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Do Roots Of A Tree Damage House Foundations

Every homeowner wants a natural touch in their home that takes the aesthetic appeal to the next level. While trees have several benefits to offer, they can also prove to be threatening due to which you may need to cut them down by hiring tree services. We are going to discuss how trees can turn from being a blessing to something you should look out for if their roots grow near the house foundations. Let’s begin!

Trees Can Cause Concrete Settling And Foundation Damage

One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to planting trees is homeowners believe that trees can be planted anywhere. The truth is that trees need to be planted in areas that do not threaten the foundation and structure of the house. In addition to that, you might have come across some cases where homeowners had to dig up their yards to repair the network of drain pipes. This is because the trees are planted in areas that are affected by the roots as they expand.

Even though it takes years for the roots to expand, once the damage is done, the homeowners have to spend a lot of money and risk the tree’s life to fix the issue. There is a reason experts suggest planning the planting of trees. Anything that can come in contact with or influence the foundation or structure of the house should be kept at a distance.

Another thing to keep in mind is the condition of the soil also plays an important role in terms of damaging the foundations. You might have heard the term “Concrete Settling” which is rare nowadays but can be dangerous if it occurs.

If it occurs, the concrete may crack and can damage the foundation of your house. However, if there is a root disruption, you will hardly notice it especially if it’s a new house.

Signs Of Tree Roots Under The Foundation

Now that you know that tree roots can damage the foundation and structure of your house, it is important to become aware of the signs as well. The first sign you might notice is that your house is slanting towards the tree.

This happens due to moisture loss. As a result, the house may tilt to one side causing the foundation to detach. Additionally, you might notice visible foundation damage to your house. It could be that the trees in the surrounding or adjacent are sucking up all the moisture.

Some trees are naturally built to drink loads of water on a daily basis. Therefore, the soil beneath your foundation is left with almost no moisture leading to its collapse. And finally, if your sewerage or other networks suddenly leak out of nowhere, you might be surprised to find out that the culprits are the tree roots.

There have been many incidents in the past and continue to do so where the roots puncture the pipes and result in expensive repairs for the homeowners.

How To Prevent Root-Related Damage?

If you have been observing some root-related damages over time, you should take several steps to prevent the situation from turning worse. For instance, one of the ways to prevent root damage is by installing a root barrier. To do so, you will need to dig up all the way down to the foundation of the house.

During the process, you can cut any roots that come your way while installing the barrier. This is going to be a costly and tiring process but will prevent your house from being damaged by weather cycles and root growth in the future.

Another way to prevent tree roots from damaging the house is by opting for tree species that are slow-growing and have less aggressive rooting tendencies. Instead of opting for silver maples, willows, and elm trees, go for sugar maple trees.

And finally, the best way to prevent root damage is by considering how big the yard is and the location where the tree will be planted. If you do not have enough space, you should opt for tree species that do not grow extremely tall.

Conclusion

Concluding, preventing root-related damage is pretty easy if you are wise with your tree-planting decisions. If a tree is damaging your house foundation, have experts from tree removal companies Kensington to fell the tree and stop the roots growth.