How Trees Can Cause Foundation Damage in North Garland Homes

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

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Summary: SERVPRO of North Garland highlights how trees and shrubs growing next to a home can cause foundation problems leading to water damage.

• SERVPRO of North Garland alerts homeowners that trees and large shrubs can damage a home’s foundation, resulting in serious structural compromise that can allow water to enter the crawl space or basement. The water damage compounds the structural damage caused by the trees and shrubs. The signs of damage may go unnoticed by the homeowner for years until the foundation is breached and water floods the basement or crawl space.

Repairing the foundation can be extremely expensive. Any water damage restoration needed in the basement or crawl space will add further expense. Homeowners need to be aware that repairing the damage to the foundation, basement, or crawl space does not address the cause of the damage — the trees and shrubs growing too close to the foundation.

Warning Signs of Potential Disaster

A homeowner might be facing an impending disaster if any of the following conditions exist around the foundation of the home.

Large trees growing near the house

Large trees with expansive canopies growing close to the home can damage the foundation, crush plumbing and drainage pipes, and cause cracks in basement walls. The result is leakage in the basement or crawl space. Tree roots growing under a slab can result in the slab cracking, allowing moisture to enter the home.

Large or mature shrubs growing next to the foundation

Because shrubs are often pruned and shaped to accent the overall landscape, homeowners sometimes fail to realize how extensive the root structure of a twenty-year-old shrub is. If left unpruned, some shrubs grow as large as trees. The impact of a large shrub on the soil next to the foundation is similar to that caused by a large tree.

A horticulturalist points out how trees and shrubs can cause structural damage to a home’s foundation or basement wall. “Foundation problems can and do result, however, from what tree roots are doing in the first place — sucking up water. Unless the soil around the house foundation is very dense and was properly compacted after the foundation was installed, tree roots can cause slumping and shifting of the soil as they draw out water. Tree roots grow larger each year underground, to the point where a mature tree will grow roots so large they may also loosen and heave soil due to their changing girth. It is the combined effect of these two root characteristics that can cause enough of an imbalance of pressure in the soil surrounding a house foundation that it may strain outward and crack.”

Planting trees at least twenty feet from the house is advised. A better rule of thumb is to plant trees far enough away from the home that the tree canopy never extends over the roof. Limbs and leaves may cause more damage than the tree’s root system. A simple remedy to prevent tree roots from removing moisture from the soil is to keep trees and shrubs watered during the dry months of the year.

The homeowner who desires to have shrubs growing next to the foundation should select plants that are slow-growing and have small root balls. Selecting dwarf versions of larger shrubs can achieve landscape goals while avoiding potential foundation damage in the future.

Signs of moisture in the basement

The presence of mold, mildew, or a musty smell in the basement or crawl space may be an indicator of structural compromise to the foundation or walls. If the signs of moisture are in areas that are near where large trees and shrubs are growing outside the home, then the cause of the moisture intrusion may be the trees and shrubs. In some instances, roots can be found growing in the crawl space or through the basement walls or floor of the home.

A Safety Reminder

Contact a utility locator service before planning and installing a landscape design. The locator service is usually free. They locate and mark underground utility lines such as main water lines, natural gas pipes, sewer pipes, electrical service, and fiber optic cables. Cutting one of these lines can result in costly damages, personal injury, or death.

Conclusion

When signs of water damage are discovered, take action. The longer a water damage situation remains unaddressed, the more complicated and expensive the restoration and repair process is. The solution may involve a landscape architect, a foundation repair specialist, or a water damage restoration expert. Checking the exterior of the home about every three months will enable the homeowner to spot and eliminate problems.

For more information about water damage restoration services, visit the SERVPRO of North Garland website at https://www.SERVPROnorthgarland.com. The office can be reached by phone at (972) 496-2441 or by email at office@SERVPRO10914.com.