Tree Issues

Your Trees vs

Your Foundation

Foundation damage can be very costly and Home insurance policies do NOT cover foundation damage as a general rule. 

We had foundation issues at our home several years ago. We noticed a crack by a window on one side of the house and a crack in the floor tiles in our front hallway. We had 2 companies come out for quotes. One company wanted $12,000 to put in piers. The other company came out and the rep told us he would love to take our money, but he really thought the issue was our trees. We called a tree expert and he removed 5 trees from around our house and we now have a soaker hose that goes around the foundation. It has made a huge difference in the condition of our foundation. But we did have to have the pipes reconstructed in the front of our house where the biggest tree had been removed. As the root system died off, the soil shifted and the pipes were no longer held in place by the same support. As they moved, they cracked. They had to be dug up and rebuilt to the tune of $3000. That is not covered by home insurance. Where your trees are is a big factor in the damage they can cause and the damage removing them can cause. 

We have learned a few things about how trees can affect your foundation.

Trees can cause problems for your foundations in three ways:

Physical Contact:

When there is physical contact between a tree and a foundation, damage can occur, depending on the type of tree, the site conditions, proximity to the foundation, the type of foundation, how the tree is contacting the foundation, and the tree’s size.  The tree species is important because a larger, older, longer-lived, shade tree is most likely a bigger issue than a smaller, younger, shorter-lived tree or shrub. This is due in part to the extent of the root system involved with shade trees.  Most trees have root systems contained within the top 4 to 5 feet of soil, with the absorbing roots in the top 12 inches.  The roots can extend outward beyond three times the height of the tree.  So a tree with a height of 50 feet, could have roots that grow outward 150 feet from the trunk. If your tree has limbs near your house, you are likely to have roots growing under or along your foundation.  If you do not water around the foundation, research shows that roots will have a tendency to congregate and develop more rapidly under the foundation simply because of the increased amount of available moisture underneath. The roots will find water wherever they can.

The type of foundation is important because, as a general rule, a pier-and-beam foundation can tolerate nearby trees better than a slab.  Roots running below a foundation can force upward pressure as the contacting portion expands in diameter.  The roots or trunk can also exert an inward pressure if they contact the outer perimeter of the foundation as they expand in diameter.  A pier-and-beam foundation gains its support from piers rather than just concrete on top of soil, they can sustain some minor pressure from nearby trees.  If a large shade tree is 5 feet from a foundation, physical contact and pressure forced against the foundation is likely.  If the tree is 15 feet away, physical contact is likely and pressure  against the foundation is possible. the further the tree is from the foundation, the less likely the roots will cause damage. If you are moving/planting trees, call a tree expert and get some advice on placement.

Moisture Content:

Trees can affect the moisture content of soil under and around foundations.  A large shade tree can release as much as 200 gallons of water per day into the air in the form of vapor (called Transpiration) .  The water for transpiration must come from the soil by way of the roots.  Trees can “pull” water from under a foundation, but only do so when water in the surrounding soil is inadequate or unavailable.  Since water naturally moves through the soil from high moisture areas to low moisture areas, not watering at all can cause foundation problems regardless of nearby trees.  Trees can add to the problem, but are usually not the primary cause of moisture loss from soil.

Air gaps and shifting soil due to dying root systems:

When trees die (or are removed), the roots remain. Even if the tree is removed, the roots usually are not. If they are under or near a foundation, these remaining roots can create problems.  As the roots begin to rot and decay, air spaces and gaps occur in the soil  the roots once were.  Soil often shifts to fill the void.  Traditionally foundation professionals have recommend removal of a larger shade tree that is close to the house.  Today, research shows it isn't always best to remove the tree. 



Be sure to call a tree removal expert and listen to their advice before making the decision to plant, move or remove trees. Ask them for the pros and cons. 
Do it smart from the start!

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