Big Trees Inc. Completed a Privacy Screening Project for a Homeowner in Bothell

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company, has recently completed a significant privacy screening project for a homeowner in Bothell.

Previously, a greenbelt (an area of open land around a city, on which building is restricted) had been next door to the homeowner for years. However, the land has now been cleared for new homes. The homeowner had been aware of this development coming for a few months, but once they saw the actuality of it, they realized something needed to be done beyond building a typical fence.

The client called Big Trees’ office hoping to find a solution to their problem. The client had a property line of 120 feet in length and 40 feet of width to plant new trees into. Big Trees suggested Excelsa Cedars be planted into this area as they tend to grow 25 – 35-feet tall and 15-feet in width. The client decided on a taller, 14 – 16-foot tree to get a head start on hiding the development from their everyday life at home. The trees were successfully planted every seven feet in a row.

“It’s very shocking how fast neighborhoods can spring up out of the ground next to long-term property owners in our area. Our population in the Puget Sound is growing so rapidly, and developers are building as quickly as they can to accommodate and capitalize on the market. The way some property owners can become a little island amongst an ocean of tract housing is incredibly striking,” mentions Todd Holmes, Big Trees’ Operation Manager.

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

New Study Finds Hayward Fault More Dangerous Than San Andreas

Earthquake country just got a little scarier.

According to a new study, the Hayward fault line that runs under Oakland, California is believed to be more dangerous than the infamous San Andreas fault line that spans Southern California.

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that a quake of a magnitude 7 or higher could kill 800+ people and injure 18,000 more.
In fact, researchers are calling the 52-mile fault that’s centered under Oakland a “tectonic time bomb.”

“This fault is what we sort of call a tectonic time bomb,” USGS earthquake geologist emeritus David Schwartztold the L.A. Times. “It’s just waiting to go off.”

If the fault were to produce a sizeable earthquake, it’s estimated that the damage could cause 400 fires that could burn 52,000 homes in the area.

Unlike other active faults, the Hayward fault line runes under some of the most densely populated cities in the Bay.

There are 7 million people who live in the region and 2 million people who currently live directly on top of the fault.

Luckily, facilities near the Hayward fault line have started to take action. The old city halls have been abandoned and the Memorial Stadium at UC Berkeley has been refitted to avoid using areas that sit directly on the fault.

The scariest part of the Hayward fault is that California’s building and safety codes are no match for a sizeable quake. Currently, California requires buildings to adhere to minimum safety codes – meaning the structures need to be strong enough to allow people enough time to safely evacuate.

Assuming that every building in the region follows modern-day building and safety codes, that would still leave 8,000 structures collapsed and 100,000 structures red-tagged after a 7 magnitude or greater earthquake along the Hayward fault.

The Hayward fault has produced a major earthquake every 150-160 years, and on Oct 21st it will be 150 years since the fault’s last major quake.

Now more than ever it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

San Pedro Contractors Offer ‘Ask a Contractor’ Advice to the Public

SAN PEDRO, CA: Silva Construction, (http://www.silvaconstruction.com) a construction company, offers advice to the public through their series of blog posts called ‘Ask a Contractor’.

The “Ask a Contractor” series offers a way for homeowners to ask any question they have regarding remodeling construction to Dave Silva, the founder of Silva Construction. Dave gives detailed answers and advises on the best solution.
Questions range from earthquake insurance to flooring to material recommendations for counter tops. The purpose of the “Ask a Contractor” series is to help educate homeowners and give them the correct answer to their question so they can make the best decision for their home. This series can be seen at http://www.silvaconstruction.com/category/ask-a-contractor/.

A homeowner who consulted with and was a client of Silva Construction said, “Before we signed a contract with Silva we called nearly every reference that they gave us, almost 15 calls, and to our surprise, we had no negative feedback. As a mortgage broker that worked with several contractors, developers, and construction projects, even the best projects have problems with contractors. What set Silva apart was how they handled the problems with hands on service and working with the homeowners daily throughout the project. We even drove to several of the references finished projects to examine Silva’s work and it was top notch!”

Dave Silva and David Clarke are owners of Silva Construction, Inc., located in San Pedro, CA. The company has over 40 years of experience in remodeling construction, and serves Southern California’s South Bay area, including Westchester, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, San Pedro, Hermosa Beach, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Harbor City, Lomita, Torrance, and other select areas. Their blog can be seen at http://www.silvaconstruction.com/blog3/ and their website can be seen at http://www.silvaconstruction.com. They can be reached at 310-831-6310.

Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps Explains How to Use the Fireplace this Spring

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps ( http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com/), in Eden Prairie, is explaining to homeowners how to use their fireplace this spring so it remains safe for next winter.

How to maintain your fireplace this Spring:

• Control the temperature if you decide to use it. You don’t want to waste firewood by having too hot of a temperature causing you to open the windows. The type of wood can help control the temperature. For example, softwood will burn hotter and faster, while hardwood will create less heat and burn longer.
• Do not use green wood. Burn properly seasoned wood any time you use your fireplace in order to have proper heating.
• Use your fire place efficiently by using the top-down burn method. This method helps burn all the fuel completely. Although this method may take some getting used to, it is fairly easy and will save you from wasting firewood.

A past client of Blue Sky said: “The communication and responsiveness was some of the best I’ve had dealing with contractors over the years. From the first call for an estimate to the final payment the whole thing could not have been easier… They replaced the flued, rebuilt the chimney, poured a new cap and waterproofed the whole chimney. They were in and out in less than two days!”

Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps is family owned and operated, and has over 20 years of experience in the chimney repair and cleaning field, and all of their masons and sweeps are licensed and insured. They are members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Blue Sky offers chimney cleaning in Minneapolis and the metro area. For more information on chimney services from Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps, visit http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com, or call 952-944-1744.

BigTreeSupply.com: Will a Late Spring Frost Damage Your Trees?

By Nancy Penrose

It seems to happen without fail that we’ll enjoy the spring weather, but then winter will present us with one last freeze right when we thought it was all over. A dip in temperature isn’t just a shock for us; our trees feel it too.

Will a late spring frost damage your tree?
When there is a sudden drop in temperature, some trees, even big trees, can experience frost damage. Frost damage affects all trees, but the good news is that most trees can fully recover with some of your help. Here are some things you can do to help your tree recover from frost damage:

• Lock in soil moisture by mulching your tree. Mulch will also provide nutrients for the tree’s new leaves.
• Prune out dead stems if there are any.
• Keep track of the weather so you can stay ahead of any future temperature drops. If you notice another temperature drop is approaching, you can water your tree the night before or cover it with burlap (or a different breathable material) if it’s small enough.

How does frost damage trees?
A drastic change in the weather can cause stress to trees. If your tree had new growth when spring arrived, the blooms can be damaged when the temperature drops suddenly. Not to worry though – many trees will sprout again later in the season. Trees that may have a hard time sprouting again are fruit and flowering trees, however.

How do I know if my tree has been damaged from frost?
Generally speaking, you will notice any new growth your tree made will turn brown a few days after the freeze. Frost damage affects differently depending on your tree type, so your tree may show different signs of frost damage than other trees. We offer inspections and provide treatments for trees, just contact us at (866) 313-2333.

Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplanting tree service. Learn more about tree preservation at http://bigtreesupply.com/tree-care-maintenance/ and for more tips on tree care or installation go to nurserytrees.net. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEP1vudflm0 and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108.

Big Trees Inc. is Having a Successful First Quarter

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company, has been having a successful first quarter with plenty of new inventory and consistent transplanting work.

Big Trees’ nursery has upwards of 50 flowering Cherry trees ready for sale in several sizes, along with numerous flowering Pear trees, dozens of Stewartias, Styrax and Dogwoods. While the flowering trees are the focal point during Spring, Big Trees has also been stockpiling a lot of evergreen trees from Excelsa Cedars to Leyland Cypress to Hinoki Cypress, and a handful of evergreen Magnolias.

Furthermore, Big Trees has had a number of onsite transplanting projects. Big Trees addresses each scenario from as many angles as they can think of before considering the handling for larger trees. Once they’ve created a realistic plan, the pieces start to come together for the big transplant. It is an excitement for both Big Trees and their client when a tree gets lifted to their new location and planting begins.

“We hope to see you here in the nursery this spring, and help you find the right trees for your landscaping projects. Anyone who simply wants to walk the lanes of the nursery and see what all of these varieties of trees look like are always welcome as well. We’re looking at a busy, exciting season of planting, and we wish you the best with all of your gardening projects.” said Todd Holmes, Big Trees’ Operation Manager.

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.

Brite Smiles is Offering Smile Design

APPLE VALLEY, MN – Brite Smiles Dental Care ( http://www.britesmilesdentalcare.com ), in Apple Valley, is offering their smile design services, such as cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening and veneers.


Having front teeth you love can increase what Brite Smiles calls the “Smile Factor.” The Smile Factor is the fact of smiling, which causes the person wearing the smile to create a better impression on everyone around them. Brite Smiles wants their patients to experience the Smile Factor for themselves this spring, and are informing patients on some of the smile design services they offer:

Teeth Whitening: Coffee, wine, smoking and other foods can stain teeth on a daily basis, leaving them lackluster. Teeth whitening helps restore the natural color of the teeth.

Veneers: Veneers are a thin covering that bonds to existing teeth to redesign and reshape the look of the entire mouth. Veneers help cover stains, cracked teeth, spaces, misaligned and chipped teeth.

Ray, a patient at Brite Smiles, said, “Dr. Simmons and his team are the best! Always responsive, helpful, and friendly – and very, very good at what they do. My smile has never been brighter. I’d highly recommend their practice to anyone!”

A staff member at Brite Smiles stated: “Spring is a great time to ask for a smile recommendation from one of our doctors. We recommend it highly so you can experience the Smile Factor first hand!”

Dr. Dennis Simmons graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1976, receiving the Class Honor in prosthetics – dentures partial and full. Since then, he has participated in over 3,000 hours of continuing education courses, focusing primarily on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, dental implants and implant-supported restorations, orthodontics, extractions, crown/bridge, root canals, bite and TMJ disorders and sleep apnea. For his studies, he has been honored with the status of “Diplomate” from the International Congress of Oral Implantology and the International Osseous (bone) Integration Society. For more information on dental services from Brite Smiles Dental Care, visit http://britesmilesdentalcare.com , or call 952-891-8484.

California toma medidas importantes para la seguridad sísmica después de terremotos en México

California toma medidas importantes para la seguridad sísmica después de terremotos en México.

Los terremotos devastadores del año pasado en México han llevado a las ciudades de todo California a tomar medidas reales para la seguridad sísmica.

Por primera vez, en casi una generación, las ciudades del sur de California comenzaron a identificar edificios sísmicamente vulnerables en cada área.

"Lo que sucedió el año pasado en Ciudad de México, no queremos experimentar en California", dijo David L. Khorram, superintendente de edificios y seguridad de Long Beach a L.A. Times, refiriéndose al terremoto masivo que dejó a 360 personas muertas.

Como resultado, Long Beach está en conversaciones para asignar $ 1 millón a la seguridad sísmica en un esfuerzo por identificar 5,000 edificios en el área que necesitan modificaciones de terremotos.

Malibu también está evaluando sus estructuras de historias blandas, mientras que áreas como Ventura y Hermosa Beach han seguido su ejemplo.

La retroalimentación promedio de pisos blandos de un edificio de apartamentos con estructura de madera va de $ 40,000 a $ 160,000 para reforzar. Los edificios de acero y hormigón cuestan un poco más, de $ 50 a $ 100 por pie cuadrado para actualizaciones sísmicas.

"Si nos fijamos en el costo de la retroadaptación en comparación con el valor del edificio, las matemáticas son realmente fáciles. Tenemos inversiones importantes en estas propiedades, y tenemos la intención de protegerlas ", dijo el director general de Real Estate Group, Michael Cusumano.

L.A. ha tomado medidas proactivas para remediar edificios vulnerables en el área. En 2015, la ciudad identificó aproximadamente 15,000 apartamentos y edificios de concreto que requieren modificaciones sísmicas.

Si tiene alguna inquietud acerca de la base de su hogar, comuníquese con Julian Construction para programar una inspección gratuita. Los problemas de la Fundación, que no se controlan, solo se volverán más dañinos y costosos con el tiempo.

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, contratistas de cimientos y reparación de cimientos. La compañía de Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15,000 estructuras, trabajando con firmas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha realizado más reparaciones de cimientos y reacondicionamiento de terremotos en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área en los últimos cinco años.

California Takes Major Steps to Seismic Safety After Mexico Earthquakes

Last year’s devastating earthquakes in Mexico have prompted cities across California to take real action for seismic safety.

For the first time – in nearly a generation – cities across Southern California have started to identify seismically vulnerable buildings in each area.

“What happened last year in Mexico City, we don’t want to experience in California,” David Khorram, Long Beach’s superintendent of building and safety told the L.A. Times, referring to the massive temblor that left 360 people dead.

As a result, Long Beach is in current discussions to allocate $1 million to seismic safety in an effort to identify 5,000 buildings in the area needing earthquake retrofits.

Malibu is likewise evaluating their soft-story structures, while areas like Ventura and Hermosa Beach have followed suit.

The average soft-story retrofit of a wood-frame apartment building runs from $40,000 to $160,000 to reinforce. Steel and concrete buildings cost a bit more, at $50 to $100 per square foot for seismic upgrades.

“If you look at the cost of the retrofit versus the value of the building, the mathematics are really easy. We have significant investments in these properties, and we intend to protect them,” said the managing director of Real Estate Group, Michael Cusumano.

L.A. has taken proactive measures to remedy vulnerable buildings in the area. In 2015, the city identified roughly 15,000 apartment and concrete buildings needing seismic retrofits.

If you have any concerns about your home’s foundation, contact Julian Construction to schedule a free inspection. Foundation issues, left unchecked, will only get more damaging and expensive with time.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

¿Estás viviendo en una zona de peligro sísmico? Nuevo mapa muestra lugares en riesgo

Gracias a un nuevo mapa interactivo, es más fácil ver si estás viviendo en una zona de falla del terremoto de California.

The Geological Survey compartió un mapa interactivo en línea esta semana, que le permite ver si vive en una zona más propensa a sufrir daños por terremoto escribiendo su dirección o compartiendo su ubicación.

Además de mapear áreas cerca de las zonas de falla sísmica, el mapa fácil de usar también le dirá si su hogar se encuentra en una zona más propensa a la licuefacción o al deslizamiento de tierra también.

Las tres zonas diferentes delineadas por el mapa, todas tienen un riesgo importante en común: los edificios en estas zonas corren más riesgo de que el suelo se rompa (no solo se sacuda) durante un gran terremoto.

Si bien estos mapas han existido por bastante tiempo, nunca han sido fáciles de usar. Las publicaciones anteriores se realizaron en periódicos o archivos PDF, pero gracias a este mapa interactivo intuitivo, puede averiguar si su hogar está en riesgo en cuestión de segundos.

Esto es especialmente importante para los propietarios de viviendas y los propietarios de edificios comerciales por igual. "Cuando el suelo se rompe debajo de un edificio existente, hay una mayor probabilidad de que el edificio se derrumbe", dijo Tim McCrink, geólogo de ingeniería supervisor del California Geological Survey, a L.A. Times.

Hay algunos factores diferentes que pueden conducir a la irrupción durante un terremoto. Primero, si la falla se rompe, un edificio que se extiende a ambos lados de la falla se puede dividir por la mitad. En segundo lugar, la licuefacción puede ocurrir cuando el temblor de un terremoto hace que la tierra falle y actúe como arena suelta o suelo saturado con agua subterránea. Como resultado, cualquier estructura que se asienta sobre este tipo de suelo se deslizará y eventualmente se empujará hacia abajo. Y tercero, un deslizamiento de tierra puede afectar una estructura que se ha construido con materiales débiles u obsoletos, que se encuentra en una ladera. Como resultado, estos edificios pueden colapsar con sacudidas extremas.

Si posee propiedades en una de estas tres zonas de terremotos, es importante que tome todas las medidas necesarias para reforzar su estructura. Las empresas, como Julian Construction, se especializan en reparación de cimientos y reacondicionamiento de terremotos.

Si está buscando comprar una propiedad nueva, es importante ver qué áreas tienen el mayor riesgo de rupturas por fallas, licuefacción o deslizamientos de tierra.

"El conocimiento es poder", agregó McCrink. "Antes de comprar su propiedad, antes de construir ... haga una investigación para ver cuáles son sus peligros".

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, contratistas de cimientos y reparación de cimientos. La compañía de Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15,000 estructuras, trabajando con firmas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha realizado más reparaciones de cimientos y reacondicionamiento de terremotos en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área en los últimos cinco años.

Vea si vive en una zona de peligro sísmico aquí.

Are You Living in an Earthquake Hazard Zone? New Map Shows Places At Risk

Thanks to a new interactive map, it’s easier to see if you’re living in a California earthquake fault zone.

The Geological Survey shared an interactive map online this week, that allows you to see if you’re living in a zone more prone to earthquake damage by typing in your address or sharing your location.

In addition to mapping areas near earthquake fault zones, the easy-to-use map will also tell you if your home is in an area more prone to liquefaction or landslide as well.

The three different zones outlined by the map, all have one major hazard in common: Buildings in these zones are more at risk for the ground to break (not just shake) during a large earthquake.

While these maps have been around for quite some time, they have never been user-friendly. Previous publishing’s were done in newspapers or PDFs, but thanks to this intuitive interactive map, you can find out if your home is at risk in a matter of seconds.

This is especially important for homeowners and commercial building owners alike. “When the ground breaks under an existing building, there’s a higher chance that the building will collapse,” Tim McCrink, supervising engineering geologist for the California Geological Survey told the L.A. Times.

There are a few different factors that can lead to the ground breaking during an earthquake. First, if the fault ruptures, a building that straddles the fault line can be split in half. Second, liquefaction can occur when the shaking from an earthquake causes the ground to fail and act as loose sand or soil saturated with groundwater. As a result, any structure that sits atop this type of ground will slide and eventually be pushed down. And third, a landslide can affect a structure that has been built using weak or outdated materials, that sits on a hillside. As a result, these buildings may collapse with extreme shaking.

If you own property in one of these three earthquake zones, it’s important that you take all the necessary steps to reinforce your structure. Companies, like Julian Construction, specialize in foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting. If you’re looking to purchase new property, it’s important to see which areas have the highest risk for fault ruptures, liquefaction or landslides.

“Knowledge is power,” added McCrink. “Before you buy your property, before you build … do an investigation to see what your hazards are.”

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

See if you're living in an earthquake hazard zone here.