Can Tree Removal Damage Foundation?

Why Roots Love Growing Around and in the Pipes

Trees need water, minerals, nutrients and ample oxygen for their root system to develop and thrive. Tree roots can sense where the best growing conditions are and know to take advantage of those opportunities. Studies suggest that root systems can even sense where water is flowing.

Additionally, if you live in an urban area or a highly developed neighbourhood without a lot of nature or greenery, roots might retreat deeper into the ground, where they come into contact with your pipes. If your pipes have any exterior damage — including hairline cracks and tiny holes — the roots can worsen those problems.

Can tree roots break water pipes? Yes. Unfortunately, roots can cause a lot of problems, including:

• Greatly reducing or blocking pipe flow
• Creating a dam inside pipes that leads to overflow
• Worsening pre-existing cracks or holes in the pipe

Although each tree species is different, root growth tends to be the most active during late spring and at the beginning of autumn. Because pipes are underground, it’s often impossible to see when root systems are threatening them. Many times, you may not know anything is wrong before symptoms begin to manifest.

What Should I Do If I Suspect My Pipes Are Leaking From Root Damage?

The first and most important step is to consult a professional if you suspect roots are to blame for your pipe leak. A sewer and drain repair professional understands how to clear roots from drain pipes without causing further damage and can help you determine the best steps to take moving forward.

They may recommend a few minor repairs or harsh measures to redirect the growth of the roots or restrengthen the exterior of the pipes to prevent further damage. If the pipes are too far gone to save or too outdated to offer enough protection, you might need to re-line them. Using special equipment and techniques, a technician might be able to fix your problem without damaging your yard or landscaping.

You might be able to remove some tree roots with a chemical treatment or root cutting machine. If the problem is serious or reoccurring, a professional might recommend that you remove the problematic tree entirely to preserve your pipe system’s structural integrity.

Video Pipe Inspections

Video pipe inspections are one method professionals use to assess your underground pipe situation without causing extensive yard damage or disrupting your daily routine. In a video pipe inspection, a technician will feed a specialised camera through your indoor drains and move it through your underground pipe system. Using a digital monitor and built-in signal transmitters inside the camera, the technician will find the source of the problem and create a plan of action.

Hydro Jetting and Trenchless Pipelining

Once a technician locates the part of your pipes that need assistance, the next step is to repair or replace the damaged lines. 

Fortunately, modern technology lets technicians quickly address your problem with very little yard disruption through trenchless pipelining. During underground trenchless pipelining, the technician can use the Cured In Place Pipe (CIPP) restoration process to repair a damaged pipe without removing the old one. This means you don’t have to worry about trenches in your yard or to replace your sidewalk.

Hydro Jetting is an equally environmentally friendly and time-saving repair method for small-scale plumbing concerns. Instead of digging, a technician will use a hose to move pressurised water through your underground pipes and remove any blockage or build-up.

Trees To Avoid Planting To Prevent Damaged Pipes

Australians love the great outdoors. Every chance we get, we migrate en masse to our scenic beaches, lush national parks, and beautiful mountain ranges. When we're not heading for the hills, we use our free time to cultivate a little patch of nature in our backyards. 

Each weekend local nurseries are flooded with the green and not so green thumbs ready to nurture small seedlings into thriving bushes. Regrettably, not all trees are suited to a home garden environment. Some beautiful little saplings can grow up to be big structure wrecking problems.

Plant wisely

Making smart, educated decisions about which plants to include in your garden needs to extend further than shade, drought hardiness and how many leaves they will or won't drop in the pool. Thinking about the full life of the plant before you start digging could save on potential costs from blocked drains, damaged sewer pipes, and pulling up driveways and paths in the long term.

Tree varieties which commonly lead to damaged drains

Some trees are on the DO NOT plant list. These include:

• Camphor Laurel - environmental weed in SEQ
• Fig trees - Hills weeping fig, Moreton Bay fig, Port Jackson fig
• Rubber plants - Indian rubber tree - weed
• Poplars
• Willows - weed in SEQ

Varieties are slightly less invasive but still not recommended to plant in your garden or near drainage systems. Avoid:

• Coral trees - emerging environmental weed in SEQ
• Large Gum trees
• Jacaranda - invasive weed in SEQ
• Liquidambar
• Norfolk Island and Bunya pines
• Illawarra Flame Trees
• Casuarinas
• Australian White Cedar
• Pine trees
• Plane trees
• Broadleaved Pepper trees - significant environmental weed in SEQ
• Elms - ( - significant environmental weed in SEQ )

The following trees and plants are not ideal for planting around your home or drains.

• Bougainvillaeas
• Pampas Grass - environmental weed in most areas 
• Silky Oak
• Hollies
• Norfolk Island Hibiscus
• Privets - small-leaved privet and broad-leaved privet - environmental weed in SEQ
• Magnolias
• Oleander - weed in SEQ
• Canary Island Date Palm
• Bamboo - some varieties such as golden and black bamboo spread rapidly and are classed as weeds in some parts of the country.
• Rhus tree - weed in NSW
• Brushbox, Tristania
• Wisteria - Pongamia - weed

Root systems strong enough to crack drain pipes and more

Many of these plants have very strong, extensive root systems which will hunt down any water or nutrient source they can, often quite a distance away. This includes moisture escaping from small cracks in broken pipes and drains, the damp areas under pathways or foundations, and stormwater run-off areas.

The destructive power of root systems can destroy fences, retaining walls, patio paving, pool infrastructure, completely block drains, and even your home's foundations. Better choices for around the garden are smaller, slower-growing trees and shrubs which have shallow root systems. Ask your plant nursery specialist or landscaper for recommendations.

Avoid planting anything within 3 metres of sewer drains and stormwater pipes to reduce the incidence of pipe movement, cracked pipes and blocked drains from tree root intrusion.

Prevention is always better than a cure because tree roots often return to the same pipe they were cleared from. Our recommendation is to consider the types of plants growing near your pipes.

Garden plants and grasses have fibrous root systems, which grow on the upper soil layers and are less likely to cause sewer line problems.

Consider what size the plant will be when it’s fully grown. We recommend slow-growing trees and shrubs with non-aggressive root systems and avoid 'tap root' systems that grow vertically downward.

Top tips to avoid pain in the drain

• Don’t plant too close to sewer pipes – as a general rule, at least three meters from the pipe.
• Avoid planting near freshly laid pipes as roots are attracted to softer soil.
• If you’re not sure where your pipes are, request a drainage plan from your local council.
• Call Dial Before you Dig (1100), so you know where sewer pipes and other utilities are located.
• Ask your local nursery to recommend plants with non-invasive roots.
• Install a root barrier – available from hardware stores and nurseries. Root barriers are made from heavy cloth or plastic and are placed in the ground to contain a plant’s root system.

Conclusion

If you don't maintain your home, the passage of time might weaken its structural integrity. Subsidence and uneven soil movement due to root development are more common. Delamination of roots can hasten the process of destabilisation and raise the probability of foundation failure. If you live in an area with frequent or intense rainfall, cutting down a tree may result in a flooded yard. Roots can contract as clay soils dry out during droughts, yet grow as much as ten times their size after heavy rains.

Soil can lose its structural integrity due to both shrinkage and expansion. Tree roots can cause cracks in a building's foundation, which can lead to serious structural damage. Preventative measures exist if you're worried about the possibility of root damage to your foundation. The size of your yard is one of the most important factors to think about before planting a tree. Trees need water, minerals, nutrients and oxygen for their root system to develop and thrive.

An insufficiently deep foundation is a common source of foundation damage from tree roots. Consult a professional if you suspect roots are to blame for your sewer or drain pipe leak. A professional can assess your underground pipe situation without causing extensive yard damage. Using special equipment and techniques, a technician might be able to fix your problem. They may recommend a few minor repairs or harsh measures to redirect the growth of the roots or restrengthen the exterior of the pipes.

It's possible for seemingly harmless saplings to develop into major issues that threaten the integrity of a building or other structure. There are several tree species that should be avoided at all costs in Queensland, including coral trees, weedy rubber plants and poplars. Plants should be spaced at least three metres away from any sewage pipes. Fences, retaining walls, patio paving, drains, and even the foundations of homes can all fall victim to a tree's roots. Smaller trees and shrubs with slower growth rates and shallower root systems are better options. Plants should be planted at least three metres away from sewage pipes and stormwater pipes to reduce the risk of root damage.

Content Summary

1. In spite of this, trees can cause a lot more harm than you might imagine, even when nothing is falling from them.
2. You may not even realise all the ways in which they contribute to your home's security.
3. In this piece, we'll look at the ways in which trees can strengthen or weaken your home's muse.
4. However, problems like subsidence and uneven soil movement due to root development are much more common.
5. If you want to remove trees from your property, you should talk to a professional foundation expert first.
6. If you reside in an area that has frequent or intense rainfall, cutting down a tree may result in a flooded yard.
7. Impact of Tree Roots on Subsoil Even young, little roots can do significant damage to nearby trees.
8. What happens as a result of these shifts is dependent on the soil conditions the tree was initially planted in.
9. Clay-rich soil is the first type of soil.
10. It's important to know what kind of soil your house is built on because that will indicate the potential for tree roots to cause damage to your property.
11. However, most foundation failures may be traced back to shifts in soil quality.
12. Depending on the magnitude of the tremor, your home's framework may be compromised.
13. What to do if your roots start to cause trouble Numerous preventative measures exist if you're worried about the possibility of root damage to your foundation.
14. Creating a root barrier is one solution to the problem.
15. Selecting a slow-growing tree species that has less aggressive rooting tendencies is another strategy to mitigate the risk of root damage if you're set on planting a new tree in your yard.
16. You can also stop tree roots from damaging your property by rethinking your tree-planting ideas.
17. The size of your yard is one of the most important factors to think about prior to planting a tree.
18. You can avoid costly repairs to your new home or business in the future by taking precautions against root intrusion.
19. An insufficiently deep foundation is a common source of foundation damage.
20. If you are concerned about invasive roots, you shouldn't immediately begin taking down trees.
21. Your soil and foundation can be analysed to show that roots are not a serious hazard to your home.
22. Can tree roots break water pipes?
23. The first and most important step is to consult a professional if you suspect roots are to blame for your pipe leak.
24. Using special equipment and techniques, a technician might be able to fix your problem without damaging your yard or landscaping.
25. You might be able to remove some tree roots with a chemical treatment or root cutting machine.
26. In a video pipe inspection, a technician will feed a specialised camera through your indoor drains and move it through your underground pipe system.
27. Hydro Jetting and Trenchless Pipelining Once a technician locates the part of your pipes that need assistance, the next step is to repair or replace the damaged lines.
28. Trees You Shouldn't Plant to Protect Your Pipes The outdoors are a big deal for Aussies.
29. Plant carefully When planning your garden, it's important to consider more than just how much shade they provide, how resistant they are to drought, and whether or not they will leave any leaves in the water.
30. Species of trees that are prone to clogged drains There are several tree species that should be avoided at all costs.
31. Flame trees of the Illawarra Australian white cedar pine trees, or casuarinas Straight trees Elms - a major environmental weed in SEQ Broad-leaved Pepper trees (- significant environmental weed in SEQ) Don't put any of these trees or plants near your house or any drains.
32. Bougainvilleas and Pampas Grass are a common environmental weed.
33. Fences, retaining walls, patio paving, pool equipment, drains, and even the foundations of homes can all fall victim to the destructive force of a tree's roots.
34. Smaller trees and shrubs with slower growth rates and shallower root systems are better options for landscaping.
35. To lessen the chances of pipe movement, cracked pipes, and clogged drains brought on by tree roots incursion, refrain from planting anything within 3 metres of sewage drains and stormwater pipelines.
36. We advise you to think about the plants that are growing close to your pipes.
37. If you're not sure where your pipes are, obtain a drainage plan from your local government.
38. Ask your local nursery to propose plants with non-invasive roots.
39. Install a root barrier – available from hardware stores and nurseries.
40. Heavy cloth or plastic root barriers are buried in the soil to contain a plant's root system.
41. To lessen the chances of pipe movement, cracked pipes, and clogged drains brought on by tree roots incursion, refrain from planting anything within 3 metres of sewage drains and stormwater pipelines.
42. We advise you to think about the plants that are growing close to your pipes.
43. Keys to Avoiding a Painful Experience With the Plumbing Plants should be spaced at least three metres away from any sewage pipes.
44. If you're not sure where your pipes are, obtain a drainage plan from your local government.
45. Ask your local nursery to propose plants with non-invasive roots.
46. Install a root barrier – available from hardware stores and nurseries.
47. Heavy cloth or plastic root barriers are buried in the soil to contain a plant's root system.