Can Trees Damage Your Foundation?

How Trees Cause Foundation Damage

Trees can damage your home’s foundation through their roots, which grow deep and wide underground in search of water. If a tree is close enough to your home, its roots can push against your foundation, causing foundation cracks and uneven settlement.

Also, in areas with clay soil, the situation can get worse. When tree roots take water from the soil, the soil can shrink and cause the foundation to shift or sink. This not only weakens the foundation but can also let water seep in, which could lead to more damage.

Common Foundation Issues Caused by Trees

When trees damage the foundation of a building, it causes other issues to arise. Generally, these are structural issues that make a building less stable. If tree roots affect your home, here’s what you might see:

Don’t ignore these issues. If you notice even just one, it’s best to call a professional to come out and inspect your home. That way, you can know if tree roots (or other factors) are causing the damage and then find the best solution.

How to Prevent Tree Root Damage

Protecting your foundation from tree roots means taking steps to stop problems before they start. Here are some straightforward tips:

1. Choose Safe Trees: Choose trees with roots that don’t spread too far or too deep. You can ask someone at a plant nursery or an arborist (a tree expert) to help you choose trees that are safe to plant near your house, or check out our tree guide.
2. Plant Trees Far Enough Away: Make sure to plant trees far enough from your house. A good rule is to plant them at least as far away as they will grow tall when they’re fully grown.
3. Water Your Trees Regularly: Keep your trees well-watered, especially when it’s dry. Trees that get enough water are less likely to spread their roots far looking for moisture.
4. Use Root Barriers: You can put barriers made of metal or special plastic around your foundation. These barriers go deep into the ground and help keep roots from growing towards your house.
5. Check Regularly: Always monitor your foundation and the ground around it for signs of roots or changes in the soil. Catching problems early can help you fix them before they get big.
6. Get Expert Help: If you think tree roots might be affecting your foundation, it’s a good idea to have a professional, like a structural engineer or foundation expert, take a look. They can tell you for sure if there’s a problem and what to do about it.

Following these tips can help keep your foundation safe from damage caused by tree roots.

Trees to Avoid Planting Around Your Home 

If you’re thinking about planting new trees in your yard, you’ll want to try and avoid certain trees that are more likely to cause damage. Here’s the species we recommend avoiding due to their aggressive root systems:

• American Elms: Known for their large, spreading root systems, American elms can grow extensively underground and disrupt foundations, plumbing, and sidewalks. Their roots seek out water and can be particularly invasive.
• Willow Trees: Willows are water-loving trees and their roots aggressively seek out moisture sources. This trait makes them a risk near any structures, as their roots can penetrate cracks in search of water, causing structural damage.
• Hybrid Poplars: These fast-growing trees have vigorous root systems that can quickly extend far beyond the tree’s canopy, potentially reaching and damaging foundations. They grow quickly, which can be appealing, but this fast growth can also lead to rapid root spread.
• Silver Maples: These trees have very shallow, widespread roots that can lift and crack sidewalks, driveways, and foundations. They are often chosen for their fast growth and large shade canopy, but their root systems can create significant issues for nearby structures.

If these trees are already on your property and not causing problems, they can usually be left alone. However, if they’re close to your house, you might consider relocating them or cutting them down to prevent potential damage. Always monitor these types of trees for signs of root intrusion or other issues.

Protect Your Foundation With AFS

Related Resources

Are Foundation Cracks Normal?: When to Worry & How to Repair

One of the questions we see homeowners as all the time is "are foundation cracks normal?". The short answer is sometimes, but that doesn't mean they're "safe".

8 Signs of Foundation Issues

As a homeowner, you should know that foundation issues are bad for your entire home. You can stay on top of foundation issues by understanding the problem signs associated with them.

The Ultimate Guide to Foundation Repair in the Southeast USA

When foundation damage occurs, it puts your entire home at risk. In this guide, we'll outline the various ways to repair a foundation and why doing so is a valuable investment in the long-term.

Ted Dryce

SEO Content Specialist

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.