New Construction on Your Burbank Lot
New house construction in Burbank that starts at the sewer: we measure the lateral's depth and fall before design, then plan floors and drains to suit.
The first thing we measure on a Burbank lot is the depth of the sewer connection. A camera goes down the old lateral to the main, and a survey shot records how deep the pipe sits where it leaves the property. Drains need steady fall all the way out, so that one figure decides how low the lowest toilet, shower or floor drain in the new house can sit, and whether a pump is needed at all.
Reading the lateral
On the video we can see what the pipe is made of, where roots have pushed in, which joints have shifted, and the point where the line ties into the main. An old clay lateral with cracks is replaced at least to the property line, and the city may want a new cleanout near the sidewalk. We record the depth at the cleanout and at the house end, then compare it with the planned floor height. Drain pipe needs about 1/4 inch of drop for each foot of run, so a house set far back from the street uses up depth quickly.
When the numbers come up short
If the lateral sits too shallow for a fixture on a lower level, there are a few answers. The floor can be raised, which may press against the height limit, or the low fixtures can move. A sewage ejector pump is the last option, since it adds a sump, a sealed lid, power and upkeep. Burbank's building division reviews the plumbing layout with the rest of the plans, and the public works side may permit the connection at the street. We settle the approach before your designer fixes the floor plan, so the drawings carry an answer that works.
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New Construction in Burbank: questions
We start with the survey, the soils report and the sewer depth, because each one limits the design. The survey sets boundaries and setbacks, the soils report tells the engineer what the footings must do, and the sewer depth fixes how low drains can go. Zoning and utility locations round out the picture before drawings begin.
Pricing follows the work in order. A first agreement covers design coordination, engineering and the permit set. When the city approves those drawings, construction is priced in stages, from grading and foundation to final finishes, each listed with what it includes. Allowances for fixtures and finishes are named, so you know which numbers depend on your choices.
Our office handles it. The surveyor, soils engineer and structural engineer can work for you directly or through us, and in both cases we schedule them, check that their reports agree, and send the results to your designer. Questions from Burbank plan check reach us first, and we route each one to the consultant who has to answer it.
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