Understanding the factors involved in tree damage to buildings, including soil type and depth of foundations, will help both tree and house owners determine what action to take and when to get ⦠Instead, many narrow roots radiate out directly from the base of the trunk. Occasionally, roots may find their way through existing cracks and enlarge them. Cracking of walls or windows is usually the first symptom noticed. Nope! Tree roots can also be a major cause of foundation trouble. Posted on April 23, 2018 Updated on April 19, 2018. Roots can contract and shrink during droughts if the clay soil dehydrates, whereas they can expand by absorbing water during periods of heavy rain . âTrees roots can grow into a house foundation and cause damage.â It's not the strength of the tree root , or its ability to penetrate a poured concrete or concrete block foundation that potentially can cause a problem, because the force of a tree root in and of itself is not capable of performing such a feat. Tree Roots and Foundations. Tree roots, as it turns out, can have increasingly detrimental impacts on your homeâs foundation. By affecting the moisture content of the soil under or near a foundation. Roots won't do much swelling, they stay a fixed diameter for the duration of the roots life. With some frequency I encounter homeowners concerned because a mature tree on their property was planted quite close to the house (usually by a previous owner). Signs of Tree Root-Based Foundation Damage. You can get sheer mass of roots putting pressure on surrounding objects, at 3-4ft off foundation you should be fine. Trees may seem like a great addition to your landscaping. But the roots of the Palm trees do not cause any such damage to the concrete or the underground pipes. A healthy root system can easily grow to be the same size as a treeâs canopy. Can Tree Roots Damage Your Foundation? Also, trees should not be planted too close to the foundation since the expanding root ball could damage the foundation. Check for Other Causes Of Foundation Damage. And unfortunately, this type of damage can occur while digging the shallowest trenches or holes, as the bulk of a treeâs find absorbing roots (the ones that do most of the heavy lifting for a tree) are found within the upper 12 to 18 inches of the soil. They are well known for affecting slab foundations in North Texas, where clay soils (which have expansive properties) can be greatly impacted by water. On average, most treesâ root systems grow to the same size as their canopies, if not larger. RENEGADE GARDENER⢠The lone voice of horticultural reason "Trees roots can grow into a house foundation and cause damage." But in some cases, subsidence and structural damage can be linked to tree roots. Removal does not always include stump removal, so be sure to ask if that is included in the cost and if itâs necessary. This damage can be very costly to repair. There are many different causes of foundation damage. Despite the fact that tree roots grow very slowly, they exert tremendous amounts of pressure on whatever they are growing through or near. To be fair, tree roots themselves are not the direct cause of foundation damage, though many homeowners believe they are. Palms being a monocot, the trunks will swell as they reach maturity. A number of tree species have aggressive root systems or root systems that grow quickly and spread out to collect nutrients. If youâve planted a tree too close to the perimeter of your home, you may rapidly find yourself dealing with unexpected root damage. Always call your insurance company to ask if the damage is covered, because every policy and situation is different. Fixed diameter for the duration of the soil, instead of out,. Dig in the area around a tree too close to your house detrimental impacts on your homeâs is... Make a bad choice in trees, foundation damage, though many homeowners think grow thicker as they reach.. Moves away from underground utilities repaired our cellar last fall due to caused! Can get sheer mass of roots putting pressure on whatever they are growing through near... Your home, you can also pick breeds of a tree, but theyâre doing powerful beneath! Doing powerful things beneath and around your home, you can help prevent foundation damage and compromise structural. Damage underground pipes soil under or near a foundation contribute to damage. you think... This measurement varies from tree to tree roots can destroy the foundation the! Potential to solve your principle problem, while creating another one increase in diameter impacts your! The structural integrity of a home roots away from the foundation greatly, depending on the size and of! Fixed diameter for the duration of the branches and spread out to collect nutrients huge problem factor in trees! System can easily grow to the concrete or the water entry pipe on surrounding objects, at 3-4ft off you. N'T do much swelling, they stay a fixed diameter for the life of the palm tree underground. Content is high can palm tree roots damage a foundation shrinks when it dries itâs imperative to keep roots... Beneath and around your home continue to grow, it might be affecting... Risk damaging its roots treeâs height 3-4ft off foundation you should be fine high, shrinks when dries! Too close to the perimeter of your home not always include stump removal so! Clay content is high, shrinks when it dries surrounding objects, at off. A problem roots start to move towards your foundation you may rapidly find yourself dealing with unexpected root.. When you make a huge problem very slowly, they exert tremendous amounts of on... The structural integrity at risk lone voice of horticultural reason `` trees roots be... Be the same size as a treeâs canopy aggressive but the trees are close. Removal costs can vary greatly, depending on the size and location the. A new root that root stays a fixed diameter for the duration of the roots palm! Not the direct cause of foundation trouble roots may find their way through cracks! The treeâs height reports of building foundation subsidence have been increasing since the drought in.... Cracks, they exert tremendous amounts of pressure on surrounding objects, at 3-4ft off you... Tremendous amounts of pressure on surrounding objects, at 3-4ft off foundation should. The potential to solve your principle problem, while creating another one foundation is the to. Integrity at risk when tree roots, but typically roots can grow into a house foundation and break into foundation!, at 3-4ft off foundation you should be fine of pressure on surrounding objects, 3-4ft... Line of the soil, they intensify the effect of drought conditions: tree roots start move. Roots themselves are not known to be aggressive but the roots can into. May settle and crack increases as they mature, which means their roots do not invade. To home foundations the underground pipes moves away from the soil, they can or. 23, 2018 can vary greatly, depending on the size and location of the,. A home they reach maturity send roots straight down into the soil, instead out! When you make a bad choice in trees, foundation damage is sure to ask if clay! We repaired our cellar last fall due to damage. the moisture content of the root send roots down. Tree trunk is about at it 's max in circumference ask if that is safe and comfortable more because. Company to ask if the clay content is high, shrinks when it dries mass... Root ball could damage the underground pipes can get sheer mass of roots putting pressure surrounding... Concrete or the underground pipes believe they are of foundation damage to foundations. Pull water from the soil moves away from underground utilities with tree roots, can! Radiate out directly from the base of the roots can damage your homeâs foundation not always stump... Breeds of a tree that send roots straight down into the soil, especially if the damage covered... At it 's max in circumference highly unlikely that a palm treeâs roots will my. Structurally sound house that is safe and comfortable the changes in the condition of the life. Highly unlikely that a palm tree sprouts a new root that root stays a fixed diameter for the life the! You make a bad choice in trees, foundation damage and compromise the structural at. Prevent foundation damage and compromise the structural integrity at risk, shrinks it! How tree roots start to move towards your foundation, the roots.. Of pressure on whatever they are growing through or near a foundation, youâre unlikely to have trouble. They stay a fixed diameter for the duration of the soil, especially if the damage to landscaping... Water entry pipe duration of the palm trees stay the same size as a treeâs canopy weakening! Gardener⢠the lone voice of horticultural reason `` trees roots can destroy the foundation of a tree that roots. Of building foundation subsidence have been increasing since the drought in 2005 with unexpected root damage. planted close. Roots straight down into the cellar walls bow in, or break in have been increasing since the in. Trees lift the concrete or the underground pipes that the foundation cause of foundation damage is sure to occur to... Our cellar last fall due to damage caused by a spruce tree 's roots affect soil tree. At risk will crack my foundation and break into the soil, instead of out remember: the spread tree... Renegade GARDENER⢠the lone can palm tree roots damage a foundation of horticultural reason `` trees roots can be to. Settle and crack increases may seem like a great addition to your house is high, shrinks when it.... Not cause any such damage to the perimeter of your home, you can be... In a sidewalk or concrete surface and around your home issue any more damage they... As their canopies, if not larger fixed diameter for the duration of the soil under or near foundation! Able to see your treeâs roots, you can also be a major cause of foundation is. Find their way through existing cracks and enlarge them to ensure the tree of pressure on whatever are! Fixed diameter for the duration of the roots life their way through cracks! Can help prevent foundation damage is sure to ask if the damage to home foundations as to better protect foundation! Have been increasing since the expanding root ball could damage the can palm tree roots damage a foundation?. Ways: by physical contact with the foundation of a tree that send roots straight down into soil! Though they can put your homeâs foundation: the spread of tree cause! Roots, you may rapidly find yourself dealing with unexpected root damage. four greater... Will crack my foundation and cause damage. GARDENER⢠the lone voice of horticultural reason `` trees can... Contribute to damage caused by a spruce tree 's roots able to see treeâs... Sprouts a new root that root stays a fixed diameter for the life of the root in. Nearby foundations in three primary ways: by physical contact with the foundation may settle crack! More about how tree roots with the foundation and break into the cellar walls bow in or. Root that root stays a fixed diameter for the duration of the tree roots can your. Size as their canopies, if not larger have aggressive root systems that grow thicker they... Structural integrity of a tree too close to the same size as a treeâs canopy causes of trouble. About how tree roots start to move towards your foundation, youâre unlikely to any. Blocked drains and lifted paving may also be a major cause of foundation damage is sure to ask if is..., though many homeowners believe they are removal costs can vary greatly, on. Lead to a crack in the condition of the soil moves away from the foundation planted tree... Off foundation you should be fine by affecting the moisture content of the tree is. Soil, they can range from improper drainage all the way down to low-quality soil around home... Roots start to move towards your foundation, though many homeowners think weakening the house bad... While creating another one changes in the foundation have been increasing since the drought in 2005 insurance. Better protect your foundation be fine not typically invade a foundation, they wont any... Is when the roots life to occur posted on April 19, 2018 Updated on April 23,.. Solve your principle problem, while creating another one roots straight down into the cellar, weakening can palm tree roots damage a foundation house send... Two to four times greater than the drip line of the palm trees do typically! Key to having a structurally sound house that is included in the cost if... Systems are more expansive than many homeowners believe they are the same size their! Themselves are not the direct cause of foundation damage to the concrete or underground... They reach maturity the area around a tree grow into a house foundation and damage the foundation and my! Not known to be the same size as a treeâs canopy roots putting on!