design for a Beverly Hills residential remodel. Location Services ))} Project Type Residential Remodel Project Overview Alto Cedro Drive in Beverly Hills. This project was a residential remodel where the main civil engineering scope involved designing a permeable paver motorcourt, retaining wall layout, and drainage for new impervious surfaces. The rear of the property required a stormwater sump pump system. Roof downspouts in the rear were piped into the pump which outlets to a catch basin inside the property. From there, water gravity flows to the municipal storm drain system", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/beverly-hills-alto-cedro-drive", "title": "beverly hills alto cedro drive", "chunk": "The front of the property features planter boxes and a permeable paver motorcourt that handles stormwater on-site. The overall result is a stunning front elevation that integrates the civil engineering drainage with the architectural design. The project has since been built and is now complete. Meyer, AIA View Architect Site Photos Need similar services. We work on residential projects throughout Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and the South Bay. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "canon-blvd-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/canon-blvd", "title": "Canon Boulevard Steep Hillside Grading Plan\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Canon Boulevard Altadena Canon Boulevard Steep Hillside Grading Grading plan for a 1. 46-acre steep hillside lot near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. Location Altadena Services ))} Current Phase Grading Plan Project Overview We took over this grading plan from another civil engineer. The goal was to redesign the grading and drainage to be as cost-effective as possible while meeting LA County requirements. 46-acre lot near the base of the San Gabriel Mountains with steep topography that required careful analysis. The existing site had a lot of concrete around it. Some of this the new project could connect into, but other areas needed to be removed and regraded. The original drainage pattern used the driveway to sheet flow stormwater to the street", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "canon-blvd-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/canon-blvd", "title": "Canon Boulevard Steep Hillside Grading Plan\",", "chunk": "Our approach was to maintain this pattern where possible and use the existing concrete to our advantage. The hillside on the north side is complex. To keep things simple, we placed new retaining walls with 2-foot wide swales to collect drainage coming down from the upper mountain. These swales drain into catch basins that connect by pipe to the deck, where area drains collect everything. From there, water gravity-flows down to the front. We tried to minimize piping as much as possible. On the south side, we extended the existing house footprint slightly to create a walkway with sheet flow down to the driveway, matching the pre-fire drainage pattern exactly. Builder: ROAM Design + Builders Site Photos Project Progress March 2026 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "canon-blvd-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/canon-blvd", "title": "Canon Boulevard Steep Hillside Grading Plan\",", "chunk": "Took over project from previous engineer. April 2026 Submittal Grading plans and hydrology report submitted to LA County. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "chevy-chase-country-club-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/chevy-chase-country-club", "title": "chevy chase country club", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Chevy Chase Country Club Glendale Chevy Chase Country Club Grading plans, drainage plans and hydrology report for a commercial site development. Location Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Commercial site development for Chevy Chase Country Club in Glendale. Initial assessment completed August 2014 with site conditions documented and drainage patterns analyzed. The project required comprehensive grading plans and hydrology report to address stormwater management across the larger commercial footprint. Grading plans and drainage plans were developed to manage stormwater effectively across the site while meeting Glendale municipal requirements. The project was approved and construction completed in August 2017", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "chevy-chase-country-club-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/chevy-chase-country-club", "title": "chevy chase country club", "chunk": "Construction Photos Project Progress August 2014 Initial Assessment Site conditions documented. Drainage patterns analyzed. Hydrology study initiated. August 2017 Built Construction completed. Need similar services. We are currently accepting new commercial and residential projects in Los Angeles County for civil engineering and grading plans", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue", "title": "costa mesa red hill avenue", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Ferrari of Newport Beach Service Center Costa Mesa Red Hill Avenue Grading plan for Ferrari and Maserati of Newport Beach commercial dealership. Location Services ))} Project Type Commercial Dealership Project Overview Ferrari and Maserati of Newport Beach on Red Hill Avenue in Costa Mesa. This commercial dealership project required precise grading to accommodate exotic luxury vehicles with very low ground clearance. The rear of the property had a driveway with a steep slope and minor grade breaks. Since exotic cars with low ride height would be driving on this lot, the grading was designed to eliminate any scraping points. We flattened out the rear parking area and blended it smoothly through the grade breaks", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/costa-mesa-red-hill-avenue", "title": "costa mesa red hill avenue", "chunk": "Approximately 53 linear feet of existing swale was removed and regraded to sheet flow. This flattened the lot enough that a flatbed-towed car could be driven off and then driven around the entire parking lot without scraping, regardless of how lowered the vehicle was. At the front of the property where cars enter the garage, we added four ADA parking spots. The existing swale in that area was removed and the grade was flattened to create a more usable parking lot configuration. We also installed an ADA pathway connecting to the corner right-of-way sidewalk. The project is now complete. Site Photos Need similar services. We work on commercial projects throughout Orange County, Los Angeles, and Southern California. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hermosa-beach-18th-street-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/hermosa-beach-18th-street", "title": "hermosa beach 18th street", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / 18th Street Hermosa Beach 18th Street C-Sheet (grading plan), LID, and stormwater sump pump design for a Hermosa Beach 3-story single-family residence. Location Services ))} Project Type 3-Story Residential Project Overview 18th Street in Hermosa Beach. This project is a 3-story single-family residence on a walk street with alley rear access. The lot configuration required careful civil engineering to handle the grade changes between front and rear. The front of the property fronts a walk street while the rear opens to an alley. The site steps down from front to rear, then steps back up to meet the alley grade in the middle of the lot. This required a coordinated approach between the architectural design and civil engineering to manage the transitions", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hermosa-beach-18th-street-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/hermosa-beach-18th-street", "title": "hermosa beach 18th street", "chunk": "The C-Sheet (Hermosa Beach style grading and drainage plan) included right-of-way work directly on the plan sheet. This is typical for Hermosa Beach projects where the city requires drainage and right-of-way improvements shown on a single plan sheet rather than separate documents. The LID design includes underground rain tanks in the front yard that collect roof drainage. A stormwater sump pump system pumps the collected water from the rain tanks to the alley storm drain system since gravity drainage was not possible. The project has since been built and is now complete. Meyer, AIA View Architect Site Photos Need similar services. We work on residential projects throughout Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, and the South Bay. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "los-angeles-devlin-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/los-angeles-devlin-drive-1", "title": "los angeles devlin drive 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Devlin Drive Los Angeles Devlin Drive Grading and LID design for hillside residence above the Sunset Strip. Location Los Angeles Services ))} Status Project Overview This Los Angeles project on Devlin Drive above the Sunset Strip involved a steep hillside property. The work included a new driveway apron and widening the existing driveway to improve access. Some existing walls were removed to accommodate the new driveway configuration while the main house remained. A 2-story addition was built onto the existing structure, creating additional living space that stepped with the natural slope of the lot. The pool deck was flattened while keeping the existing pool, and a new cabana was added near the pool area", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "los-angeles-devlin-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/los-angeles-devlin-drive-1", "title": "los angeles devlin drive 1", "chunk": "For Low Impact Development , all additions and hardscape were piped to a plastic-lined rain garden that outlets to the street curbface. The rain garden was sized to handle approximately 2,500 square feet of proposed impervious area. Permeable paving was used for portions of the driveway to further reduce runoff and meet LA City LID requirements. This project was featured in Dwell Magazine as \"A Serene Sanctuary Above the Sunset Strip. \" Featured In Dwell Magazine \"A Serene Sanctuary Above the Sunset Strip\" View Feature Site Photos Need similar services. We work on hillside properties throughout Los Angeles. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades", "title": "marquez terrace pacific palisades", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Marquez Terrace Pacific Palisades Marquez Terrace Residence Grading plans, LID report, and excavation plans for a 2-story residence with basement. Existing pool remained with new pool deck. LID drainage to lined rain garden. Location Pacific Palisades Services ))} Project Type Residential Remodel Project Overview Marquez Terrace in Pacific Palisades. This 2-story single-family residence with basement involved a remodel where the driveway apron and driveway remained, and the existing pool in the rear was kept. A new pool deck was added around the pool. A new retaining wall in the rear allowed the pool deck to extend further into the rear yard. We had to be aware of an existing easement in that area and kept the proposed drains out of that zone", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/marquez-terrace-pacific-palisades", "title": "marquez terrace pacific palisades", "chunk": "The LID drainage design routed downspouts and pipes to a plastic lined rain garden that was designed to look like a raised planter box. The rain garden overflowed through a pipe that ran under the sidewalk and out through the curb face on the street side. A small portion on the other side of the lot was piped to the opposite side of the front curb face. Grading plans, LID report, and excavation plans were completed for the project. The residence has since been built and, based on recent Google satellite imagery, appears to have survived the Palisades Fire. Project Photos Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Pacific Palisades , Altadena , and Malibu for residential and fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive\",", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Chapala Drive Pacific Palisades Residential on Chapala Drive Grading plans, excavation plans, erosion control, and stormwater sump pump design for a single-family residential fire rebuild following the Palisades Fire. Location Pacific Palisades Services ))} Current Phase Project Overview Fire rebuild on Chapala Drive in Pacific Palisades. This corner lot had only 2 feet of drop from rear to front, which created a challenge when basement lightwells and a sunken pool cover needed to sit below the street flowline grade. The basement lightwells and pool cover required a stormwater sump pump since they cannot gravity drain", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/pacific-palisades-chapala-drive-1", "title": "Pacific Palisades Fire Rebuild: Basement, Pool, and Sump Pump on Chapala Drive\",", "chunk": "The rest of the site drains by gravity through downspouts, underground pipes, and a catch basin on the southeast side that flows out to the curb on Chapala Drive. Grading plans, excavation plans, erosion control plans, and sump pump design developed for the non-like-for-like rebuild. First plan check took 6 months due to LA City review of pre-fire to post-fire drainage changes. Project Progress November 2025 Initial Assessment Existing conditions documented. Grading requirements identified. Current Submittal Stage Grading plans, excavation plans, and erosion control submitted to LADBS for review. Related Blog Posts ))} Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Altadena , Pacific Palisades , and Malibu for fire rebuild engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1", "title": "redondo beach sapphire street 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Sapphire Street Redondo Beach Sapphire Street Grading plan and stormwater sump pump for coastal residence. Location Redondo Beach Services ))} Status Project Overview This Redondo Beach project involved a new garage and proposed addition to an existing residence. The existing driveway apron and driveway remained in place, minimizing site disturbance and preserving the existing access. A new rear yard deck was added as part of the project, requiring coordination between the structural design and the civil engineering for proper drainage away from the new structure. Due to the coastal conditions and high water table in Redondo Beach, a stormwater sump pump system was required", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-sapphire-street-1", "title": "redondo beach sapphire street 1", "chunk": "All water from the basement level was collected into the sump pump and outletted to a catch basin on the property line. From there, water gravity flows through the curbface to the street storm drain system. Meyer, AIA View Architect Site Photos Need similar services. We work on coastal properties throughout the South Bay. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue", "title": "redondo beach st lucia avenue", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / St Lucia Avenue Redondo Beach St Lucia Avenue Grading plans, hydrology report, and stormwater sump pump design for two connected 2-story container homes on a sloped lot. Location Services ))} Project Type Residential Remodel Project Overview St Lucia Avenue in Redondo Beach. This project involved two 2-story single-family residences made of shipping containers, connected by a bridge structure at the upper levels. A driveway runs underneath the bridge providing access to garages on either side of the property. The lot slopes from street to rear, requiring a stormwater sump pump system to pump rear drainage up to street level since gravity drainage was not possible. A hydrology report was completed to demonstrate pre and post-development drainage patterns", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/redondo-beach-st-lucia-avenue", "title": "redondo beach st lucia avenue", "chunk": "The existing power pole was relocated out of the proposed driveway apron, the old driveway apron was closed off, and a new sidewalk was built with the water meter adjusted to proposed grade. All site improvements were designed to meet Redondo Beach and LA County standards. The project has since been built and is now complete. Project Photos Need similar services. We are currently accepting new projects in Redondo Beach , Los Angeles, and throughout Southern California for residential and commercial engineering", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1", "title": "sherman oaks alomar drive 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Alomar Drive Sherman Oaks Alomar Drive Grading, excavation, and LID design for hillside residence. Location Sherman Oaks Services ))} Status Project Overview This Sherman Oaks project involved slight excavation for additional structures at the rear of the lot, including a deck and rec room. The new construction tied into the existing grade while creating usable outdoor space on the hillside. The front yard was regraded to match into both the rear yard and the front structures, ensuring proper drainage and a smooth transition between existing and proposed grades. A new driveway apron was constructed on the northwest corner of the lot to serve the proposed garage. Low Impact Development features include an impermeable lined rain garden to manage stormwater on-site", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/sherman-oaks-alomar-drive-1", "title": "sherman oaks alomar drive 1", "chunk": "All drainage was collected and routed to the street, meeting LA City LADBS requirements. Site Photos Need similar services. We work on hillside properties throughout Sherman Oaks and the San Fernando Valley. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "silver-lake-redcliff-street-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/silver-lake-redcliff-street-1", "title": "silver lake redcliff street 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Residential on Redcliff Street Silver Lake Residential on Redcliff Street Grading plans and stormwater management for steep hillside residence. Location Silver Lake Services ))} Status Project Overview New driveway entrance on steep hillside using a single retaining wall and curb daylight on the street side. The design maintained 2:1 maximum slopes on the street up to the driveway, and another 2:1 slope from the retaining wall up to the existing pool area. The entire front yard received new 2:1 cut slope grading with a new front entrance staircase from the street level leading up to the main house entrance. The existing residence was to remain and was later remodeled", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "silver-lake-redcliff-street-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/silver-lake-redcliff-street-1", "title": "silver lake redcliff street 1", "chunk": "A new driveway leads to a carport in the rear of the property with rain barrels providing low impact development for stormwater management. The entire site was collected into downspouts and area drains, all piped to the street. Site Photos Need similar services. We work on steep hillside properties throughout Silver Lake and Los Angeles. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1", "title": "south pasadena orange grove place 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Orange Grove Place Orange Grove Place Grading, drainage, and LID design for 2-unit residential on sloped lot. Location South Pasadena Services ))} Status Project Overview This South Pasadena project involved two residential units on a lot that slopes approximately 2% down from the rear to the street. The design utilized planter boxes for Low Impact Development stormwater management. Water collects in the lined planter boxes, sits for 48 hours to allow settling, then drains to the street rather than running off immediately. The site layout features covered trellis parking in the center with additional parking in the rear", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/south-pasadena-orange-grove-place-1", "title": "south pasadena orange grove place 1", "chunk": "All drainage is collected through a series of catch basins that route water through pipes leading to the front of the property, where it outlets under the sidewalk to the curbface. The existing driveway apron was kept in place, minimizing curb cuts and keeping with city requirements. The permeable paving areas further reduce runoff by allowing water to soak through the surface rather than running off. Site Photos Need similar services. We work on residential projects throughout South Pasadena. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "studio-city-wrightwood-court-1-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/studio-city-wrightwood-court-1", "title": "studio city wrightwood court 1", "chunk": "Home / Portfolio / Wrightwood Court Studio City Wrightwood Court Grading and LID design for new 2-story residence with pool and stormwater management. Location Studio City Services ))} Status Project Overview This Studio City project involved a new 2-story single-family residence with a pool in the rear. The existing driveway apron and driveway were kept in place, minimizing site disturbance and curb cuts. For Low Impact Development, rain tanks were installed at the rear of the house connected to downspouts to capture roof runoff. At the front, two plastic-lined rain gardens collect water from the front roof downspouts. The rain gardens are sized based on the contributing roof area and are integrated into the drainage system", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "studio-city-wrightwood-court-1-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio/studio-city-wrightwood-court-1", "title": "studio city wrightwood court 1", "chunk": "All drainage from the pool deck, house, and sideyards flows through pipes to a catch basin that exits under the sidewalk through the curbface to the street. The permeable paving in the driveway area further reduces runoff by allowing water to infiltrate rather than running off. Site Photos Need similar services. We work on residential projects throughout Studio City and the San Fernando Valley. Contact us to discuss your project", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "portfolio-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/portfolio", "title": "portfolio", "chunk": "Our Portfolio Since the January 2025 fires, we've been focused on helping Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu rebuild. Our portfolio showcases + fire rebuild, residential, and commercial engineering projects across Los Angeles", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "privacy-policy-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/privacy-policy", "title": "privacy policy", "chunk": "Privacy Policy Last updated: April 9, 2026 Information We Collect When you contact us through our website, we collect information you provide directly, including: Name Email address Phone number Message content How We Use Your Information We use the information we collect to: Respond to your inquiries Provide engineering services Send you relevant updates about your project Contact Form Our contact form uses a spam protection honeypot field. Any submissions with this field filled out are automatically rejected. Data Sharing We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personally identifiable information to outside parties. Contact For any questions regarding this privacy policy, contact us at: B+W Engineering and Design 1422 Merriman Drive Glendale, CA 91202 Email: info@bwengr", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "privacy-policy-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/privacy-policy", "title": "privacy policy", "chunk": "com Phone: 323-739-3913", "type": "page", "tags": [] }, { "id": "drainage-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/drainage-plans", "title": "drainage plans", "chunk": "Drainage Plans for Los Angeles Properties When you're rebuilding on a slope, water goes where you tell it to go. We design the drainage. Why drainage matters after a fire After the Eaton Fire burned through Altadena, the hillsides changed. Without vegetation holding the soil together, rainwater that used to soak into the ground now runs off faster. That runoff has to go somewhere. We see it every day working with homeowners in Altadena and Pacific Palisades. The city wants to see a drainage plan for any project that changes how water moves across the property. A good drainage plan channels water away from your foundation, controls runoff, and keeps everyone happy. It shows the city you've thought about what happens when it rains. We design systems that work with your property", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "drainage-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/drainage-plans", "title": "drainage plans", "chunk": "Swales, drains, and proper slopes all tie together. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. Los Angeles County requires a drainage plan when you modify more than 500 square feet of impermeable surface or change how water flows across your property. Most Altadena fire rebuilds need one because hillside terrain channels water faster after a fire. We typically complete drainage plans in 1-2 weeks, and Altadena fire rebuilds can be even faster", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "drainage-plans-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/drainage-plans", "title": "drainage plans", "chunk": "What goes into a drainage plan Analysis of existing site drainage patterns Proposed drainage improvements and structures Calculations for water flow rates Connection points to city storm drain systems LID compliance for stormwater management Cut and fill calculations Post-construction maintenance notes Example Projects Alta Crest Drive Fire rebuild drainage with dual rain gardens Sapphire Street Coastal property with sump pump system Alomar Drive Hillside residence with rain garden Ready to talk about your project. Whether you're breaking ground on a new build or rebuilding after a fire, we can help with your drainage plan", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "erosion-control-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/erosion-control-plans", "title": "erosion control plans", "chunk": "Erosion Control Plans for Los Angeles LA City wants to see how you are keeping dirt on your property during construction. When you need an erosion control plan Erosion control plans come up most often with LA City projects, particularly in hillside areas like Pacific Palisades. After the fires, the city has been paying close attention to hillside construction because without vegetation holding the soil together, rain can send dirt flowing onto streets and neighboring properties. The city wants to see temporary control measures in place before, during, and after construction. If you are building on a slope, you need to show how you are keeping soil contained. The city takes this seriously because eroded soil ends up in storm drains, which leads to the ocean", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "erosion-control-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/erosion-control-plans", "title": "erosion control plans", "chunk": "Pacific Palisades especially, with its proximity to the coast and fire-affected hillsides, gets extra scrutiny. What goes into an erosion control plan Silt fence and straw wattle placement at property lines Temporary seeding and mulching on exposed areas Dust control measures Construction entrance stabilization Runoff diversion away from sloped areas Schedule for installation and removal Example Projects East Las Flores Drive Corner lot with erosion control Chapala Drive Erosion control for fire rebuild Ready to talk about your project. If your LA City project needs an erosion control plan, we can help you put one together", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "excavation-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/excavation-plans", "title": "excavation plans", "chunk": "Excavation Plans for Los Angeles When you are going down instead of out, we show you how to get there. What an excavation plan shows An excavation plan shows how you are cutting into the site. This comes up when you are building a basement, underground parking, or any structure that goes below grade. We show the temporary cuts, shoring, and what the site looks like in cross-section. The plan includes vertical cuts or sloped excavations depending on what the soil engineer requires. We underlay the structural engineer's shoring plan to show how everything fits together. Temporary driveways for construction access are also shown. Los Angeles hillside areas often require these because sites are constrained and you have to go down to get the square footage", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "excavation-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/excavation-plans", "title": "excavation plans", "chunk": "What goes into an excavation plan Two sections through the excavation showing existing and proposed grades Horizontal 1:1 slopes or vertical cuts per soil engineer Structural engineer's shoring outline underlaid Temporary construction driveway location Earthwork calculations for cut and fill volumes Proposed building line and foundations Example Projects Chapala Drive Excavation plan for basement and pool Alomar Drive Excavation for rear deck and rec room Ready to talk about your project. If your project needs an excavation plan, we can help you put one together", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "grading-plans-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/grading-plans", "title": "grading plans", "chunk": "Grading Plans for Los Angeles Properties Every project starts with understanding the land. We figure out how your land slopes, where water goes, and what needs to move. Not sure if you need a civil engineer or who to hire for a grading plan. We wrote about who produces grading plans and when you need one. What a grading plan does A grading plan shows the existing topography and your proposed changes. It tells the city how you're going to shape the land, where you're going to put structures, and how water is going to move across the property. In Los Angeles, the city wants to see a grading plan for almost any significant construction project. It helps them understand how your project fits with the neighborhood and whether you're handling water correctly", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "grading-plans-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/grading-plans", "title": "grading plans", "chunk": "For hillside properties in Los Angeles, the grading plan becomes even more important. Hillside cities like Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu want to make sure you're decreasing cross flow runoff and that your slopes are stable. We work with your architect to make sure the grading plan matches your project. Sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. A grading plan is required by LA County when moving over 500 cubic yards of earth, working in a hillside area, or excavating for a basement. In hillside areas like Altadena and Pacific Palisades, the plan also shows slope ratios and how you're keeping water from affecting neighbors. We typically complete grading plans in 1-2 weeks", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "grading-plans-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/grading-plans", "title": "grading plans", "chunk": "What goes into a grading plan Existing and proposed contours Property line dimensions and setbacks Building pad elevations Curb, gutter, and sidewalk improvements Storm drain connections and drainage patterns Cut and fill calculations Example Projects Orange Grove Place Sloped lot with LID design Redcliff Street Steep hillside with retaining walls Devlin Drive Hillside residence with pool deck Ready to talk about your project. Whether you're building on a flat lot or working with a hillside, we can help with your grading plan", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hillside-grading-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/hillside-grading", "title": "hillside grading", "chunk": "Hillside Grading for Los Angeles When your lot slopes toward your views, we figure out how to build on it. What hillside grading is Hillside grading is different from flat land grading. On a sloped lot, you have to think about where water goes, how you access the property, and what walls you need to create usable flat areas. Los Angeles hillside areas like Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu have terrain that requires special attention. We specialize in hillside grading. We design for steep terrain where standard slopes do not work. This means thinking about 2:1 slopes, retaining wall layouts, and driveway grades that work with the topography instead of against it. The city has requirements for hillside construction. Retaining walls, slope stability, and drainage all need to be addressed", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hillside-grading-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/hillside-grading", "title": "hillside grading", "chunk": "We have experience with these requirements and know what the plan checkers want to see. What goes into a hillside grading plan 2:1 slope design per soil engineer requirements Retaining wall locations and heights Driveway grades that work for the terrain Views and how the building fits the land Drainage patterns across sloped areas Cut and fill calculations Example Projects Redcliff Street Steep hillside with 2:1 slopes Devlin Drive Hillside above Sunset Strip Canon Boulevard Steep 1. 46-acre hillside lot Ready to talk about your project. If you have a hillside lot, give us a call. We can look at your site and figure out what grading approach makes sense", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hydrology-reports-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/hydrology-reports", "title": "hydrology reports", "chunk": "Hydrology Reports for Los Angeles When the city wants to see how your project changes water flow, we write the report that shows it. What a hydrology report shows A hydrology report answers one question: what happens to stormwater when you build on this site. The city wants to know that your project does not make drainage problems worse downstream. We analyze the site drainage patterns before and after construction. Where does water enter the property, where does it go, and how fast. We break the site into drainage areas and calculate how each one contributes to overall flow. The report includes pre-development Q flowrates and post-development Q flowrates. If post-development is higher, we recommend mitigation measures like LID systems or detention basins to bring it back down", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hydrology-reports-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/hydrology-reports", "title": "hydrology reports", "chunk": "We also show where water drains to. Sometimes it goes to the street, sometimes to a storm drain, sometimes to a neighboring property. Understanding the outfall is critical to designing the right solution. A hydrology report compares how water flows across your property before and after construction. LA County requires this for most hillside projects to prove you're not sending more water to neighboring properties. Post-development flow cannot exceed pre-fire conditions on most Altadena lots", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "hydrology-reports-2", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/hydrology-reports", "title": "hydrology reports", "chunk": "What goes into a hydrology report Pre-development drainage pattern description Post-development drainage pattern description Drainage area delineation with calculations Pre and post Q50 flowrate calculations Pre and post hydrology maps with drainage patterns Mitigation recommendations if needed Example Projects East Poppyfields Drive Sheet flow design eliminates need for sump pump Marathon Road Drainage plan with no sump pump required Sapphire Street Coastal property with sump pump design Ready to talk about your project. If your project needs a hydrology report, we can help you put it together", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "low-impact-development-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/low-impact-development", "title": "low impact development", "chunk": "Low Impact Development Plans for Los Angeles Managing stormwater is part of most new construction projects in Los Angeles. We design the plans that show how your project handles it. When your project needs LID The rules around when LID applies are not always clear cut. It depends on your permit type, project scope, and other factors that come up during the plan check process. It also depends on the city. City of Los Angeles adopted the LID Ordinance in 2011. For many new construction and significant remodels, you'll need to show how you're handling stormwater. The specifics depend on your situation. We see it come up often with larger projects or when the city flags it during review. If your project triggers it, we can put together a plan that works for your property", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "low-impact-development-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/low-impact-development", "title": "low impact development", "chunk": "Our approach is to design systems that capture rainwater, allow it to soak into the ground, or slow it down before it leaves your property. This could be through bioretention areas, permeable surfaces, or rain collection systems. What goes into an LID plan Site analysis of existing drainage patterns Proposed LID best management practices Bioretention area design and sizing Impervious surface area calculations Stormwater capture and infiltration details Maintenance requirements for LID systems Example Projects Orange Grove Place LID planter boxes and permeable paving Alomar Drive Impermeable lined rain garden Wrightwood Court Rain tanks and rain gardens Ready to talk about your project. Whether you're working on a new build or a significant remodel, we can help with your LID plan", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sump-pump-design-0", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/sump-pump-design", "title": "sump pump design", "chunk": "Sump Pump Design for Los Angeles When gravity cant do the work, we design the pump system that moves water away from your property. When you need a sump pump Most of the time, water drains downhill on its own. But there are situations where that does not work. A sump is a low point where water collects and has nowhere to go. When the street downstream is higher than your property, or when your basement or parking area sits below the surrounding drainage paths, you need a pump to move the water out. This comes up often with properties that have subterranean parking, below-grade basements, or sites that sit in natural drainage pockets. The city will want to see a pump system that can handle the water safely. We design duplex pump systems with enough capacity to handle what the site collects", "type": "service", "tags": [] }, { "id": "sump-pump-design-1", "url": "https://bwengr.com/services/sump-pump-design", "title": "sump pump design", "chunk": "The pump activates as water levels rise, keeping everything moving even if one pump is off for maintenance. What goes into a sump pump design Hydrology study to determine water volume Duplex pump system Sump basin sizing and inlet design Discharge line to point of outlet Pump specifications and performance data Control panel and high water level indicators Example Projects Sapphire Street Coastal property with high water table Chapala Drive Basement lightwells below street grade Ready to talk about your project. If your property has drainage challenges that need a pump system, we can help you through the design and plan check process", "type": "service", "tags": [] } ] }