San Fernando Valley Hillsides
Hillside streets in Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana and Studio City mix septic systems, steep lots and drainage problems. We inspect and repair septic, fix drainage and hardscape that holds water, and drill caissons for additions, pools and rebuilds. Our crews self-perform the work, from excavation to concrete.
Communities we cover
Woodland Hills, Encino, Tarzana, Studio City, Chatsworth
Local permits and agency rules
- These neighborhoods are in the City of Los Angeles. Building permits go through LADBS, street work through the Bureau of Engineering, and water and power through LADWP.
- Chatsworth and the West Valley hills include lots near the City's edge, so we confirm the jurisdiction on each address before permits.
Site conditions here
- Some hillside homes, especially in the West Valley hills, are still on septic, often with seepage pits that slow down over time.
- Yards that are flat or sloped toward the house hold water after storms, which is where most drainage calls come from.
- Pools and additions on slopes often need caissons drilled before the shell or footings go in.
Services we do here
Questions we hear in this area
What does a septic certification inspection include?
A certification means opening the whole system: both tank compartments, the distribution box and every seepage pit or leach line. Running a camera or pumping the tank is not a certification. If the lids are buried, our crew locates and exposes them on time and material, and you pay only for the time used.
Can my septic system support an ADU or an addition?
That takes a County OWTS evaluation, which goes further than a basic septic inspection. The County looks at whether the system can carry the added use and may ask for a future expansion area. Start the evaluation before you commit to the ADU design, so the septic answer shapes the plans.
Can you give me a total before you start digging?
When the work depends on what is underground, we bill on time and material, because nobody knows the conditions until the ground is open. We can give you a typical range in writing. If you need a ceiling, we agree an authorized amount and stop for your approval before we reach it.
Why does new concrete look uneven in color?
New concrete often looks uneven from one pour to the next. Weather, sand, the mix and curing all affect the color while the concrete is young. The difference usually evens out as the concrete cures. Hairline cracks are controlled by the saw-cut joints, which decide where the concrete cracks as it shrinks.
Response time from our Los Angeles office
On business days, we respond to calls and requests the same day, and no later than the next business day.
Rooted in Los Angeles, on purpose
J.F. Prieto Engineering Construction was founded in Los Angeles, and our office, shop and yard are on Alhambra Avenue, close to the heart of Los Angeles. We chose that spot for a reason. The 5, 10, 110 and 710 freeways are minutes from the yard, so our crews can reach almost any part of the region by more than one route. Most mornings, rush-hour traffic is heading into the city while our trucks are heading out, so crews and equipment get to your site on schedule.
Start with septic inspection and repair, drainage and sump pumps and caissons. For wet walls, see waterproofing and drainage.
Working in this area?
Send us the details and we will follow up with next steps, or call us directly.