Living in heavily wooded areas in WA

[TheSecondHalf]

You answered part of my next question, Carl, but doesn't insurance generally consider fallen trees as acts of god? Or is it different in WA. Would they cover car or house damage if a tree fell on it?

[Inkpoe]

Originally Posted by TheSecondHalf

... doesn't insurance generally consider fallen trees as acts of god? Or is it different in WA. Would they cover car or house damage if a tree fell on it?

I don't know about cars... but houses... they do not always cover that.

If you have trees on your property that are prone to falling during windstorms (have weak/surface roots) and they fall on your or your neighbor's house-- the Insurance companies do have grounds not to cover that. Definitely useful to have a certified arborist combing through the property.

Cost of tree cleanup falls on homeowners

[StealthRabbit]

best advice I got when moving from Colorado 30+ yrs ago

Do Not buy / rent a house in the forest.

This was given by several colleagues who left Colorado for Lake Stevens (Marysville, WA) and came back pretty quickly (within a couple yrs). Less than 30% of the transferees stayed in PNW.

Issues:
COLD
Wet
mossy
moldy
Algae and Moss growth on house / roof / sidewalks / cars
Needles... in EVERYTHING gutters, drains, roof valleys, yard, sidewalks, window screens
sick plants (rainforest plants like it, HIGH PH soil)
very sick grass
potentially very sick people too.

then the tree issue...
Branches can be BIG and heavy (~1000#). on my 300' doug firs, I have laterals that are over 12 " in diameter at trunk and 30" feet long.

falling trees will SQUISH a house. There are numerous pictures of trees cutting houses in half, clear to the ground. Last winter one fell on a house right inside the front wall, but directly between 2 roof trusses. It sliced the house clear down to the foundation, with front wall standing like a western facade.

Think LIGHT and fresh flowing AIR. North facing windows are practically useless, and are tough on heat loss. Go with south facing BIG windows, up high on a clear (from trees) hill.

If house is near trees, keep a close eye on the area around roots, if you see the ground moving (which you will in a high wind) be worried. The 'creaking' and 'popping' at night is not too peaceful.

[jertheber]

As a rule the Evergreens are the species that are known to blow down in strong winds, also the large branches of those huge Maples here are known locally by loggers as "widow makers" for a good reason as they weigh in the hundreds of pounds and routinely kill hikers, loggers and others who venture into the woods on a windy day. I live in Grays Harbor county and the forests here are vast and accessible, we just don't go in the woods when it's too windy. As for a house among the evergreens, it's been noted above regarding the ever present needles and cones that kill the grass, clog the gutters and are a general pain in the rear. Live free from the trees being right around your home but enjoy the fact that the woods are so close for our enjoyment.

[nullgeo]

Originally Posted by jertheber

As a rule the Evergreens are the species that are known to blow down in strong winds, also the large branches of those huge Maples here are known locally by loggers as "widow makers" for a good reason as they weigh in the hundreds of pounds and routinely kill hikers, loggers and others who venture into the woods on a windy day. I live in Grays Harbor county and the forests here are vast and accessible, we just don't go in the woods when it's too windy. As for a house among the evergreens, it's been noted above regarding the ever present needles and cones that kill the grass, clog the gutters and are a general pain in the rear. Live free from the trees being right around your home but enjoy the fact that the woods are so close for our enjoyment.

Good advice in general ... but a note of detail: while many evergreens are problematical, Douglas Fir has excellent root systems and depth, strength, etc. and are typically very strong above ground as well -- compared to the others (still don't recommend trusting them) ... cedar, while also having pretty good rooting, often have weaknesses in the upper trunks that will 'top off', *snap*! ... White Fir is quite weak (and often mistaken for Doug Fir) ... in the NW our maple is not the famed hardwood varieties of the east, and pretty weak, branches huge (widow makers for sure) ... tall alder and willow? -- they WILL fall before too many years go by, period! They are trash wood (especially willow) in spite of alder's good uses.