affect of tree removal near a building and foundations

[treedom]

hello,

i have a client who has a large [/i]Acer pseudoplatanus[i] near the side of their house. They don't think the roots are affecting the house too much but are worried that if we remove the tree without stump grinding, will the roots affect the foundations as thet rot?

there is no evidence of subsidence, but they suspect it may happen if they don't get on top of it! I've looked into the heave issue and it seems not relavent (non clay soil). So it was just the root rot issue i need clarifying.

[ArborQuest (CS)]

Do you mean....... 'that as the roots below the foundations rot away, Will this cause the foundation to subside (as their may now be 'space' below the foundation)?'

Assuming there are actually roots under the foundations in the first place, In my mind they would decay and merge into the surrounding soil as various organisms redistribute the matter.

I suppose in an extreme situation where say a wall is sitting on buttress roots and actually requires their support, then if they decay away maybe structural problems could arise.

[treedom]

thankyou for the feedback, good point.

[odubhfaigh]

Hi Treedom,

Just read your blimp there, you state that you are removing the tree.  You also are concerned  for the building structure when the roots decay in time after felling/removal.

In some respect, Sycamore roots should stay intact (bar some fine roots) after felling and form new buds on the stump thereafter.  However, if stump grinding, prevention of regrowth will impeed on the ability of the roots to survive.  Therefore the distance from the structure will be important pertaining to the large diameter roots.  I would imagine, from a non-intrusive perspective that if the tree crown is open and well away from the structure and clay soil isnt an issue I would think that  roots may not be an issue in the future.

O'D

[DealgaO]

Roots could be an issue irrespective of soil type, although clay is of more concern because of the swell/shrink potential. However, with the weather over the last few years that should not be much of a problem. You assume that the roots are in fact under the building, are they? Roots don't normally grow where it is not good for roots to be and directly under buildings is not where roots normally want to be unless they are forced through drought and / or there is a leaking drain present that would draw them there. If you want to be sure you could try the Tree Radar system to locate the main lateral roots and see if threy grow towards the building and are relatively large in diameter at the building interface. You will then have  some reliable information upon which to base your decision. Failing that go back to good old fashined excavation athe building interface. If you don't have a clay soil then it is likely that as the roots decay soil and organic matter will be integrated and the building should not move.

Building a wall or foundation over a main buttress root should not occur. Over here because of the application of BS5835 and in Ireland because of common sense if the planning authority has not insisted on the application of BS5837. In my experience of builders in general, if a root is in the way they just cut it away and carry one. if the building is quite old in relation to the tree, i.e. been there for a while such that new roots may have grown from those which builders might have cut, then I would hold to the fact that it is unlikely that they are under the building because the environment is just too hostile for them, unless of course you have leaking drains!