can a maple tree's roots damage a house foundation?
my son and dil in their 20's are thinking of buying a house which has a massive maple tree in the front yard. it is probably 30 feet away but the canopy is above the rancher by at least double and the dripline is at the front window. the roots are visible on top of the soil(there is no lawn to speak of)...it is all roots. the concrete driveway is thrust up, cracked and buckled. the tree is probably 30-40 years old. the house has a full basement. would that offer any protection from damage by the roots? in my opinion the house should be avoided at all costs because of the potential damage to the foundation, not to mention any underground pipes, sewer or water or gas lines etcetcetc.anyone have any data i can show them??? i need as many answers as possible to show them.i am a tree lover and have planted and saved many in my life, but many people fail to understand the destructive power of tree roots too close to a house...thanks of course we know tres can increase a property's value...but read the question carefully---this tree is in the realm of liability and has outlived it's benefit as an asset
Public Comments
- yes
- Yes, the roots can destroy the foundation and break into the cellar, weakening the house. Sometimes the cellar walls bow in, or break in. They can block or break pipes, and make a huge problem. We repaired our cellar last fall due to damage caused by a spruce tree's roots.
- don't buy the home until it's been fully inspected. trees can damage foundation, but they can also increase property values.
