Can Trees Damage Your Foundation?

How Do Trees Damage Your Foundation?

Brick wall cracked from the foundation up.

Even though you can’t see them, tree roots constantly grow as they search for spots filled with nutrients and moisture. While there is plenty of information on tree roots out there, it’s still challenging to predict just how vast a tree’s root system will become.

Many construction companies recommend that a home be built a reasonable distance away from a plot of trees (and vice versa, trees should be planted away from the foundation). Root systems need adequate room to grow. If your foundation is an obstacle in their way, it’s not going to stop them. Instead, the roots will push up against or grow directly into the foundation walls, causing cracks.

Tree roots might not directly damage the home’s foundation in other cases. Instead, the roots may loosen the soil supporting the foundation. When soil shifts, it directly impacts the foundation’s structure. With enough soil movement, the foundation can settle and lead to other issues like uneven floors or stuck doors and windows.

“Root systems need adequate room to grow. If your foundation is an obstacle in their way, it’s not going to stop them.”

How to Protect Your Home From Root Damage

Protecting your foundation from growing tree roots doesn’t have to be a challenge. You can take several steps to keep these roots from disrupting the stability of your home. Some of the most common include:

Planting new trees, shrubs, and hedges wisely.
Transplant the trees, shrubs, or hedges already present in your yard so that they’re farther away from your perimeter.
Have a local contractor check the depth of your foundation. If it is especially shallow, you should talk to a contractor about steps you can take to secure it better.

Most contractors recommend that you do what you can to preserve the trees in your yard. However, if a tree’s root system has become especially aggressive, you can talk to your area’s professionals about removing trees from your property.

A person in gloves uses a mattock to dig up a large tree stump, preventing trees from damaging your foundation.

What To Do When Tree Removal Doesn’t Work

Removing a tree from your property doesn’t mean the leaks in your foundation, basement, or crawl space are going to clear up. Sometimes, removals can go wrong. If you’re noticing consistent water damage in your home after tree removal, follow these quick steps to determine what’s next:

Assess The State of Your Tree Site: After you remove a tree from your property, take a look at the site of the removal. If you cut down the tree yourself (or with the help of some friends) and you’re still dealing with a leak, you may not have appropriately dealt with the remains of the tree.
Talk To Your Local Professionals: Communicating with your tree removal professionals is essential to a successful removal process. Even if you opt to remove a tree on your own time, you may want a contractor to come out and inspect your work after you’ve finished.
Consider Chemical Root Killers: It’s possible there are still active tree roots near your home. If this is the case, consider investing in chemical root killers. You can apply these root killers at the site of your removal and let the roots’ natural absorbent process do the work for you.
Reach Out For Professional Home Waterproofing: Have you taken all the recommended steps post-tree removal but still find your home battling leaks? Persistent issues in your basement, crawl space, or foundation demand professional attention. Schedule an inspection when possible.

How to Fix Foundation Damage Caused by Tree Roots

Repairing Concrete Slab Foundations

Push piers being attached to foundation footing, excavated ground.

If your home rests on a concrete slab and its been damaged by tree roots, we’ll install a foundation pier system. We offer three different pier varieties to adapt to various needs and situations, but each one accomplishes the same goal:

Push piers – straight steel rods are placed into load-bearing strata (sturdy subsurface rock) and then attached to the foundation footing.
Slab piers – used if there isn’t enough room in your yard for exterior excavation or if damage is directly under your home rather than near the sides.
Helical piers – generally used for lighter structures, its “helical plate” design allows it to screw into the ground for additional strength.

Piers will redistribute the weight of your home and move it back into a safer, more level position. Our team provides free inspections that will help determine which pier is needed to repair your home.

Repairing Basement Foundations

Carbon fiber reinforcement straps attached to a basement wall.

What Trees Have Aggressive Root Systems?

As mentioned, all trees can negatively impact your home’s structural integrity if planted too close to your perimeter. That said, some trees have more aggressive root systems than others. Some trees you may want to avoid including in your landscaping plan include:

American Elms
Willow Trees
Hybrid Poplars
Silver Maples

Considering that, plant these trees further away from the foundation. Alternatively, if you’re moving into a new space where these trees have already been planted, talk to the professionals in your area about the removal or landscaping opportunities at your disposal.

Contact JES for Expert Foundation Repair Solutions

Trees near your home risk causing foundation damage, but the issues can be fixed and prevented with our solutions. For over 30 years, JES has been a leader in foundation repair services, helping homeowners in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina make their homes safer.

If you’re looking to repair your foundation or prevent damage altogether, consider working with our expert team. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and take the first step toward protecting your most important asset—your home.

Get Your Free Estimate

Foundation Repair FAQs

JES Foundation Repair offers a range of foundation repair solutions tailored to different types of foundation issues. Some of the solutions they provide include helical piers, slab piers, carbon fiber repairs, crawl space encapsulation, and basement waterproofing. Their team of experts will assess the specific needs of your foundation and recommend the most suitable solution.

It is generally recommended to have your foundation inspected at least once every few years, especially if you notice any signs of foundation problems such as cracks in the walls, uneven floors, or doors and windows that stick. Regular inspections can help identify any potential issues early on and prevent them from escalating into more significant problems. Additionally, if you live in an area with unstable soil or experience extreme weather conditions, more frequent inspections may be necessary.

Yes, push piers are designed to stabilize and lift settled foundations. They are installed beneath the foundation and driven deep into the ground until they reach stable soil. Once in place, the piers can be used to lift the foundation back to its original level by exerting hydraulic pressure.

Groundworks Editorial Team

Can Trees Damage Your Foundation?

Table of Contents

How Do Trees Damage Your Foundation?

How to Protect Your Home From Root Damage

What To Do When Tree Removal Doesn’t Work

How to Fix Foundation Damage Caused by Tree Roots

Repairing Concrete Slab Foundations

Repairing Basement Foundations

What Trees Have Aggressive Root Systems?

Contact JES for Expert Foundation Repair Solutions

Foundation Repair FAQs

Repairing Crawl Space Foundations

Can Trees Damage Your Foundation?

Table of Contents

How Do Trees Damage Your Foundation?

How to Protect Your Home From Root Damage

What To Do When Tree Removal Doesn’t Work

How to Fix Foundation Damage Caused by Tree Roots

Repairing Concrete Slab Foundations

Repairing Basement Foundations

What Trees Have Aggressive Root Systems?

Contact JES for Expert Foundation Repair Solutions

Foundation Repair FAQs

Related Resources

Virginia Landscaping & Your Foundation: The Ultimate Guide

Can Trees Damage Your Crawl Space?

Top Cities and Towns At Risk of Flooding in Maryland

Repairing Crawl Space Foundations