How To Spot If A Tree Is Causing Problems To Your Home

Trees are beautiful things, and it is hard to imagine why someone would ever want to chop down a gnarly old oak. Indeed, a mature tree is a desirable feature that make gardens look established and natural. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that such an ancient sentinel could be the deciding factor if someone couldn’t make up their mind on whether to buy a property or not. There are also trees that are hated by many. I am, of course, referring to the fir trees that are the subject of neighborly disputes and misery all over the world. Those terrible features could make a home difficult to sell; most people are aware of the problems they cause.

Sometimes a tree can cause problems to your home, and you must take action. Here is how to spot if a tree is, or is likely to, cause damage to your home.

Roots
Tree roots, so they reckon, Can grow to be twice as long as the tree’s height. They are an incredible size, but they need to be that way to supply the rest of it with the water and nourishment it needs. Roots are tenacious things, and there are few barriers that can prevent their spread underground. If there is a tree close to your home, it could, over many years, damage the brickwork, but that is not the usual cause of structural damage.

If your home suffers damage, it will most likely be through subsidence. It depends much on the type of soil on which your house stands. You are most likely to see the problem during a prolonged period of drought. The tree will continue to drain the water, but there will be little to replace it. That can cause the ground to become weak and collapse. It doesn’t take much to cause cracks to appear in the walls.

Damp
If there are branches that lie against the wall of your home, it is conceivable that they could cause problems with damp. Most people know that you should never let anything rest against your house, so you should call an expert to prune it.

Blocked Gutters
Rickert Landscaping & Tree Service have seen it all, and they are aware of the stress that people suffer when the gutters on their home block repeatedly. There are mesh covers that you can use to prevent the leaves getting in there, but they are not one-hundred percent reliable. The only permanent solution is to trim the overhanging branches that are the culprits.

Falling
People and property can often come to harm when they do not address overhanging branches that are weak. It might be through disease or damage, but the result can be drastic.

Amateur tree fellers can meet with disaster, so don’t attempt to chop a tree down yourself. It makes sense to get an expert opinion on the condition of the tree every five years or so for peace of mind.

It all sounds like doom and gloom, but the truth is that your home will probably coexist happily with the tree for many years to come, so don’t lose sleep over it.