Beckmann Engineering: Expert Home Structural Design, Repair and Construction

Beckmann Engineering and Design and Beckmann Construction Inc. have served the greater Bay Area since 1989, performing projects both in the private and government sector. We are located in Novato, California, about 40 minutes north of San Francisco.

Beckmann Engineering and Design assists its clients with civil and structural engineering design, as well as architectural design. We strive to streamline the planning and permitting process, while taking into account the detailed wishes of the client, and the ever-growing list of demands placed on a project by the building codes and local building departments.

Beckmann Construction Inc. holds both General Engineering (A) and General Building (B) Contractor licenses. We engage in all manner of construction related services, ranging from simple maintenance to new construction. We are often retained for projects which are especially challenging or which require expertise within multiple trades.

Many of our clients draw upon our Design/ Build capabilities. We have a history of successful projects where factors such as cost, completion time, and final quality were greatly enhanced by using the Design/Build model. We have also benefited from the experience of building projects designed by others, and designing projects to later be built by others.

Many of our construction projects start at the foundation or ground level. Our tight access excavation and drilling machines combined with our various size dump trucks bring efficiency to a variety of sites. Our past heavy construction experience in tunneling makes us feel right at home "in the dirt”.

It is not unusual for us to continue with framing, plumbing, electrical, and finish work to complete a project. Please see our "Letters of Reference" page detailing the experiences of past clients.

Engineering & Design Services

Beckmann Engineering and Design (owned and operated by Karl Beckmann, PE) provides the following services:

All Manner of Structural Design (including, but not limited to):
- Wood Framing and Timber Design
- Reinforced Concrete Design
- Steel Design
- Retaining Wall Design
- Foundation Design
- Hillside and Slide Stabilization
- Stream Embankment Stabilization
As-built drawings (Architectural and Structural)
Seismic Retrofit
Utility Layout
Drainage System Layout
Heavy Construction Shoring Design
Tunnel and Vault Design
Inspections and Reports
Expert Witness Services
Design/Build Projects

Challenging and Unusual Projects Welcome!

Construction Services

Beckmann Construction Inc.(owned and operated by Karl Beckmann, California General Engineering and Building Contractor, License #1045009) has proficiency in all general construction trades with particular in-depth experience in the following areas:

Retaining Walls (see photos)
Drainage and Waterproofing Systems
Seismic Retrofit
Foundation Repair and Replacement, New Foundation (see photos)
Structural Repairs
House Lifting
Sub-surface Construction (Basements, Garages, Wine Tunnels, Vaults)
New Construction, Additions, Remodels
Underground Utilities (New and Alterations)
Electrician and Plumber on Staff
Excavation & Grading
Project Cost Estimates
Hauling
Green Building Practices

Challenging and Unusual Projects Welcome!

Useful Information

Click on the links below for more information on the various topics:

The Permit Process
Plan Preparation
Engineers (Structural, Civil)
Architects
Geotechnical (Soils) Engineers
As-Built Drawings & Plans
Design & Build

The Permit Process

Most Bay Area projects these days require a permit, which in most cases requires a set of plans to be submitted to the city or county building department. Usually, an architect's or engineer's stamp is required on the plans or will at least serve to speed up the permit review process. The permit review process may include review by the planning department, building department, city engineers, and public works department. The process may also include design review.

Plan Preparation

Thorough, professionally prepared plans expedite the plan review process. The project owner is a vital participant in the planning process -- the owner's preferences and desires must be made known to the designer. Most Bay Area permit issuing entities (typically county, city, or town building departments) have a fairly standard minimum punch list of items which the plans must include:

plot plans with building footprint(s).
building floor plans, elevation views, sometimes the roof plan.
cross sectional views, details.
assessor's parcel number.
plan preparer's information.
engineer's calculations (if any structural design was involved).

Some permit issuing entities require substantially more information, depending on the scope of the project. This might include:

geotechnical report by a soils engineer.
title 24 report.
plumbing , HVAC, and electrical plan.
drainage plan.
site erosion control plan.

Most design professionals use design software (example: Autocad) to create their drawings. The benefits are many: easy sharing and transmittal of plan documents, ability to easily make changes, and ability to re-size drawings, to name a few. Most permit issuing entities have come to expect submitted plans to be created using design software, although a clean set of hand drawn plans is usually acceptable.

Engineers (Structural, Civil)

It is the responsibility of the engineer to incorporate into any design those elements needed to guarantee that the structure or system shall perform within the limits set by physical reality. For example, in the case of an actual structure, the structural system must comply with the laws of gravity, resist wind, snow, and earthquake loads, and any dynamic loads if the structure moves. The structural engineer must understand the typical loads the structure will experience in its lifetime (live loads, dead loads) based on the intended use (residential, industrial, etc.). The engineer must also be familiar with those special building or design codes (usually developed by other engineers) which govern his/her area of expertise.

Architects

An experienced and creative architect can make vital contributions to any building project. A good architect contributes the following: knowledge of (sometimes arcane) local building and planning codes, a sense of proportion, understanding of architectural styles, complementary selection of finish materials, and attention to building details. For example, in the case of a building, the architect may be hired to develop the basic concept and vision for the building, and the engineers bring that concept to fruition via their specialized knowledge of physical laws of structures, energy(heat, light, electricity), materials (steel, wood, concrete) , and so forth.

Geotechnical (Soils) Engineers

The services of a geotechnical engineer will sometimes be required during planning and/or construction, depending on the type and scope of project. The other designers (most typically the structural engineer) may need to rely on the soils engineer's knowledge of the site geology (soil and rock types and strengths, slide tendencies, etc.). Some of the soils engineer's knowledge comes from on-site testing (typically via drilling or digging) or from past experience in a particular locale. Since any structure ultimately rests on the local soil or rock, the geotechnical engineer's recommendations can be vital to the success of the project.

Of course, with all design professionals, there is often a great overlap in their respective bodies of knowledge.

As-Built Drawings and Plans

These documents are usually the first item required in any permitted construction project. The “as- builts” describe the existing condition of a particular property or site, and include such information as plot plan, building footprint, plan and elevation views of the building or structure, foundation plan. Their general purpose is to describe what exists before the construction project is to take place, important information for the designers , the permitting entity, and the contractor. An accurate set of “as- builts can spell the difference between a successful project and one beset by changes and delays.

Many building or project owners have old plans describing their property or site. These are very valuable and should be saved, as it can be expensive to start drawing a set of “as-builts” from scratch. It is becoming more and more the norm that detailed as-builts are required for any property about to undergo renovation.

Design/Build

Hiring a design/build entity can have several advantages. The design/build team, working closely together, can:

implement the most efficient methods of construction and types of materials during the design phase.
quickly adapt to unexpected changes as the project moves forward. This includes modifying or resubmitting the plans as necessary to keep all parties apprised of changes.

Benefits of design-build (from Wikipedia)

"It is important to note that the design-build method, while not focused on saving the owner construction costs, nonetheless often saves the owner money on the overall project. The combined effects of carrying a construction loan (which typically carries a higher interest rate than permanent financing) and an earlier useful on-line date usually yields considerable overall profitability to the project.
The compression of time is only one important aspect of the implementation of this system. Other attributes include:

increased accountabilty by the service provider,
single source project delivery, and
a value based project feedback system

Accountability

Rather than a parcelized level of responsibility of the classic design-bid-build, design-build provides an integrated solution for the owner or client. This provides refuge from the finger-pointing that has become (unfortunately) commonplace in modern construction projects and allows the owner to look to one entity with questions or concerns.

Single source

Instead of having several contractors and consultants to deal with, an owner has just one contact for the project. Design revisions, project feedback, budgeting, permitting, construction issues, and billing can all be routed through the design-build firm. This single point of contact allows maximum flexibility for the owner to insist on a particular course of action without having to readjust contracts with perhaps a dozen contractors. A quality design-builder will leverage that flexibility for the owner's benefit by continually refining the construction program to maximize the owner's value at the completion of the project.

Value-based project feedback

Typically, in order for a contractor to bid on a project, very specific details relating to the methods and materials must be given to avoid any ambiguity and to make an "apples to apples" comparison of bids. In a design-build context, the owner, the owner's other consultants, and the design/builder can work together to determine what methods and materials will maximize the owner's value. In instances where marginally more expensive materials, designs, or construction methods might yield a higher return on investment for the owner than those of lower cost, the owner is free to adjust the project's program without having to re-bid the project."

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't I get existing plans for my building/property from the local building department?
Will my project require permits and plans
Will I need a structural or geotechnical engineer
What is design review
How do I get the assessor's parcel map form my property
Why is drainage so important?

Can't I get existing plans for my building/property from the local building dpartment?

If you are very lucky, yes (though, it doesn't hurt to try!) Most building departments these days, due to lack of space, staff, or funds, do not keep old plan sets for very long after a previous project has been completed or “signed-off”. It is always a good idea for a property owner to keep all plans pertaining to their property, no matter how old.

Will my project require permits and plans

More and more these days, the answer is yes. This stems from many factors -- fear of litigation, poor quality control of past un-permitted projects, and the desire of the building department to understand the scope of any project. Exceptions to this rule can sometimes include: concrete or asphalt flatwork, retaining walls 3 ft or less in height, painting, installation of floor coverings, termite work

Will I need a structural or geotechnical engineer?

Best to ask your building official after thoroughly describing the scope of your intended project.

What is design review?

The need for design review, typically mandated by the government planning department, is often triggered when a proposed project will include changes that impact neighbors or the “ambience” of a neighborhood. This can involve an addition to a building, or some other alteration which markedly changes the exterior. Design review can also be required when a “variance” is being requested, i.e. a deviation from a typical zoning standard, such as a building setback requirement. During the design review process it is typical for the government planning entity to notify impacted neighboring property owners of the planned changes, and these neighboring owners are given a period of time to respond with their comments andconcerns.

How do I get the assessor's parcel map for my property?

Check with your county recorder's or assessor's office. Many counties now allow access to these records from the web. Your title insurance company can also often provide you with the map or APN (assessor's Parcel Number).

Why is drainage so important?

Our past experience indicates that a large percentage of all foundation failures stem from poor handling of site water (rain or other). Water collecting anywhere near a foundation can often soften or displace the soil below the foundation, resulting in settling and cracking of the foundation. Hence the importance of collecting as much water as possible (via downspouts, catch basins, french drains, etc.) and getting it as far away from the subject structure as possible, while taking into account the location of neighboring structures.

Job Opportunities

Beckmann Engineering and Design and Beckmann Construction Inc. seek to hire highly motivated individuals in the fields of design, construction management, and construction.

Please contact us if a career in the design/build realm is what you are seeking. We pursue challenging projects, and have a construction history spanning over a quarter century in California.

Contact us with your information.

Letters of Reference

Listed below are a few of our client reference letters, click to see the actual documents:

Project Photos

Click on the links below to view photos of previous projects in various stages of completion:

Contact Us

Beckmann Engineering & Design

Beckmann Construction Inc.

49 Chamberlain Ave.

Novato, CA 94947

Office: (415) 897-5382
Cell: (510) 541-2796

Email: [email protected]