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Short Classes
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See class descriptions for fees and times
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#70 Apartment Building Maintenance for Women
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Saturday, June 14
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#71 How to Build Your Dream Home "For a Song"
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Wednesday, June 11
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#72 Keep Green with Untapped Water
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Sunday, May 18
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#46 Finding and Assessing Fixer-Uppers
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Thursday, April 3
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#9 No Sewer - No Problem!
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Sunday, June 8
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#15 Cabinet Refacing
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Sunday, June 8
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#16 Shopping for Hardwood Floors
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in S.F.: Tuesday, March 25
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#42 Buying Land
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Thursday, May 15
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#45 Title 24
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Thursday, May 29
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#47 Plan Reading
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Thursday, May 8
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#48 Basic Electrical Theory & N.E. Code
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Thursday, April 24
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#50 HVAC for Beginners
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Thursday, April 22
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#51 Landscape Watering Systems
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Sunday, March 30
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#57 Solving Residential Drainage Problems
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Thursdays, June 3 & 10
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#52 The Bungalow
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Sunday, June 1
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#38 Customizing Concrete for Countertops, etc.
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Thursday, June 12
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#64 Feng Shui as a Mirror
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Saturday, May 31
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#56 Residential Green Building and Remodeling
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Sunday, May 11
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#61 Attic Conversions
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Thursday, May 22
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#62 House Raising
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Saturday, June 7
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#65 How to Get Your Permit Approved
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Thursday, March 27
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#70 APARMENT BUILDING MAINTENANCE FOR WOMEN
Instructor: Naomi Friedman
Gain independence and security: it isn't easy work, requires you to
have good people skills and being on call, sometimes 24/7. Learn
the basics of plumbing, electrical, locks, tenant relations, emergency
preparedness, scheduling and working with contractors. Class size
limited to 15. Students must be on time!
9 am to 4 pm Fee: $110
#71 HOW TO BUILD YOUR DREAM HOME
"For a Song"
Instructor: David Cook
Owner-builder and author David Cook (How to Build Your Dream House for
a Song) built his own home in Marin for substantially less than most
people thought possible using specific cost-cutting techniques. These
include: buying materials at steep discounts (up to 90%), getting the
best help for the least money, building without costly construction
financing, and doing some of the most expensive construction work
yourself.
6:30 to 9:30 pm Fee: $40
#72 KEEP GREEN WITH UNTAPPED WATER
Instructor: Bob Feinbaum
It is environmentally responsible to cut water use but we don't want to
restrict our lives or kill our gardens. Learn how to limit water use,
use grey water and rain waterto lower your water bill and keep your plants
alive in the coming era of water shortages.
10 am to 1 pm Fee: $40
#46 FINDING AND ASSESSING FIXER-UPPERS
Instructor: Michael Hamman
Learn from an experienced contractor and major fixer-upper owner how to tell the
difference between a "money pit" house that swallows up your savings and
time with little return and a fixer upper that will increase in
liveability and value with reasonable, cost-effective improvements.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#9 NO SEWER - NO PROBLEM!
Instructor: Bob Feinbaum
On-site wastewater treatment systems are the answer. Find out how septic
systems work and about alternative types available. Learn about design
issues before starting your project and ways to assure that your system
operates properly once it is installed. Become aware of code changes
that are in the offing at the state and local levels and what they might
mean for you. Helpful for anyone owning, or planning to own, a place in
the country, whether a vacation home of a permanent resident.
10 am to 1 pm Fee: $40
#15 CABINET REFACING
Instructors: Dick Taylor
Refaced cabinets can dramatically improve your kitchen and bathrooms and
increase the value of any house. You can change the type of wood, door
style and stain color all in a long weekend. The cost for most kitchens
will be between $800 and $900. Because of the small size and low cost,
refacing your cabinets is a great way to develop your skills.
9:30 am to 3:30 pm Fee: $50
#16 SHOPPING FOR HARDWOOD FLOORS
Instructor: Leslie de Giere, Golden State Flooring
Hardwood flooring is unmatched for durability, ease of maintenance and
beauty. Over time, it's also one of the least expensive flooring
options. We'll cover all commonly used materials (strip, plank, and
parquet), the tools needed to install each type, and pre-finished,
unfinished, and laminated flooring.
6 to 9 pm Fee: $40
#42 BUYING LAND
Instructor: David Rowell & John McNulty
Learn how to find and evaluate a lot for your dream home. A local real
estate broker/contractor who specializes in lot
purchases will discuss locating lots, site analysis (zoning, site
reports, engineering reports), acquiring the lot (pricing, bargaining
and escrow) and financing- applicable to lots anywhere. Lots on the
market at the time of class will be used as examples.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#45 TITLE 24
Instructor: George Nesbitt
A CHEERS energy analyst, HERS and Green Point rater presents an in-
depth look at low-rise residential building energy code issues. Which
buildings must comply, how the standards work, what cost-effective
strategies make the most sense for different types of projects, green
rating systems, rebates and tax credits will be covered.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#47 PLAN READING
Instructor: Andus Brandt
Without a working knowledge of how to read plans, your ability to
understand the design and construction of your project is severely
hampered. This class will help you visualize the options and decisions
that arise during building and remodeling. Using real working drawings,
architect Andus Brandt demystifies scales, elevations, and architectural symbols.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#48 BASIC ELECTRICAL THEORY
& NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE
Instructor: Pietsa Hirvonen
Of all the various aspects of residential construction, electricity is
the least understood and the most dangerous. This seminar is for anyone
who seeks a basic understanding of the potential hazards involved in
residential wiring and the fundamental concepts that demonstrate the
practical intent underlying the National Electrical Code.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
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#50 HVAC FOR BEGINNERS:
Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
Instructor: Eric Burtt
Before you spend thousands of dollars to repair or replace your home's
furnace and ductwork, find out how heating systems work and what the
costs and options are. This overview covers residential heating systems
(emphasis on forced air heaters), furnace types and the principles of
flues. Duct work will also be explained and demonstrated.
6 to 9 pm Fee: $40
#51 LANDSCAPE WATERING SYSTEMS
Instructor: Tom Bressan
Learn how to conserve water with proper design and installation of drip
irrigation, which may save 30-70% over conventional spray or flood
systems. The Urban Farmer will cover proper zoning/valving, which
allows for grouping similar plant types or exposures together. You'll
learn how sizes, shapes of areas and plant material determines
irrigation choices. We'll also discuss automation devices.
10 am to 3 pm Fee: $50
#57 SOLVING RESIDENTIAL DRAINAGE
PROBLEMS
Instructor: Eric Burtt
Do you have water under your house? Are you building or remodeling on a
slope? Find out how to avoid costly drainage problems. In the 1st
session, you'll learn how to: draw a schematic diagram of your property,
analyze it for drainage problems and plan a drainage project. Students
will sketch and/or photograph their projects for the secnd session,
which covers grading, levels, trenching techniques, materials, etc.
We'll discuss individual projects and propose solutions to specific
problems.
6 to 9 pm Fee: $85
#52 THE BUNGALOW:
Tradition and Transformation
Instructor: Barry Wagner
Considering remodeling, renovating or adding on to your bungalow? We'll
look at the way this popular East Bay building type was designed and
constructed and then examine the ten most common renovation problems and
solutions. Students are encouraged to bring photographs of their own
house. The instructor is a licensed architect and contractor who has
renovated his own bungalow in Berkeley.
10 am to 2 pm Fee: $50
#38 CUSTOMIZING CONCRETE FOR COUNTERTOPS, ETC.
Instructor: Bingo and Bob McKenzie
The virtue of concrete has always been its versatility and it is now
being used more as an interior finish material - cast, colored, ground,
polished, sculpted, shaped, smoothed and stained for local surfaces -
counter tops, floors, patios, built-ins, furniture, accessories, etc.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#64 FENG SHUI AS A MIRROR
Instructor: Kimberly Maya
What you see is what you get! Learn how your space impacts you physically,
mentally and spiritually. Be inspired to bring about change using feng
shui tools to enhance health and abundance.
10 am to 1 pm Fee: $40
#56 RESIDENTIAL GREEN BUILDING AND REMODELING
Instructor: Greg Van Mechelen
Learn about healthier building materials, how to lower your utility bills,
reduce home maintenance and minimize remodeling construction waste.
Local architect will present ways to incorporate green building materials
and methods into your home remodeling and improvemtn projects. The class
also includes exposure to a variety of alternative and mainstream materials.
10 am to 2 pm Fee: $50
#61 ATTIC CONVERSIONS
Instructor: Andus Brandt
An attic space can be the most charming and interesting, but also the
most frustrating, part of your remodel. Codes and structural
considerations as well as inspiration for what you can do with your own
attic will be presented. Bring photos to inspire creativity!
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
#62 HOUSE RAISING
Instructors: Andus Brandt, RA & Monte Stott, engineer
Local architect/builder will discuss the pros and cons and raising an existing house,
or excavating below it, to develop new space, be it for a basic garage/workshop or
for a whole new living space/unit. We expect to meet at a real construction site.
9 am to 12 noon Fee: $40
#65 HOW TO GET YOUR PERMIT
APPROVED
Instructor: Ron Kelly
To get your building permit, you need the approval of your city's
Planning and Zoning departments. It's not a cut-and-dried process; if
you don't understand the politics of permits, your project may be shot
down and you'll lose out. This class covers things they don't tell you
at City Hall: how to structure your application, approach the
bureaucracy, enlist neighborhood support, pass inspections and more.
7 to 10 pm Fee: $40
Need a map or directions to BEC? Go to the mapquest website.
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