A Guide to the Best of Southern California : AT HOME : Build Your Own

FACED WITH AN intimidating remodeling job? Panicked at the prospect of actually building your dream house? Wish that you could do it yourself? Help is available, even if you can’t afford to take a week off to attend the Owner Builder Center in Berkeley, one of those special camps for budding craftsmen. A good alternative is to take “Construction Technology,” a series of classes offered through Owner Builder Services in Alhambra, a resource center for homeowners and contractors.

The series’ first two classes are taught at Los Angeles City College; the rest are offered at locations throughout the city. “In the Part I class, we try to help people make up their minds before they begin,” says A. Thomas Horsfall, director of Owner Builder Services. “People need to answer questions about themselves, their needs, before they call in an architect. The biggest problem is that people start a project and keep changing their minds--losing money. We teach them to make the design work with the property.”

A comprehensive guide to the ins and outs of home remodeling and building, the classes are designed to be taken in sequence. Topics range from planning and cost estimating to specific areas such as roofing, tilework and finish carpentry. “Most of our people who build one house decide to build another one,” says Horsfall. “They’re smarter, better at doing the work--and have cash from the first one.”

Part I and II of “Construction Technology,” in weekly three-hour classes, are offered through Los Angeles City College’s community services program; tuition is $127 per five-class session. Information: (213) 665-3000. Owner Builder Services: (818) 282-6912.