Blinded by the ROOF!

[helloplease]

I am wondering what my rights are regarding the glare from metal roof homes? Recently, a home in front of mine was torn down at 5603 SW Hanford St to make way for a 3 story box with a metal roof. Every evening when the sun is going down, the glare from the roof is directed towards my home like a Hollywood spotlight. We must shut the blinds on all sunny days because the glare has been affecting my children’s sight. My husband politely told the builder about our dilemma, and he responded that if he coated the roof with a dull finish, it would negate the warranty.

We once had a spectacular westerly view. It has been taken away, along with a good chunk of the value in my home. I will get over this, but feel the health of my family is now under siege.

Are there any environmental rights to protect a homeowner from light pollution, who is harmed by the use of a product, like a metal roof’s glare?

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[dhg]

Only in Seattle would sunlight, reflected or otherwise, be labelled as light pollution. I know we love our grey but I doubt you would be successful in court alleging damage to you and your children from reflected sunlight. It would appear that now would be the time to invest in some lovely shade screens.

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[Jeannie]

Hello, helloplease. While I’m not dealing with metalheads, I sympathize with you about losing your view. It’s an unfortunate fact in West Seattle, where charming, small, older homes are being torn down and replaced with what I call Hummer Houses (big ugly boxy monoliths that have no redeeming architectural qualities and ruin other people’s views). It happened to me about five years ago, in the Gatewood neighborhood. I was so upset that I even spoke in front of the city council, and I also tried to get my house valuation lowered (though I would have preferred to pay higher taxes and get my view back!). Both actions were fruitless. I do miss my westerly view, but I’m stuck.

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[miws]

I can definitely sympathize with helloplease, with the blindingness of a metal roof.

When I worked as a Cashier at McLendons, at a certain time of year, around 3:00-4:00pm, as I recall, at at least one of the west facing Registers, the sun would be bouncing off of Taco Time’s metal awning, in such a manner that it was extremely blinding. I kept joking that I was going to sneak over in the middle of the night, with a can of flat finish spray paint! ;-)

I don’t recall if it actually caused a glare on the Monitor of the Register, but it was at the very least extremely bothersome, as I believe I have some degree of photosensitivity.

Mike

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[squareeyes]

I just had an evil thought… a well-placed mirror would give the offending neighbor a taste of what you’re experiencing. Sadly, I think the shade screen suggested above is about your only option. We’re planning a future construction (not in WS) possibly with a metal roof so knowing this is a potential problem is good food for thought.

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[miws]

I just did a quick skim over DPD’s Code regarding roofs, and although I didn’t spot anything specifically related to how a roof may affect neighbors, there may be other useful info (PDFs):

http://tinyurl.com/ResidentialCode

http://tinyurl.com/RoofAssemblies

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[helloplease]

Thank you all for your input. In response specifically to the the recommendation that I get shades; I do have shades. it is actually so bright that the shades are of little consolation. Imagine the stadium lights directed at your home then bounce that light off a mirror. The intensity is such that we are unable to even see each other and then of course the temperature begins to raise.

I will look into your suggestions MIWS, but i am doubtful that I have any recourse on this or the fact that liberties have clearly been taken in regards to the height of this box. We watched as truck load after truck load was brought in to actually raise the lot line. I have filed a complaint and tried to reach no less than eight people with the city, who we pay to not answer our concerns. It is a helpless situation with a system that is corrupt.

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[Franci]

Covering the window from the exterior of your house will go a long ways to reducing the temperature inside. I had to do this in my living room where the west wall is pretty much all window.

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[pennidogg]

Have you considered looking into adding tint to your windows? I looked into an after market diy product called Gila (www.gilafilms.com), installs pretty much like the after market tint people put onto their car windows. As a bonus it would protect your furniture and carpet from sun fade.

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[helloplease]

No I haven’t looked into tinting my windows. I actually prefer natural lighting, which these homes have enjoyed for sixty years The point is not what i am able to to do, but more in questioning the fact that these builders and home flippers are getting away with the use of inferior products that adversely effect our neighborhoods.

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[JanS]

would some sort of awning work on that side of your house? It would block the glare, help keep the heat out, allow natural light in…

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[kgdlg]

Helloplease I wish you could upload a pic here. While I see your frustration, you are aware that a metal roof is in no way an “inferior product” right? The fact that this box has one says to me that it wasn’t cheaply built actually. That is a higher end product. Also the reason that light colored metal roofs are specified is because they have less heat gain and are more sustainable than dark colored ones. I know this is precisely your issue (they reflect more as a result) but I just wanted to point out that the builder was actually making a long lasting sustainable choice in this product. I am sorry it has caused you negative consequences. Losing a view in this town is never easy, your loss seems to be their gain. Bummer.

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[ws4ever]

Hi,helloplease: I’d research details re coatings and not take information given here as fact. Apologize for the dismissive tone of some here.

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[ws4ever]

I’d check with roofing companies, architects, anyone who installs these roofs. We have many metal roofs in my neighborhood, and none of these are causing glare for their neighbors, so there has to be a way around this. Do not allow people to tell you you are powerless, because that is what they would like you to believe. Changes do not mean causing neighbors avoidable inconvenience. Good luck with locating information.

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[timeslid]

HELLOPLEASE – Your problem isn’t unique, but that doesn’t mean its not a real issue. Please see this story about the “Walkie-Talkie” building in London.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-27425560

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[helloplease]

this is exactly what we are living with! Thank you for sharing.

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[Duskyviolet]

Hi HP,

Here’s another fairly recent story from Vegas. Architects should really be more careful! Good Luck.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39403349/ns/travel-news/t/death-ray-vegas-hotel-pool-heats-guests/#.U4zLivldV1E

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[helloplease]

I have spoken directly to the builder and have been informed that nothing can be done to alleviate the glare as it would negate the warranty.

I have also spent four months trying to get some response from the city in regard to the liberties taken with regards to the height restrictions on this “box”. I have gotten nothing but a complete runaround from department to department. I have contacted no less than ten people who do not answer my questions or calls. They are all paid by us yet they do nothing for us but take home a really nice pay check. The woman in charge of complaints actually claimed to not know the actual height restrictions for residential neighborhoods.

To say that I am disappointed, tired and frustrated would be an understatement. I have filed another complaint specific to the glare but have little faith after what i have already been through. I don’t even know what to do at this point.

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[helloplease]

An awning won’t help me since the reflecting roof is below my home. The glare shines off the roof up to my windows. I wish I could post a photograph.

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[singularname]

Consider cleaning separating the blinding glare issue (which I sympathize with and feel should be resolved by the neighbor) from the dismay at losing your view and greatly disliking the structure that was built (which, whether true or not, reads here like this is possibly the real drive behind your frustration/anger). I say this from some first-hand experience: My own neighbor is so hell-bound on monitoring what I do on and with my property (which does in fact change the status quo of what he has to look at, which is flora and wooden privacy screening so we don’t have to look at each other in our backyards) that the only one of his ten or so complaints that was in fact a violation was completely (and pretty much willfully) ignored by authorities because they became lost and annoyed at the overall mingling of “issues” and his rabid persistence on official nonissues. I did voluntarily fix that one issue on my own–super minor but I wanted to be beyond reproach–but the neighbor is so angry and the authorities so indifferent to him now, that no one has apparently even noticed that fix. Anyway … again …

Just stick to the serious issue of being blinded without the dislike stuff. Hope that helps.

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[helloplease]

Your situation sounds extremely uncomfortable and ridiculous. I do not feel I am similar to your neighbor. I am in general a peaceful and glass full kind of person. The loss of my view is unfortunate. and yes, the building which took it is well above the thirty-five foot limits, with the help of the many loads of dirt they brought in to bring the average grade up….and all apparently legal. I am in general shocked by what builders are able to do and still stay within the lines. I know there is nothing little ole me can do about the machine of progress. I have moved on from that, but living with the glare is horribly unbearable. I just know by my past experience with the city that i don’t even want to fight the fight, because no one is really listening.

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[singularname]

It is, but I’m sure the neighbor doesn’t feel that way, so what are ya gonna do? Keep being glass half full! Keep focused on that blighting roof, without injuring your head by beating it against a wall, which I now understand you’re not (that’s what my own neighbor is doing and it’s got to be making him miserable–good to know you’re healthier than him :->).

Could be you might have to resort to something as insane as the previous suggestion of a “landscape-infused mirror” reflecting back. I imagine the builder has fewer than 10 people he/she has to go through to get attention to his/her own issues. It’s certainly childish, but if you can do it in the spirit of glee …

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[ws4ever]

Unfortunately, valid claims have been discarded or ignored by enforcing agencies. If you search these forums for fence height, landslide, cutting trees, and now, height of building, you’ll see complaints from existing homeowners have not been acted upon by the city: the city fails to fine those out of compliance with existing laws, delays processing claims, or even fires the inspector documenting the claim.

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[JayDee]

Helloplease:

Why can’t you post a photograph? If you post something to Dropbox.com (for instance)you can post a link to the said photograph. The weather this week is a great time to get pix.

I think this will work though I’ve not tried it on the Forums.

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[helloplease]

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rhaa4fswyez3jx3/AABh7HWuTMOeOCSmoABo1Btea

I hope this works. It is impossible to take a photo when the laser beam is full-on because my camera thinks i am taking a picture of the sun.

please notice the roof level of the white house next door.

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