12 Hello Everyone. I am just another weekend gardner and greetings to all. I have a small backyard, about 75feet x 35 feet. I this space I grow two large cherry trees, one large wisteria, one fig (growing rather close to the house) and three small fruit trees. Could anyone tell me how this may affect the house foundations? Or is this nothing to be concerned about? Regards, bnsixstrings
generally speaking roots dont make cracks in foundations but they will invade them if they are there. If you are concerned about the roots and the foundation consider installing deeproot style root barrier along the foundation edge to redirect and block the roots in the upper soil structure. you can get it in depths of 18, 24, 36 and 48 inches I believe and it is available at a supplier in North Vancouver. pm me if you would like the contct info for the supplier. http://www.deeproot.com/
Depends on several factors. Roots take water out of the soil, and some soil types - notably clay - shrink when the water is taken out. If the roots get underneath the foundations and shrink the clay there, you get subsidence damage. The likelihood of this happening depends on the size and species of the tree, its distance from the foundations, and the exact degree of shrinkability in the soil. To get an answer, you need to have a detailed site inspection by a qualified arboricultural consultant.
Is there information available of actual structural damage to house foundations caused by large tree roots? Photographs would be be helpful. bnsixstrings
Probably; but not that I'm aware of on the internet. Look out for books on tree roots and buildings. Typical damage is zig-zag cracks in the brickwork mortar when the corner of the house nearest the tree suffers subsidence, with the rest less affected. For serious damage (one garage I saw, right next to a 15m Leyland Cypress hedge, had a crack I could get my hand into), repairs can be a major task. Again, don't expect to get information without a site visit by an experienced consultant.
