Symbiosis Tree Care.pdfKurt Ficl<eisen
13024 37th Ave. NE
Seattle, WA 98125
(206) 841-3158
kurtfick@ginail.corn
Stacey Hammond
Property Concepts Inc.
5622 California Avenue SW
Seattle, WA 98136
October 27, 2014
Dear Mr. Hammond,
Due to continued conflicts over trees growing on Boardwalk Condominium property and
south of 5t" Avenue Condominiums, Attorney Amy Meharry ask me to inspect the trees agahi
and meet with Michael Nylander P. E. Mi. Nylander had previously inspected the rock retaining
wall and carport on 51" Avenue property.
During a deposition conducted by the attorney representing Boardwalk Condominiums on
October 20 2014 questions arose regarding the condition of the rock retaining wall west of the
carport and on 51h Avenue property and whether trees were causing stability problems. I am riot
an engineer and do not know common building standards for rock retaining walls.
Another question raised during deposition was whether a new driveway surface within 10 -
feet of the western tree could prevent asphalt buckling and make tree preservation possible.
On Thursday October 231 visited the site, met with Michael Nylander, reviewed the current
condition of the two, trees in question, and inspected infrastructure on 5th Avenue property to see
if trees were continuing to cause damages. Please see Assumptions and Limitations for this
report (Assumptions and Limitations).
Observations
The two sequoia tree (Sequoiadendron giganteum) marked from west to east (Sl, S2) appear
health with actively growing foliage.
The sequoia Sl has a trunk flare on the north side indicating the presence and growth of roots
north of the tree. I also noticed a large bulge in the rock retaining wall inline with the trunk flare
(Photo -1).
Michael Nylander informed me rock retaining walls in good condition should be vertical
from the upper rock to the base and demonstrated with a plumb bob. In this case most of the
rock wall appears to [can northwards, and the one rock marked in Photo -1 protrudes furthest to
the north (Photo -2).
1
On a previous site visit on May 1.5 2014 I identified sequoia roots under cracked and bulging
asphalt approximately 12 -feet north of S2. In addition there were recently patched sections of
asphalt north of St.
On this visit I found crashed and bulging asphalt 31 -feet north of St. Cracks and bulges
follow a line that travels towards S1 and S2 (Photo -3).
The patched sections of asphalt observed in May of 2014 were sealed to preexisting asphalt.
On this site visit I observed new bulging and cracks in previously sealed asphalt (Photo -4).
Since the trees appear healthy I tools new measurements of trunk diameters and distances
between trunks and garage or rock retaining walls.
10-23-2014 Trunk diameters at 4.5 -feet above grade
® S1 37 -inches
® S2 51 -inches
10-23-2014 Distance between trunks and retaining walls
® S129 -inches
® S2 22 -inches
Trunk diameter measurements of S1 and S2 were taken during my site visit in January of
2010 as was a measurement of the distance between the S2 trunk and the southern garage
retaining wall.
Since both trees appear healthy and growing at this time here is a comparison of growth or
size measurements in the intervening five growth cycles. Please note a new growth cycle starts
in the spring of each year.
Tree Measurement
2010
2014
Difference
S1 Trunk Diameter
30,2 -inches
37 -inches
+6.8 -inches
S2 Trunk Diameter
39.6 -inches
51 -inches
+11.4 -inches
Distance from S2
Trunk to Carport
24 -inches
22 -inches
-2-inches
Retaining Wall
Both trees have grown in diameter. This is especially true of S2 which gained 11.4 inches in
diameter between 2010 and 2014. S2 is also 2 -inches closer to the garage retaining wall.
Symbiosis Tree Care 10-27-2014 Additional Sequoia Tree Inspection
2
Conclusion
Based on my findings the trees continue to grow and place pressure oil infrastructure on 5t"
Avenue Condominium.
My 2010 report noted a northward lean in the carport retaining wall and attributed the lean to
pressure from S2 roots. After meeting with Michael Nylander and examining the rock retaining
wall it appears S1 is placing pressure on the rock, retaining wall and causing individual rocks to
move northwards.
While in deposition I agreed a driveway composed of concrete and rebar could reduce risks
of buckle caused by root pressure as the current asphalt does. The attorney representing
Boardwalk Condominiums suggested that the size of the concrete retaining wall be limited to an
area 10 -feet north of the rock retaining wall and Tree S1.
As I stated in deposition roots can travel two to three times the length of the canopy spread
and on October 23 20141 found asphalt buckling caused by sequoia roots 31 -feet north of the
trunk. of St.
While new 10 -foot concrete and rebar surface may reduce risks buckling caused by roots
and as observed on site
A 10 -foot slab is not large enough to reduce risks of buckling in the parking area
caused by sequoia roots.
A concrete and rebar surface will not stop entire SCCtiODS from elevating due to root
growth.
A new concrete surface as described above will also not prevent the rock retaining
wall from continuing to bulge and move northwards due to pressure from S1
structural roots.
Sincerely
Kurt Fickeisen
International Society of Arboriculture TM (ISA) Certified Arborist ## RM -461A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualified
American Society of Consulting Arborists Registered Consulting ArboristsO # 472
61SCVAMERMAN 50C] RTY of
- CONSULTING ARBORISTS
Soyriibiosis Tree Care 10-27-2014 Additjoiial SeqUOie) Tree hispectioti
Symbiosis Tree Care 1O -27-2O14 Additional Sequoia Troe|nupedion
SymbiomisTree Care 1027-2014 Additional Sequoia TreeInspection
Kurt Fickeisen
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist #RM 451A
ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
American Society of Consulting Arborists Registered Consulting Arborist #472
Owner Symbiosis Tree Care LLC
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Symbiosis Tree Care 10-27-2014 Additional Sequoia Tree Inspection