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SUBSIDENCE & INSURANCE

Tree roots can cause damage to structures leading to costly repairs and an increase in insurance premiums. We can provide advice on subsidence, heave, direct root contact and insurance where trees are a consideration.

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SUBSIDENCE

The moisture taken up by tree roots can cause or contribute to the contraction of shrinkable soils that can lead to the downward movement of building foundations.

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We offer a full range arboricultural services relating to subsidence including:

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  • Independent reports to assess the role trees have played where structural damage has occurred.

  • Arboricultural information complimentary to geotechnical data and crack monitoring.

  • CAVAT reports to calculate tree value where notable trees have been implicated in structural damage.

  • Advice on tree management to lessen the likelihood of future or ongoing structural damage occurring.

HEAVE

Heave is the opposite to subsidence in that damage is caused to the structure by the upward movement of the foundations from swelling or re-wetting of the soil.

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Tree removal can cause this swelling although heave will by no means follow on each time a tree is removed. The circumstances are particular but also known and so we are able to provide advice and quantified predictions of heave where a tree is being removed after being implicated in a subsidence case.

DIRECT DAMAGE

Tree roots and/or tree parts (e.g. trunk, limbs) can exert considerable amounts of force on structures leading to damage. Commonly, this can be seen in cracks to boundary walls or distortion to pathways. The damage usually progresses or becomes more acute with time as the roots or parts become progressively thicker and larger.

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We are on hand to provide advice and recommendations to abate or prevent the damage with either tree or engineering management solutions.

INSURANCE

Certain building insurance policies require trees close the property - typically those within 10m - to be formally assessed by an expert as to their potential to affect the house foundations.

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We are able to produce these predictive reports to satisfy this condition. Information gathered typically includes:

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  • Tree species with height, crown spread and stem diameter measurements.

  • Distance from property.

  • Tree ownership.

  • Species water demand and vigour.

  • Tree condition.

  • Subsidence risk assessment.

  • Recommended remedial works including timeframes.

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