The Damaging Impacts of Trees and Tree Roots

Although it may not seem like an obvious reason for foundation damage, trees and tree roots can have a significant impact on the structural stability of your foundation. As they grow over time, they can expand in the ground and put pressure on your home’s foundation.

If you notice any trees or tree roots that are growing close to your home, it’s important to keep an eye out for how they are growing and if they are putting any impact on your foundation. There are many different symptoms to look out for to know if the tree roots are causing a problem.

If you are unsure if the trees or tree roots in your yard are causing foundation issues, the Tampa foundation repair experts at LRE can provide a free inspection to evaluate the situation.

How Tree Roots Cause Damage

A common problem that creates foundation damage is when tree roots in the ground continue to grow and push against your home's foundation walls. This typically happens with trees that are planted very close to your home. Although they may not be an immediate threat, as they continue to grow over time, the roots may grow to be very large and cause issues.

While trees and tree roots can be a main cause for damage, the soils in the ground can also have an impact on the damage to your foundation. Different soils have different characteristics, and some may be more impactful than others as tree roots grow in the ground.

Clay soils have a very dense consistency and can easily push against your foundation walls as the tree roots grow. Loose soils are much more forgiving when it comes to pressure from tree roots and typically won't put as much pressure on your foundation as clay soils would.

The Impacts on Your Foundation

As the tree roots grow in the ground, they expand and can push against the soils and create pressure. This pressure is then applied to your basement or foundation walls and can cause extensive damage to your home.

As the pressure increases from the tree roots growing, it can cause interior and exterior symptoms of foundation damage to appear on your home.

As a homeowner, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms of this damage so that you can call in a professional like Tampa’s leading foundation repair team at LRE to prevent the problem from becoming worse.

Symptoms of Foundation Damage

Foundation damage can show many different symptoms on both the interior and exterior of your home. Some symptoms may be more obvious than others, but it's important to have a basic understanding of the symptoms in order to call in the professionals at the right time.

  • Interior Symptoms

    As your foundation settles into the ground, it can put a significant amount of pressure on your home. As the pressure builds up, it creates unsightly interior symptoms that can create even more problems.

    • Sticking doors and windows
    • Wall cracks
    • Sinking floors
    • Bowing walls
    • Nail pops

    Each symptom caused by tree roots can vary in their level of severity, which can be difficult to spot them. For example, some wall cracks can be tiny hairline cracks that are hard to spot at first, but can become worse over time.

  • Exterior Symptoms

    Exterior symptoms of foundation damage can also vary in severity. Being proactive at inspecting your property could help you identify these issues early and prevent much bigger, more expensive issues in the future.

    • Wall cracks
    • Tilting chimney
    • Collapsing retaining wall

    Tree root growth can put pressure against your home’s foundation and cause the exterior symptoms to appear on your home.

Trees and Tree Root Damage Solutions with the Tampa LRE Foundation Repair Experts

Before your tree roots cause any major foundation damage, contact the experts at LRE Foundation Repair We’ll provide you with a free inspection and a recommendation on the best tree and tree root damage solutions for your Tampa area home. We have proudly helped Florida residents since 1989, and we’re ready to help you.

Contact us today for your free inspection for protection from trees and tree roots!

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