Many people like to begin their Christmas shopping on Black Friday. I guess people love to mix it up in crowds. Everyone has their own traditions. Ours is a trip up into the mountains to cut a tree for Christmas. We did it on Saturday. Now one could think that cutting a tree this early would guarantee needle fall by Christmas. On the contrary, this newly cut tree is fresher than any you could buy on a lot. Those are cut in August in order to be ready for shipping.
Here in Washington, we go to the US Forest Service office to buy a $10 permit to cut a tree off Forest Service land. Our trip yesterday got us up into 3 feet deep snow. We found a beautiful sub-alpine fir and cut off the top 6 feet. Does this hurt the tree? No, trees are very resourceful and send up a new leader to continue to grow. After getting back down we celebrated with a nice warming shot of Single Malt!
I wish I could show you some pictures of our trip but for some reason, the picture function is not working for me.
Thanks for reading,
The following pictures are of three different siding materials that look quite a bit alike. Knowing what each is and the pros and cons of each may be important when you purchase that next home.
As you can see, each of these siding materials are similar. The top, cement asbestos has been given a bad rap. Asbestos is a problem when it is friable (fibres floating in the air where they can be breathed) but as long as it is intact and kept painted, it is one of the best and longest lived sidings ever invented.
The second siding, asphalt shingles, was popular in the forties and fifties (earlier in some farm communities). This stuff is fairly rare in Whatcom County, but it does exist. The picture was taken in Bellingham. It doesn't last much longer than an asphalt roof (generally in the twenty year range) and doesn't like hot weather because it softens and is susceptible to damage.
The third siding, striated cedar, is pretty common here in Bellingham and is often mistaken for cement asbestos. It is a quality wood siding that, if maintained properly, will last a lifetime.
Thank you for reading this.
David Helm, Bellingham, Washington home inspector
This post is about solid fuel burning appliances and potential chimney fires. Solid fuel appliances are usually wood burning fireplaces or stoves, including inserts. The chimney serving these appliances should be cleaned every year. The picture below shows a chimney with major creosote buildup. The very next fire in the stove could be the one to set off a chimney fire; and chimney fires often burn houses down!
What does all this mean for a home buyer? It certainly means you would need to have the chimney cleaned before ever lighting a fire in the stove.
The National Chimney Sweep Guild recommends a level II chimney inspection any time the ownership of a house changes. This is a much more stringent inspection than can be performed by a home inspector. This inspection must be performed by a certified Chimney Sweep. There are two companies in this area who carry this certification: Haulin Ash and The Chimney Sweep.
Thanks for reading.
David Helm, Bellingham, Washington home inspector
I haven't posted in this group in a while. Just took a few pictures of the perrenial gardens at my place yesterday and thought I would share a few.
This view is looking toward the house from near the street.
Looking at the house and gardens from the South.
Looking at gardens from the East side.
Just recently finished building this office/studio for my wife. These gardens, along with the firepit and stone walkway are brand new; not quite so jungle like yet.
This view is from the North, looking back toward the new gardens along the edge of our little woodland.
Looking into the little woodland.
Some of the vegetation at the North end of the pond. The large leaves in the foreground are Gunnera and the white blooms are my favorite Viburnam.
I like the Viburnam so much I thought I'd add a better shot of it.
Quick shot of one of our cherry trees. Looks like we're going to get a good crop again this year.
The pond from the Southwest corner.
Okay. That was the last picture in this series. I hope I haven't bored you. We call our little 1.3 acre property Paradise. Every time we leave we can't wait to get back. We've owned this property for 11 years. When we bought it there were a few big old trees, a very funky old farmhouse (marginal but with good bones) and no gardens. During the time we've owned it we've completely rebuilt the house (lucky that I spent three decades as a builder), dug the large pond, added a green house, developed a 6000 square foot vegetable garden and developed large amounts of perrenial borders and woodlands. Oh yes, I also built the studio/office for my wife.
Thanks for looking.
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30 year career in home building and remodeling. Formally trained, Washington State Licensed Home Inspector, WSDA Lic. Structural Pest Inspector. Very thorough and knowledgable about all eras of home
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