Can Tree Roots Damage Your Foundation? What Raleigh Homeowners Need to Know

Raleigh is a beautiful city well known for beautiful mature trees that dot the landscape. While these trees can seem harmless, tree roots can make their way toward a home’s foundation, leading to serious foundation damage. At Cornerstone Foundation Repair, our local Raleigh team has seen firsthand the damage that tree roots can cause and is here to help you understand the risks of tree root damage, how you can prevent it, and how our team can help you manage tree root foundation damage in Raleigh. We’ll take a closer look at tree root foundation damage and what Raleigh homeowners need to know about this common cause of foundation problems.

How Do Tree Roots Actually Damage Foundations?

When people think of tree root damage, the first image that pops into their head is tree roots directly contacting a foundation. While this can happen, the more common cause of tree root damage to foundations is associated with the moisture changes that happen in the soil surrounding the foundation. Our soil in Raleigh is clay-rich, which allows it to expand and contract with moisture levels. This soil expansion and contraction can cause uneven foundation settlement and contribute to increased hydrostatic pressure around the foundation. When tree roots grow towards a foundation, they absorb water, which further increases soil movement and foundation damage. We’ll take a closer look at warning signs to watch for if you suspect tree roots may be putting your foundation in danger.

Warning Signs That Tree Roots May Be Affecting Your Foundation

Foundation problems from tree root damage and soil shifting often develop slowly over the years, which can make them harder to spot. While this damage often develops gradually, there are still some warning signs you can look out for. Common warning signs that tree roots are affecting your foundation include:

• Cracks appearing in interior walls or exterior masonry.
• Doors and windows that suddenly become difficult to open or close.
• Uneven, sloping, or sagging floors.
• Gaps developing around window frames or exterior doors.

These are the damages we see from uneven settling of a foundation, typically caused by shifting soil, like what we see with tree root damage. While tree roots can cause this type of damage, other issues may be responsible as well, like poor drainage or construction issues. Next, we’ll look at some of the more common types of trees that cause tree root damage in Raleigh foundations.

Which Trees Are Most Likely to Cause Foundation Problems?

Typically, trees that cause foundation damage will be larger, mature trees with extensive root systems. Trees in Raleigh that cause the most foundation damage include:

• Oak trees
• Maple trees
• Willow trees
• Sweetgum trees

Generally speaking, the farther away a tree is from a foundation, the better. If you’re planning to plant a new tree near your home, you must consider the mature height of the tree to determine a safe distance from your foundation. While recommendations vary from tree to tree, a general rule of thumb is to plant a tree as far away as its mature height will be. If you suspect that a tree is putting your foundation at risk, give our team at Cornerstone Foundation Repair a call today for a foundation inspection!

Find Out if Tree Roots Are Threatening Your Foundation With Cornerstone Foundation Repair & Waterproofing

When tree roots threaten your home’s foundation in Raleigh, Cornerstone Foundation Repair & Waterproofing is here to help. To schedule an inspection of your home’s foundation, give us a call today at (844) 926-7637.