When carefully planted, maintained and cared for, trees are a wonderful addition to the built environment as well as in nature. Trees help to encourage wildlife, bring oxygen into the environment and help with our mental well-being. They add real beauty to gardens and outdoor spaces and can last for decades if well looked after.
But one of the most common questions that homeowners have when considering trees on their property, is whether they can cause problems near a building. The short answer is that they can, but the good news is that the majority of trees will cause no damage.
The issue with tree roots
Where trees do cause problems with buildings, it’s generally because their extensive root systems are interacting with subsidence or other foundational issues. It’s important to know that the root system of a tree can be far beyond its canopy width and depending on the type of soil and building foundations, this can eventually cause issues such as blocked drains and lifted paving.
If you think you have a problem with drainage and tree roots, CCTV drainage surveys Kingsbury from a specialist such as www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/drain-jetting/drain-jetting-kingsbury/ can help to assess what’s going on.
The case for modern buildings
Modern buildings, in particular, tend not to be affected by trees because they have been built with these issues in mind. For older buildings, the most at-risk areas are those where trees and properties co-exist on shrinkable areas of clay soil. When summers are very dry, the risk of subsidence also increases.
The best way to assess whether a tree is potentially a problem to your building, whether that’s through the risk of storm damage and damaged trees, or through foundational issues, is to call the experts out to assess the situation and make tailored recommendations. Often, preventative action can go a long way to avoiding any future problems and enjoying your trees for years to come.