How tree roots can damage your property

Trees are great additions to a home. In fact, a properly placed tree can increase the value of a property, especially in urban areas. However, there are some scenarios in which the presence of trees becomes a source of problems for homeowners. This is especially so with roots. While invisible, roots pack highly destructive potential if it grows the wrong way. In some cases, the damage they cause may make emergency tree removal a necessity. Here are some ways that roots can damage your property:

---

Foundation Damage

​The foundation of a property can get damaged by the wayward growth of plant roots. This is especially so when it comes to large trees, which can have massive roots that can stretch for meters away from the base. Roots, especially the big ones, can penetrate through foundations, which can cause problems such as surface cracks and floor leaks. In some cases, it can even make the foundation weak, which can lead to an untimely collapse.  If they don’t damage the foundation directly, roots can weaken the soil where the foundation stands.  In addition to foundations, tree roots can damage concrete or asphalt driveway, sidewalks, and walking paths.

Sewage and Pipe Damage

​The odds may seem to be low, but roots can cause significant damage to a home’s piping and sewage system. There are some scenarios where the roots can grow down to such depths that they accidentally hit pipes. If it hits your water pipeline, your water supply may either weaken or get cut off altogether. You can also be prone to excessive water charges. If you hit the sewage line, it can cause some sanitary issues in your property. There are even rare cases where other pipes such as gas lines get damaged. 

Landscaping Damage

​The roots of trees may interfere with your landscaping plans. While there are a lot of scenarios where roots actually add a more natural style to your garden, sometimes roots grow so haphazardly that they interfere with your garden theme. Growing roots can also interfere with a landscaping style currently present. There are 3 ways to go about such scenarios: change your landscaping plans, single out specific surface roots, or take down the entire plant altogether. 

Sometimes there is a case to be made for tree removal because the tree's roots are damaging some aspect of your property.  Tree root damage can take a long time to happen as their growth is very slow.  However, root growth is very strong and can be quite intrusive.   When roots begin to encroach or even start damaging your property, such as foundations, landscaping, etc., it may be time to call a professional tree service in Allentown, PA to discuss removing the tree.

​When a plant ends up becoming too damaging for your property, the only recourse is to remove the plant from your lawn. However, it should be done correctly to prevent further damage. Contact us for tree removal services. Our vast experience and state of the art equipment will get the job done right.