Tami Michaels: Inside Out

Seattle is unique in that it has a rich record of landslides that dates back as far as 1890.  A database was created with 1,326 landslides, revealing that landslides are more likely to occur in the month of January. People in our area should be aware of what they can do to mitigate the risk of landslides.

Two of the most common landslides are-
1. High Bluff Peel Off – block falls of soil from the high bluffs that are found primarily along the cliffs of Puget Sound.
2. Shallow Colluvial (Skin Slide) - shallow rapid sliding of the outer rind of a hillside slope, sometimes also resulting in a debris flow.

The most common type of slide is the shallow colluvial slide, particularly in response to an intense, short-duration storm.  The largest and commonly most destructive are deep-seated landslides; however, they are not activated as frequently as the other types of slides.  The preponderance of landslides occurs in January after the water table has risen in the previous months, although destructive landsliding can sometimes last until March.
 
All of the steep slopes on the hill margins are susceptible to sliding.  Contributing causes of land sliding may be myriad, but water is involved in nearly all of the cases.  Interestingly, consistent studies in the Seattle region show that 84 percent of the reported landslides may have had some factor of human influence associated with them.
    
Landsliding in Seattle is caused by a combination of geologic conditions, steep topography, concentration of rainfall in the winter months, and the influences of an urban environment.  The geologic conditions are primarily a legacy of repeated glacial incursions during the past 2 million years.  The topography is the result of mass wasting in the past 13,000 years, since the disappearance of the last glacial ice.  Although Seattle does not receive a large volume of precipitation, concentrations of rainfall in the winter months can be significant enough to saturate the glacial and colluvial soils.  Overlying this natural setting is the human pattern of residential, commercial, and industrial development, and the infrastructure that binds it together
 
The greater Seattle area is second only to the coastal region of Southern California as the most significant region to experience landslides. (the above notes are copied in part from the WA State Study of Landslides)    http://www.seattle.gov/DPD/Landslide/Study/master_report.pdf 

Take precautions:
 * Do mitigate water run off.
 * Try not to remove trees.
 * Have proper geological tests run on the property and structural engineering consultations prior   to building or remodeling.
 * Empty hot tubs on the decks during this season.

Cheers,

Tami Michaels

Picture Perfect

Design ideas using paneling.

Change your wall in just a weekend.

Winter is upon us.  We have a few sunny days left in our forecast and we need to look at the necessary roof maintenance and repairs that are essential for saving the home owner major headaches from a roof failure during a major storm

The Roof Repair Guide is an essential for any roof repair that a DIY'er could encounter.   http://roofrepairguide.com/

Check all roof flashing especially chimney flashing, and vents are another common source of leaks.  Replace the calking around the flashing if the calking is cracked or peeling. (FYI: this is not hard for the novice DIYer)
 

Skylights are a common point of failure during the winter months.  The repairs on sky lights are far more complex than simply applying new sealant. The flashing must often be replaced. "How to" info on  http://roofrepairguide.com/.

No matter what type of roof you have it should be maintained by cleaning on a regular basis.  You may want to consult with an expert before taking on this project.

I have a cedar shake roof that is 21 years old and showing lots of wear.  We were given multiple quotes to replace the roof for an estimated cost of $16,000-$22,000.  We found an alternative to replacement.  The roof was cleaned and repaired for $1,600. Most consumers are not aware of the option to repair a seemingly unsalvageable roof.  My roof had to be air cleaned, ten bundles of shake roofing replaced, and finally a roof sealant was required. We now have a five year certification (warranty) on the repaired roof.  This is NOT a recommended DIYer project.  The company that we used has an A+ rating from the BBB, Western Exterior Maintenance http://www.westernexterior.net/.   In this economy a good repair could save homeowners thousands on a new roof.  (FYI: The roofing company that provided these pictures and repaired our roof did not offer any discount for promotional services provided and none were received)

Tami Michaels

In April of this year the EPA implemented laws with regard to RRP (Renovation, Repair, and Paint Program) that are designed to protect us from lead based paints. Failure to comply with these laws can lead to a $37,500 per day fine. 

Lead paint is among the most dangerous neurotoxins known today especially to children under the age of six. Most people aren't aware that lead remains a top environmental health hazard for US children. More than one in 25 American children have blood lead levels high enough to lower IQ or cause learning disabilities, violent behavior, attention-deficit disorder or hyperactivity. (Ref. Dr. Greene.com)

The Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting Program is a federal regulatory program affecting contractors, property managers, and others who disturb painted surfaces. It applies to residential houses, apartments, and child-occupied facilities such as schools and day-care centers built before 1978. It includes pre-renovation education requirements as well as training, certification, and work practice requirements for those certified to work with lead based paint.

*What does the RRP Program require?

-Distribute the Renovate Right Pamphlet before the work starts
-Firms working on lead based surfaces must be certified.
-Renovators must be trained.
-Lead-safe work practices must be followed. Examples of these practices include:
-Work-area containment to prevent dust and debris from leaving the work area.
-Prohibition of certain work practices like open-flame burning and the use of power tools without HEPA exhaust control.
-Thorough clean up followed by a verification procedure to minimize exposure to lead-based paint hazards.
 

*How does a Firm get certified?   Firms may apply to EPA for certification to perform renovations or dust sampling. To apply, a firm must submit to EPA a completed "Application for Firms," signed by an authorized agent of the firm, and pay the correct amount of fees.

*How to get trained and certified as a Renovator?   To become a Certified Renovator, an individual must successfully complete an eight-hour initial renovator training course offered by an accredited training provider (training providers are accredited by EPA, or by an authorized state or tribal program). The course completion certificate serves as proof of certification.

*What happens if there is a violation of the RRP Rule?  EPA uses a variety of methods to determine whether businesses are complying, including inspecting work sites, reviewing records and reports, and responding to citizen tips and complaints. EPA may file an enforcement action against violators seeking penalties of up to $37,500 per violation, per day. The proposed penalty in a given case will depend on many factors, including the number, length, and severity of the violations. (* info provided by Builder Scout)

The EPA does not recommend that DIY'er attempt to test for lead.  However, there are test kits available at box stores and online.  The cost of the test kit is around $20.  The fines for noncompliance do not appear to be directed DIY'er at this time.  Homeowners must disclose the test results for lead when selling a home.  The cost to train and acquire the necessary equipment for a contractor to meet the requirements is around $2K-$3K.

The bottom line is that lead is a very dangerous neurotoxin (and not just to children).  Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems. It interferes with the development of the nervous system and is therefore particularly toxic to children, causing potentially permanent learning and behavior disorders. Symptoms include abdominal pain, headache, anemia, irritability, and in severe cases seizures, coma, and death. 

Home built after 1978 may also have lead based paint and parents and property owners may also wish to take safeguards when renovating or repairing lead surfaces.  Send me an email if you have any questions.
 

Cheers,

Tami Michaels

Fall is upon us and I’m receiving a slurry of phone calls about alternative energy heating systems. Tuesday's segment will focus on two of these types of heating systems.

Geo Thermal Heat Pumps/Radiant Floor Heat: Geothermal Ground Source heating is achieved by installing a series of pipes in the ground, either by means of large trenches or by drilling, similar to a well. The piping runs into the mechanical room where it is connected to a heat pump using the earth's constant temperature to provide heating and cooling year round. When combined with in-floor radiant heating Geo-Thermal heating is truly the most comfortable and efficient heating system available.

Radiant floor heat can be achieved using geothermal energy or electricity (solar electric roof tiles can provide the electricity).  Radiant heat arguably provides the most comfortable heating solution available.  The room is heated from the entire floor and heat rises and radiates uniformly dispensed into a heated room.  Here is an excellent link that describes how it works http://www.janescompany.com/how_it_works.php.

Solar Energy via roof tiles:  I love this!  Solar roof tiles are now an alternative to the old large solar panels.  The new solar roof tiles act as a collection grid for solar energy.  The collection has become more sophisticated requiring less space for the batteries and higher efficiency for the collection of energy. The solar tiles are efficient and yes the tiles are effective in Seattle as the tiles collect energy even on rainy.   days. Another great link on how this works, http://www.eagleroofing.com/greenBld_eagleSolarRoof.htm.

Another general purpose site for energy solutions is www.energystar.gov.  This site also explains federal tax credits for energy efficiency.  Most expire at the end of 2010, although geothermal systems have no $1,500 limit and the tax credit is available in future years.

Cheers, Tami Michaels

You may not be aware of the tough new laws that went into effect in April 2010.  If you rent or own a home built prior to 1978 there are new tough regulations by the EPA that are now Federal law. In summary, if you break the surface of the paint in an area larger than six feet the paint must be tested and the paint/repair work is regulated.  The fine for noncompliance is $37,500. 

This new law affects thousands of homeowners in Washington, both commercial and residential, including rental property.  Know the facts and read the EPA regulations and how they now affect you at http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm.

This is a special day for me as I was at ground zero on 9/11/01.  For those of you interested in my story, and want to hear audio from that terrible day please go to  http://media.fisherinteractive.com/komo/radio/audio/100911_Tami_Michaels_911.mp3. 

On my radio show today I wish to honor those that died and the countless heroes that gave their lives to save other people.  Please join me on KOMO 1000/97.7 and share your thoughts and feelings about today.

Take care.

Tami Michaels

The anniversary of 9/11 is emerging as a day of remembrance and service. If you thought that you are too busy to volunteer or you don't know where to find an organization that will embrace the weekend good samaritan, you are not alone.  I have two excellent examples of organizations that can help people who wish to donate their time in community service on 9/11.
 

I recently connected with Tara Smith, the Executive Director of Seattle Works. Seattle Works is a nonprofit organization that connects volunteers, develops emerging leaders and inspires dialog. Their Hot Projects program ise designed for even the busiest individuals. These one-time commitments, led by fellow Seattle Works volunteers, allow individuals to give back without any long-term obligation.  For some people, they are a great way to plug in when and where they can. For others, they are a great first step to getting more involved and making volunteerism a bigger part of their lives.
 

Seattle Works offers at least two to three Hot Projects every week. Interested individuals should go to the Hot Projects calendar and sign up online. They will receive a confirmation and directions to the project via email when they sign up.  Here’s the link to our Hot Projects calendar:  http://tinyurl.com/HotProjSept10, or go to www.seattleworks.org and follow the link to Hot Projects.

The second recommendation is Habitat for Humanity.  On Saturday 9/11 Habitat for Humanity is offering an orientation for would be volunteers at the Tacoma South King Co Habitat for Humanity.  The forum offers perspective volunteers an opportunity to learn about Habitat for Humanity and to register to volunteer. (This is a fantastic way to learn first hand almost every conceivable and useful home building technique.)  Habitat for Humanity's vision is to build and foster a community where everyone has a decent, affordable place to live and where poverty housing is unacceptable.  They have helped thousands of families afford quality homes.  For more information go to http://www.tpc-habitat.org/

Cheers,

Tami Michaels