OT - Tree Roots, Basements, and Slab Foundations

npowell · Jul 28, 2021

I have a dumb question about tree roots and foundations. I understand trees close to a basement allegedly can threaten the basement walls. To what degree do trees close to a slab foundation typically pose a problem?

Thanks so much.

Neil

1948CaseVAI · Jul 28, 2021

Depends on the tree type and how close, but roots will raise/tilt a small slab like under a shed or crack and degrade a big heavy slab like under a house. Rebar helps, but roots are never your friend around concrete. Really not enough info for a good answer but in general keep all trees back as far as you can.

npowell · Jul 28, 2021

Thanks. Yes, sorry for the vague question. Don't really have specifics. Helping a friend starting to home shop. Shade
trees preferred. But want some sense of the pitfalls. Eventually, will end up assessing the risk on a particular home.
Currently, deciding which homes warrant a look-see.

mjbrown · Jul 28, 2021

Look at sidewalks. Trees have to be pretty near to cause them to lift.

cjunrau · Jul 28, 2021

My idea is the height the width the tree will get times 2 is how far away you want to plant it. So lets say a spruce branch comes out the side of the tree a max of 20ft I would plant at least 40 ft from any concrete.

Geo-TH,In · Jul 28, 2021

All my trees are far enough form building so if the wind takes them down, they won't damage buildings. Just watch the news and see how many trees fall on houses, cars, garages.
A few years back a large old maple tree landed on a neighbor's garage. Flattened a 2 car garage and the 2 cars inside garage. IF you don't have full coverage insurance, that could cost you the cars.

In my opinion, trees, power lines and houses don't play will together.

560Dennis · Jul 28, 2021

Depends on availability of water got water ,tree roots are coming . Push or lift anything to get it. Will come as far as fifty feet.

moresmoke · Jul 28, 2021

Geos rule of thumb that all trees should be far enough away they cant fall on the house is a good one.

The place I have, one of the reasons I could afford it was that there were 2 huge cottonwood trees leaning over the garage. Would have been a 8k+ bill to have them taken down. Fortunate for me I had the experience and equipment to deal with them.

npowell · Jul 28, 2021

Thanks, guys. Good insights.

Neil

Stephen Newell · Jul 29, 2021

A tree's roots will spread out as far as the limbs of the tree does. The roots can swell up and lift the foundation causing cracks and cracks in walls. This usually only occurs when a tree is within a few feet from the house where the roots get very large. At a distance the roots are more likely to just get into the joints of clay drain pipe. If the house is done with PVC that wouldn't be an issue.

Kansasredneck · Jul 29, 2021

In some cases more. I had a root problem at a rental. City gave me a chemical that would turn the leaves red. About two days later, a tree a block and a half away had a section turn red.

OT - Tree Roots, Basements, and Slab Foundations

npowell

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1948CaseVAI

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npowell

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mjbrown

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cjunrau

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Geo-TH,In

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560Dennis

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moresmoke

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npowell

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Stephen Newell

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Kansasredneck

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