SeanKroll
Treehouser
Any resources or anecdotes?
Root systems and foundations...discuss!
- Thread starter SeanKroll
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Kaveman
Treehouser
In my experience, you either remove the tree, or relocate the home in the plans. Back in AZ, a substantial portion of the cost of building a home, is the dirt work, which can run over 100k pretty easily on the Mogollon Rim. So you'd really have to want the tree, to decide to move the foundations even a few feet.
Personally, tree roots should never be near your foundations, because that would indicate that a tree is close enough to fall on the house. But I'm a tree guy, and I've had to pull trees out of living rooms, so I have a biased opinion.
With the cost of new construction, I could never accept the risk posed to a structure from nearby mass aloft.
All that said, when the local species reach 100ft with regularity, and have more than enough weight/mass to slice through multiple brick walls, that could easily mean barren ground on a small lot.
We all take the risks that we are comfortable with, that includes home owners.
I've seen two homes burned to the ground because a fire got into a stump, burned along the roots, which penetrated the foundations, and set the house ablaze.
Personally, tree roots should never be near your foundations, because that would indicate that a tree is close enough to fall on the house. But I'm a tree guy, and I've had to pull trees out of living rooms, so I have a biased opinion.
With the cost of new construction, I could never accept the risk posed to a structure from nearby mass aloft.
All that said, when the local species reach 100ft with regularity, and have more than enough weight/mass to slice through multiple brick walls, that could easily mean barren ground on a small lot.
We all take the risks that we are comfortable with, that includes home owners.
I've seen two homes burned to the ground because a fire got into a stump, burned along the roots, which penetrated the foundations, and set the house ablaze.
flushcut
TreeHouser
Generally when you have foundation issues due to tree roots the root cause comes down to the phrases: it was cute when it was little, or it wasn’t this big when we moved in, or I didn’t know they got this big.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Thus the Sycamore we are soon to remove. Nice tree, cute when little. Now, roots are invading imitation stone concrete walks, retaining wall and pool deck. Pretty soon it will crack the pool.
HO asked about root cutting solutions. You would have to pull up a ton of those concrete "stones" probably weighing in at about a 1/2 ton to a ton. No room at the wall. Probably kill the tree.
Remove, grind and do over. Probably put something cute in again I am sure.
HO asked about root cutting solutions. You would have to pull up a ton of those concrete "stones" probably weighing in at about a 1/2 ton to a ton. No room at the wall. Probably kill the tree.
Remove, grind and do over. Probably put something cute in again I am sure.
Burnham
Woods walker
That's a nice tree...too bad.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
They cut some major roots on their own. Too late now
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Burnham
Woods walker
I have to admit that I have quite a few trees within striking distance of the house, though the root/foundation issue is OK I think. In my part of the tall tree growing world, you have to put your house in the middle of a really big no tree zone to be free from falling limb and tree hazards. I have trees on our property that I personally planted as seedlings or saplings that are well over 125 feet tall now, so it doesn't have to be particularly old or mature trees to get tall enough to consider potentially problematic.
Me, I just take the risk. I rather live in the trees than a pasture. I have adequate insurance, and I keep a close eye on the health of my near to the house trees. If one has to come down, I have and will do so. But for the most part, we live with the risk and sleep soundly
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stikine
Treehouser
Given all the room they have below the stone wall I'd plant something towards the camera man, Lol. What's the deal with all the roof vents on the left side of the house and none on the right?
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
Right side is the garage
But I believe there is a bathroom in it for the pool area as well.
But I believe there is a bathroom in it for the pool area as well.
flushcut
TreeHouser
Unless they go for the Jag, then it’s slash and burn. LolI have to admit that I have quite a few trees within striking distance of the house, though the root/foundation issue is OK I think. In my part of the tall tree growing world, you have to put your house in the middle of a really big no tree zone to be free from falling limb and tree hazards. I have trees on our property that I personally planted as seedlings or saplings that are well over 125 feet tall now, so it doesn't have to be particularly old or mature trees to get tall enough to consider potentially problematic.
Me, I just take the risk. I rather live in the trees than a pasture. I have adequate insurance, and I keep a close eye on the health of my near to the house trees. If one has to come down, I have and will do so. But for the most part, we live with the risk and sleep soundly
Nutball
TreeHouser
How much PSI can roots exert due to growth? That also needs to be multiplied by how many roots are in the same area.
Ed L
Treehouser
Yews.....the original root system from heII!
The farmhouse LOML grew up in had Yews planted on 3 sides.....been there forever I suppose, kept trimmed, about 4' tall.
We were visiting, went down in the basement to get something.....happened to look at the sump crock, wtf, wtf? There was a mane of white "hair" hanging out of the footing tile, yup.....Yew roots.
After Izzy pased and the farm sold, 1st thing the new owner did was remove the damned things.
Ed
The farmhouse LOML grew up in had Yews planted on 3 sides.....been there forever I suppose, kept trimmed, about 4' tall.
We were visiting, went down in the basement to get something.....happened to look at the sump crock, wtf, wtf? There was a mane of white "hair" hanging out of the footing tile, yup.....Yew roots.
After Izzy pased and the farm sold, 1st thing the new owner did was remove the damned things.
Ed
Marc-Antoine
TreeHouser
They rely on the osmotic pressure to work, be it either growth or pumping water up to the top. Take what can do a sequoia and you get an idea of the performance. I don't have the precises values, but you can count on about 140 to 180 psi. If they can put enough living surfaces against something, they aren't many things that they can't move or crush.
Altissimus
TreeHouser
Had Roots of Maples and Hemlocks near building completely obstructed perimeter drains plus bonus flooded basement
