HOME & GARDEN
2
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Permits required for construction in Fairbanks RWOOD@NEWSMINER.COM
Planning on adding a shed or garage to your property this summer? If you live within Fairbanks city limits and are constructing an outbuilding bigger than 200 square feet or changing the footprint of an existing building, you need a building permit from the city. As a rule of thumb, permits are also required for any job that removes sheetrock. Structural building inspector Martin Woodrow said the application process is relatively simple, but people occasionally get sticker shock from the permits, which typically run about 1 percent of total construction cost. The cost of the permit includes the required building inspections, which Woodrow said are good
future selling points and the cost is equivalent to independent inspectors. To receive a permit, potential builders must submit a building permit application, an approved zoning permit from the Fairbanks North Star Borough, a driveway permit if applicable and two sets of complete and legible building plans. Applications can’t be accepted if they don’t include the zoning permit, according to Woodrow. Woodrow said people doing the construction themselves can simply draw up plans using a pencil and ruler, “Preferable not on a pizza box or bar napkin.” Information builders often leave our are floor joist sizes and spacing, header sizes, windows and trusses. “Get me enough information on here that I can go out and build what you have in your head,”
Woodrow said. For residential construction projects building inspectors will help with proper sizing and spacing of specific elements, according to Woodrow. Prior to receiving a permit excavation and foundation preparation can be completed, but no concrete may be poured. Separate building plans must include: plot, foundation, floor framing, floor, cross section of building, windows and doors, stair detail, roof framing, elevation drawing and wood stove or fireplace specifications, including chimneys. Woodrow said the building department usually responds to permit requests for a single family house within three of four days, but the process can take up to two weeks. Contact staff write Robin Wood at 459-7510.
BUILDING THIS SUMMER?
BEWARE
There are numerous areas throughout the Borough identified as flood hazard areas. People building in these areas without proper guidance are risking their investment. Every year many people in our community spend hundreds or thousands of extra dollars for required flood insurance. These extra expenses can be avoided.
CHECK THE FLOOD POTENTIAL
It may seem that your property is unlikely to flood. But just because it hasn’t flooded the last 10 years doesn’t mean it won’t flood next year. Before building, check to see if your property is in a flood hazard area. The Borough Planning Department has a copy of the Federal Insurance Rate Maps that identify the areas susceptible to flooding. Knowing the flood potential of your property could save you thousands of dollars in the future.
IT’S FREE!
It costs you nothing to check the flood potential. If your lot is in a flood hazard area you are required to obtain a floodplain permit. Damages will be minimized if a flood occurs, and any required flood insurance payments will be minimized. There is no Borough charge for the floodplain permit.
WHERE?
The Planning Department is located on the second floor of the Borough Administrative Building, 809 Pioneer Road. If you have any questions, please call us at 459-1260.
http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/communityplanning
CREATORS.COM PHOTO COURTESY OF HARRI HEALEY
BUILDING THIS SUMMER?
KNOW THE LAW
Local developers, engineers, surveyors, and contractors should be aware of the storm water plan review and permitting requirements in the urbanized area of Fairbanks.
LIMIT YOUR RISK! LIMIT YOUR LIABILITY!
If your total disturbed area equals or exceeds 10,000 SF in the City of Fairbanks or 1.0 acre in the City of North Pole or the Fairbanks North Star Borough, you should contact the City or Borough to ensure you are complying with local requirements!
I T ’ S THE LAW
Obtain all necessary approvals before you dig!
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jackson Fox City of Fairbanks/North Pole 459-6758 OR David Bredlie FNSB 459-1356 OR http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/pworks/ stormwatermanagementprogram/
F17513987
By Robin Wood
3
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Plan ahead for composting; piles take months to mature RWOOD@NEWSMINER.COM
For composting, as with many aspects of Alaska’s short gardening season, one must plan ahead. The process takes time, and a typical compost pile started during Alaska’s spring won’t be ready until fall, at the earliest. Grass clippings and garden stalks from the prior summer, food scraps from the winter and any additional leaves, straw or organic material should be ready to go by spring. It takes about three months for a well-tended compost pile to fully mature, basically all of Fairbanks’ growing season. Other composting techniques take even longer.
Composting decomposes unwanted organic waste, turning it into future fertilizer often called “black gold.� Composting accelerates the natural process where microbes use energy and nutrients from decaying organic matter, then release those nutrients back into the soil again. Composting requires organic waste, also called feedstock materials, and usually appropriate amounts of water and air in a pile of adequate size. Turning and watering compost piles provide nutrients for the microbes that decompose the pile. Manure and various animal products can be used to compost, but require more advanced operations. Hot composting is the most common process and
goes through three phases: the heating up or “mesophilic� phase, the hot or “thermophilic� phase and the curing or “maturation� phase, according to “Composting in Alaska� by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Cooperative Extension Service. Core temperatures of a compost pile can reach more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit during the mesophilic phase, leaving only heat-tolerant bacteria. During the thermophilic phase those heat-tolerant bacteria will eventually use all the air or water in the pile, and the population will crash. But turning or watering the pile often revives the population. The maturation phase usually takes six to eight weeks. To kill most weed seeds and garden diseases the goal
for home composters is 131 degrees Fahrenheit for three days. Compost piles do not need direct sunlight, as it is the process, not the sun, that generates heat. Cold composting is a technique where gardeners simply add feedstock for multiple years, without ever turning or watering the pile. It does have the drawback of a possible increase in weeds because of lower temperatures. The cooperative service states most Alaska gardeners start composting in May or early June because bacteria require liquid water. The optimal water content is 45 to 55 percent moisture. Achieving a proper carbon to nitrogen ratio is also imperative to composting.
ISTOCK PHOTO
By Robin Wood
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4
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Hydroponic systems can be easy or intricate grow bed, grow media, nutrient reservoir and nutrient solution. The grow bed, roughly six to 10 inches deep, sits on top of the nutrient reservoir to utilize gravity during nutrient cycles. The reservoir must be at least the volume of the bed. Plastics are the cheapest and easiest materials to work with, as metals must have special coatings. Popular choices are paint buckets or generic plastic tubs. The grow media must be chemically inert without decaying organic material. Some popular choices are rockwool, sand, vermiculite and perlite. Specific hydroponic nutrients can be dry or liquid, and should contain all necessary trace elements. Many techniques exist for delivering the solution to the plants, the passive wick system being the easiest. In the wick system, nutrient solution is pulled into absor-
By Robin Wood RWOOD@NEWSMINER.COM
Like all life, water is essential for hydroponic cultivation. Hydroponics is the process of growing plants without traditional soils, instead using a type of media and a nutrient-rich water solution. Hydroponics has pros and cons. In Alaska the system allows for year-round grow operations, a major pro. On the other hand, commercial hydroponic systems quickly can become cost prohibitive, and all indoor hydroponics require lighting. Luckily, with a little ingenuity, a home system can be designed for a fraction of the cost of commercial. Hydroponic systems can be as simple or elaborate as imaginable, but most have four main elements:
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bent grow media through a wick material that spans the reservoir and grow bed. Another easy starter system is the aquarium garden, or water culture, system, where the plant’s
roots grow directly into the nutrient solution. The only additional requirements of the water culture system are an air pump, air line and air stone. Holm Town Nursery sells or
orders everything necessary for hydroponic grows, including a $4 introduction book. General Manager Dona Tuck said a HYDRO » 5
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
5
HOME & GARDEN
Continued from 4 commercial hydroponic system costs anywhere from $30 for a single pot system to $600 for a system with dozens of pots. Of course, making your own grow bed and nutrient reservoir can help alleviate
those costs — the Internet is chock full of home-made designs — but a lighting system will still be necessary. Tuck said a 400 watt system — hood, light and ballast — appropriate for growing one tomato plant costs between $450 and $500. To many that may sound like a steep price to have home-grown vegetables
year round, but there are potential side benefits. As Steve Seefeldt, a University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension agent, said about hydroponics, “People that have a little seasonal effective disorder, it just makes them a happier person.�
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Contact staff writer Robin Wood at 459-7510.
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COMPOSTING Continued from 3 Many composting techniques exist — a simple pile or bins are the most common. To maintain thermal mass, the minimum pile to size is three feet long, three feet wide and three feet tall. A three-bin method is also popular — one bin for each phase makes turning piles
unnecessary. Cooperative Extension Agent Steve Seefeldt said he likes to add a little soil from his garden to his compost pile for an extra bump in microorganisms. He recommends new composters networking with more experienced composters, and to not expect an easy project. “You don’t just set one up and walk away, it does take a bit of work,� Seefeldt
said. The Cooperative Extension Service has a pamphlet that breaks down all the specifics of composting in Alaska. It can be found at http:// www.uaf.edu/files/ces/ publications-db/catalog/ anr/HGA-01027.pdf or picked up at their office, 308 Tanana Loop, room 101.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Online videos can be a big help when planning home upgrades This column by the Cold Climate Housing Research Center first appeared in the News-Miner on Dec. 3, 2014
By Cold Climate Housing Research Center staff
Planning to retrofit your house next summer but not sure where to start? Interested in new heating options for your house? Or want to see step-by-step instructions for building a post-on-pad foundation? If you’re planning a project for next summer or looking to fill these dark winter days, check out some of the video resources we have online. CCHRC’s YouTube channel has an array of videos geared toward builders, homeowners or anyone
interested in building science, energy, or experimental housing projects in cold climates. The “Your Northern Home” series is aimed at educating homeowners on maintenance and basic building science concepts, exploring topics such as radon mitigation, moisture control, ventilation, crawl spaces and heater maintenance. The “Sustainable Northern Communities” videos explore CCHRC’s work designing energy efficient, affordable prototype homes in communities such as Anaktuvuk Pass, Atmautluak and the Sustainable Village here at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Building professionals and educators can find technical videos in the “Cold Climate Building
ONLINE RESOURCES
• www.youtube.com/user/ColdClimateHousing • www.youtube.com/user/UAFExtension/videos • uaf.edu/ces • www.wisdomandassociates.com/resources
Techniques and Concepts” playlist that focus on best practices for building foundations, walls and other aspects of homes. You also can find videos on our research projects, such as ground source heat pumps, thermal storage and the REMOTE (Residential Exterior Membrane Outside Insulation Technique) wall. Check out our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ ColdClimateHousing, or follow the YouTube link on our website cchrc.org. If you subscribe to our chan-
nel, you’ll be notified when we post a new video. The Cooperative Extension at UAF also uploads educational videos at youtube.com/user/UAFExtension/videos. They address construction issues such as radon, weatherization and vapor barriers, as well as other program areas such as health and community development. The Cooperative Extension also offers a free cold climate building course available on iTunes U. The course is designed for
homeowners who plan to participate in the Home Energy Rebate program, although any homeowner can benefit from the topics covered in the course. The 10 chapters address everything from the history of housing in Alaska to building materials to dealing with issues like permafrost and wind-blown snow. Find the preview through the link on Cooperative Extension’s website, uaf.edu/ces. Another avenue for videos on building science topics is Wisdom and Associates, Inc.’s resource website. Wisdom and Associates provides inspections, energy ratings and builder education in Alaska. The Resource Center at wisdomandassociates.com/ resources contains videos
on home inspection topics such as egress, boiler safety and energy ratings. Finally, these two wonderful videos provide a glimpse into the history of life in rural Alaska. Walt Disney’s “The Alaskan Eskimo” is a short documentary filmed in Hooper Bay in 1953 and can be seen here: http://bit.ly/ AlaskanEskimoDoc. “People of the Caribou” is a longer portrait of the Nunamiut by Robert Matsen, available on CCHRC’s channel at http://bit.ly/People OfTheCaribouVideo. Happy YouTubing. Ask a Builder articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, contact us at info@ cchrc.org or 457-3454.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Save yourself some grief by knowing your zoning By Amanda Bohman ABOHMAN@NEWSMINER. COM
are painless.” The borough also issues the addresses for new houses. The Golden Valley Electric Association will require an address before the new property can be hooked up to the power grid. “We don’t require people to get an address,” Sims said. “They come in here wanting one to get hooked up to power.” If you are building in a borough service area, a driveway permit is required. The borough issues those permits. They cost $60.
By Sharon Naylor CREATORS.COM
If you have a small kitchen, you might be fighting the all-too-common problem of clutter: crowded countertops that leave little room for food prep and the dreaded avalanche of cooking pot lids and storage containers every time you open a cabinet door. But with a few
easy improvements and just a few purchases, you can transform your small kitchen into an organized, airy space that still gives you access to all of the cooking pots, cookie sheets, spices and coffee mugs you need. And never deal with the mess and racket of cabinet avalanches ever again. STORAGE » 8
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If you do one thing before you build your new house, that one thing should be checking the zoning for your land, according to Doug Sims, flood plain administrator for the Fairbanks North Star Borough. “It can save all kinds of headaches later on,” Sims said. “Mortgage lenders are paying much closer attention to this stuff.” Knowing how your property is zoned will guide things like what
kind of foundation is best and where on the property to put the new building. “If the building is built in an easement, in a setback, it can be a hassle,” Sims said. Building properly for the type of land also can save money on flood insurance down the road. “By building correctly, you can save yourself a lot of money,” Sims said. The borough Department of Community Planning issues zoning permits for building projects. “They are free,” Sims said. “It’s a 24-hour turnaround, generally. They
Maximize storage, countertop space
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Here are some of the top ways to maximize your small kitchen’s storage space and open up your countertops for a nicer look and better function: • Get rid of your upper cabinet doors. Sounds crazy, but according to Taniya
and easy access. • If you have an L-shaped cabinet system with a corner cabinet, install an oversized Lazy Susan to put pots, pans and smaller cooking items. • Redesign your undersink cabinet with pullout drawers, tilting drawers, stacking shelves and plastic buckets to gather all of those cleaning supplies into
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a smaller storage space. • Hang mugs on hooks under your upper kitchen cabinets. • Get larger cooking utensils out of your utensil drawer. Serving spoons, soup ladles, spatulas and all longer utensils can be stored in a tall metal canister on your kitchen countertop. • Do a little DIY. Those
non-opening drawer fronts at waist level by your sink can be removed and fitted with hinges so that they do tilt open to reveal smaller stored items such as cork screws and bottle openers. • Install an organized shelf system on a kitchen wall. • Use that space above the fridge. Don’t overload it because it will get warm
up there, but a pair of pretty rattan baskets can hold extra kitchen items. • Get creative with the sides of your kitchen cabinets. Shelving affixed to the sides of upper and lower kitchen cabinets lets you store kitchen items such as bud vases and cookbooks. • Use magnetic storage on the sides of your refrigerator.
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F17516687
Continued from 7
Nayak, host of HGTV’s “$100 Half-Day Designsâ€? online series, removing those upper cabinet doors for an open-shelving look can give you an extra 12 to 18 inches of storage space on each shelf. • Design multi-shelf and pullout shelves for your lower cabinets, maximizing the entire cabinet height for better storage
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STORAGE
9
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN
Insulation, ventilation help create healthy indoor air quality By Cold Climate Housing Research Center staff
beneficial for people with asthma. High humidity can cause problems for the house and its occupants. Humidity levels more than 40 percent in the winter climate of Interior Alaska can lead to condensation within the building envelope, which promotes the growth of mold, mildew and rot; humidity more than 60 percent any time of the year provides growing conditions for bacteria, viruses and fungi. Pollutants are introduced into a house in many ways. Carbon dioxide is produced when people breathe and is often used to gauge the indoor air “freshness” (the air exchange rate). Carbon monoxide is a dangerous gas produced by combustion heating appliances,
gas ranges and cars. All homes should have a CO alarm near bedrooms. There are several pollutants that originate from materials in or around our homes that can cause irritation or longterm health problems, such as formaldehyde, which can be released from carpeting and cabinets, or radon, which is released from certain types of soils underneath a home’s foundation. Other pollutants of concern are caused by smoking, cooking and certain cleaning agents. Many of these pollutants can trigger asthma symptoms, irritate eyes and cause headaches or fatigue. Longterm exposure in sufficient concentrations can contribute to the risk of cancer or respiratory
disease, so it is important to manage pollutant levels for the health of the home’s occupants. How is indoor air quality improved in homes? There are several ways to manage IAQ, and one of the most important is
through ventilation. There are two basic types of ventilation: whole house ventilation and local ventilation. Local ventilation is provided for high pollution AIR QUALITY » 10
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Indoor air quality refers to the quality of the atmosphere in a building. There are many elements that make up a healthy and comfortable atmosphere: temperature, humidity and the amount of pollutants such as carbon dioxide, radon, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter. IAQ in homes receives more attention these days because houses are being built more airtight and better insulated than ever before. While this means homes use less
energy, it also means passive air leakage through the building envelope will not provide enough ventilation to get rid of indoor pollutants. Temperature and humidity are primary factors in ensuring occupants are comfortable and healthy. The temperature of a home usually is regulated by the heating system. Water vapor, on the other hand, is produced by daily activities such as breathing, cooking and showering. It can come from houseplants and soils in crawlspaces. This moisture is measured as relative humidity. Some humidity is desirable (30 percent to 40 percent is recommended) because it keeps skin and sinuses from becoming too dry, stops static buildup and is
F18513367
This column by the Cold Climate Housing Research Center first appeared in the News-Miner on Jan. 7, 2015.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN If you find yourself sneezing more often than normal when you’re inside, you may need to replace your furnace air filter. CREATORS. COM PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK J. DONOVAN
Replace your furnace filter, conserve more home energy By Mark J. Donovan CREATORS.COM
Are you seeing a preponderance of dust bunnies in your home? Is dog
hair blowing across your hardwood floors and piling up in corners? Do you notice yourself sneezing more FURNACE Âť 12
AIR QUALITY Continued from 9 areas such as kitchens and bathrooms, to remove pollutants before they migrate to other areas of the house. This is typically achieved using exhaust ventilation, such as range hoods and bath fans. These devices can be controlled by switches or run on a timer and serve to exhaust pollutants and excess humidity. Whole house ventilation dilutes pollutants that are unavoidable, such as compounds released by furnishings and bioeffluents from people in the home. There are many ways to provide whole house ventilation. The first relies on natural air leakage — a strategy that was common in the past when homes were not built as tightly as they are today — when natural pressure gradients
caused by wind and temperature differences move air through open windows or the building envelope. This strategy is not recommended, as it is unreliable in tight homes and can result in wasted energy in leaky homes where heat escapes through the walls, windows, and roof. Two types of whole-house mechanical ventilation systems are exhaust-only and supply-only systems. An exhaust-only system usually consists of one or more bathroom fans designed to run continuously. Fresh air must enter passively through the building envelope. In a supply-only system, a central fan is typically integrated into a forced air distribution system and brings fresh air into a home. Supply-only systems are not recommended in Alaska since they force moisture from inside the house into the building envelope.
The final whole house mechanical ventilation strategy is a balanced, distributed system such as a heat recovery ventilator or an energy recovery ventilator. These appliances exhaust stale air and provide fresh air at an equal rate, distributing it throughout the home through ductwork. No matter what the strategy is for a ventilation system, make sure it’s working properly and outdoor air vents are open and unblocked. For more information on these devices, visit our website at www.cchrc.org or come on a public tour on the second Thursday of each month to see various ventilation strategies at CCHRC. Ask a Builder articles promote home awareness for the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC). If you have a question, contact us at info@ cchrc.org or 457-3454.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
URGENT!
Friday, April 24, 2015
11
HOME & GARDEN
We are accepting applications now for summer. Work slots are filling up fast! Get your applications in NOW!
FREE WEATHERIZATION SERVICES! Save up to 30% on your fuel and electric bills. The paperwork is extremely simple, and we work year round. All eligible clients will also receive the GVEA Home Sense electric audit & products
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Weatherization Measures Are Delivered to: 3 /' *+ ' ', *+ 3 $'"% &$%1 (& + 3 -%,$! &$%1 / %%$'"+ 3 ( $% (& +
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DO YOU QUALIFY FOR WEATHERIZATION? Family Size
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57,300 65,500 73,700 81,800 88,400 94,900
66,600 76,100 85,600 95,100 102,800 110,400
Nenana & Delta 52,800 60,300 67,800 75,300 81,400 87,400
To be eligible for weatherization your gross income for the previous 12 months cannot exceed income limits for your family size.
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A household is automatically income eligible if you’ve received Heating Assistance, SSI, ATAP, TANF, APA/IA, Food Stamps or Senior Benefits within the last year.
Any home weatherized by us prior to April, 2008 may be eligible for weatherization again. A home that has received a rebate from the Energy Rebate Program is not eligible for this program.
Apply now! CALL 452-5323 or 1-800-478-5323 Ext. 0 or download application at www.interiorwx.org
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
F u n d ed thru A lask a H ou sin g F in an ce C orp., U S D ept. of E n ergy, an d the L ow In com e H om e E n ergy A ssistan ce P rogram (L IH E A P )
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713 15 th Avenue ? 'irbanks, AK 99701
12
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Friday, April 24, 2015
HOME & GARDEN HVAC heating system. Furnace filters are specifically designed to trap dust, dirt and other airborne particles in your home. Besides making the air you breathe in your home cleaner, furnace filters also help to increase the longevity of your furnace system by preventing dust and dirt
Continued from 10 than usual while in your home this winter? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then most likely you need to replace your furnace air filter if your home has an
particles from damaging your furnace’s fan and heating coils. Replacing your furnace filter three or four times a year is a smart idea. Besides keeping your home warmer during the winter months, it also will help to reduce your home’s heating bills by maximizing the
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air filters specifically designed to capture them. Other higher-end furnace air filters are also designed to trap bacteria, pollen, mildew and mold spores. Furnace filter replacement is a very simple and inexpensive task. All you have to do is swap out the old one with a new one.
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Prior to buying a new furnace filter, inspect your furnace and pull out the existing furnace filter to record its dimensions. In most cases, the filter dimensions are listed right on the filter.
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efficiency of your HVAC furnace system. Moreover, replacing your furnace filter will help reduce airborne dust particles in the home. And if you have allergies, particularly ones caused by airborne dust mites floating around your home during the winter months, you can purchase
452-1181 600 Driveway Street
(907) 978-4392 alaskagutters@gmail.com /LFHQVHG %RQGHG Insured
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BUILDING THIS SUMMER?
CAUTION
We’ve noticed an increase in the number of people who have difficulty selling their properties. These properties may have public health and safety problems and do not meet local zoning standards. Financial institutions are reluctant to loan to potential buyers of these properties.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT– GET A ZONING PERMIT By obtaining a Borough zoning permit before construction, you can help ensure your development is marketable in the future. The Borough Planning Department issues zoning permits for projects both inside and outside city limits.
IT ’S FREE! There is no charge for a zoning permit. Usually we can have your zoning permit completed and back to you within 24 hours.
The Planning Department is located on the second floor of the Borough Administrative Building, 809 Pioneer Road. If you have any questions, please call us at 459-1260.
F17513984
http://co.fairbanks.ak.us/communityplanning
F17513985
WHERE?