Having trees in the yard offers many benefits, such as adding aesthetic value and providing shade that also helps cool down your roof. It also helps protect your home from high winds. In this blog, wall crack repair services contractor Rapid Dri discusses how trees in your yard affect your home’s foundation.
Negative Effects
Generally, it’s not a good idea to plant trees close to the house foundation. Certain types of trees have root systems that spread far beyond the tree base, up to three times deeper and wider than the furthest branches. If tree branches are hanging over your home, chances are it has already reached your house foundation.
A home’s foundation needs stable ground to hold on to. Tree roots cause soil destabilization, which is what happens when tree roots consume moisture when it rains. Tree roots that have already made contact with the house foundation can cause the latter to crack under pressure. Additionally, tree roots can also cause an imbalance in the soil moisture content, resulting in conditions that will require sinking foundation repair.
Positive Effects
The same tree roots also have positive effects. Roots help prevent soil erosion, particularly on sloped yards. They also help retain enough moisture; combined with the shade from its leaves, it helps maintain moisture levels during the dry season.
Mitigating the Negative Effects
It can be tempting to just have the trees pulled out of your yard—which can be extremely difficult if it happens to have a burrowing root system—but this is not the best solution. Nor is it the cleanest: the remains of rotting roots can also cause foundation damage.
Have a house foundation specialist install root barriers near the foundation. Root barriers need to be installed at a right distance and depth, which can vary depending on factors such as tree species and the type of foundation. A quick way to determine root barrier distance is to find out the tree species and its maximum known height, then multiply that height by three. If installed properly, you can enjoy the benefits of having a tree in your yard without worrying about its negative effects.
Rapid Dri is your leading provider of bowed walls repair services. Give us a call at (734) 272-4495 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Ann Arbor, MI, and surrounding areas.
