Do tree roots cause foundation damage?
It doesn’t take a genius to see that tree roots can do bad things to sidewalks. Like turn a section of one into a skateboard ramp. These are photos of oak tree vs. sidewalks in my neighborhood.
In some cases, the tree roots are winning. In other stretches of the sidewalks you can see slumping as the soil underneath erodes or settles. The question is can tree roots do damage like this to the foundation of your house? There seems to be a debate.
The websites of many foundation repair contractors list trees being too close to foundations as a possible source of damage. They often recommend a “root shield” solution where you (or they) install barriers all around the foundation to keep tree roots from getting under the slab. Can tree roots really lift a foundation with the weight of the house and all the stuff in it? Just wondering.
Posted: June 9th, 2006 under Tree Roots and Shrubs.
Comments: 8
Comments
Comment from Rochelle Hill
Time: June 8, 2008, 12:40 am
A tree branch has come through the basement floor underneath the porch. HOw can I destroy this tree from doing further damage. Can I drill a hole in the middle and put salt in it? Will this kill it. I need your help! Right now it looks like a miniture tree trunk, oval in shape about the size of a canaloupe and it has sap running out of it. in the same area a horizontal crack is running about in the middle of the wall. Could this branch be causing this?
Comment from Digger
Time: June 8, 2008, 1:03 pm
It would be better to cut the branch at some point outside of the basement to stop it from coming in any further. As it dies you can speed up the decay by drilling holes and filling them with an organic fertilizer. If the budget allows I would have a tree company come over and take a look. Whether or not the branch is causing the crack, it needs to go.
Comment from reece
Time: November 30, 2008, 7:32 am
Hi there, I read this post titled “Do tree roots cause foundation damage?” about a week ago, might have been last Sunday, and thought it was a good point. I’ve been trying for the last few days to find your site again but ended up finding it in Google using the keywords “floor restoration.”. Anyway, I’ve forgotten what I wanted to post last week but I will be returning regularly. Bookmarked the page.
Comment from Maria G. Bownes
Time: June 2, 2009, 12:27 pm
Hello, one of my two huge trees in fron of my house has some roots above ground and are going direct to my “split level” home. Will this root damage my first floor (half basement) walls? and If they do, would it be possible that my home owners insurance coverage the repair? Somebody told me that the insurance paid for some of the costs to fix the tree.
Thank you very much
Comment from Digger
Time: June 3, 2009, 8:14 am
As long as your basement wall is dry and in good shape I think it would be unlikely for a root to damage it. Tree roots are looking for water. I also think tree roots going up against a basement wall is very different issue than growing under a slab foundation. Opinions may vary, and remember I’m no expert, just a home owner like you.
The insurance question is one for your agent. He/she gets a commission for your policy and this sounds like a time to make him do a little work for it. Get him on the phone and ask for an answer about covering damage from trees.
Thanks and good luck!
Comment from Earldine Fisher
Time: December 3, 2009, 9:44 am
Condo guidelines for uprooting pf patio foundation leading to inside of house resulting from an oak tree 20 feet away. I am send DVD of the damage to each insurance company toput them on guard for a possible problem.
Comment from Rosemarie Rhodes
Time: February 15, 2010, 8:31 am
My neighbor has a Blue Point Juniper that is at least 2 storys tall growing approximately 4 feet away from my property line. I am getting cracks in my concrete foundation. Could it possibly be the Juniper Tree? And is there a law for growing trees too close to your neigbors property line. I would appreciate any information you can give me. Thank you
Comment from Digger
Time: February 15, 2010, 8:53 am
It’s possible, but there could be other reasons for a cracking foundation. If you live in an area with heavy clay soils, be sure to keep even moisture around the slab with soaker hoses. Regarding laws about neighbor’s trees being to close to your property line, you would need to check the codes where you live. A tree just being there is one thing. Causing actual harm to your property is another. You might consider having a local structural engineer with foundation experience check out the situation for you.
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