Take the Time to Assess Tree Threats to Your Building

Your Builder Can Introduce You To A Reputable Arborist

Damaged or weak trees and branches may endanger people and property, and can topple power and communication lines. If there is a substantial tree near your building, consider having it periodically assessed for its health along with appropriate remedial actions.

 Trees Can Cause Physical Damage To A Building

• Swaying and falling branches can cause damage to roofs and gutters.
• Branches that rub against walls will damage finish and paint.
• Leaves and broken branches can clog gutters causing ice dams and water penetration.
• Trees that are too close to buildings may provide an entry path for insects and rodents.
• Trees that are too close to buildings may be fire hazards

Tree Roots Can Damage A Foundation

Roots may extend a distance up to two-and-a-half times the height of a tree.

• Root systems that extend beneath a building can cause foundation uplift and may also exploit cracks and faults as they grow.
• Roots can leech water from the soil beneath foundations, causing buildings to settle and sink unevenly. Subsidence results in structural cracking, particularly around windows and doors.
• Leaky underground drainage pipes attract penetrating roots that will block them and cause them to burst resulting in erosion under the building.
• Root suckers can disturb sidewalk and driveway pavement.

Pay Attention To A Tree’s Structural Defect Indicators

• Dead branches or small, off-color leaves
• Cankers [where bark is sunken or missing] on branches increase the probability that the stem will break near the canker.
• Hollowed trunks
• Decay signs such as soft or crumbly wood, cavities, and fungi on root flares or branches.
• Cracks through the bark and into the tree wood indicate that the tree is failing.
• Weak V-shaped forks are prone to fracture.
• Trees that lean due to wind or root damage probably won’t recover.