Can Trees Damage Your Foundation?

Some trees have especially aggressive root systems that can grow into or around your home’s foundation. Any tree can put your foundation at risk if it is planted too close to your foundation. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can protect your home while still enjoying the beauty of a well-landscaped yard. This page explores how trees cause damage to your foundation, prevention methods, and repair solutions.

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How Do Trees Damage Your Foundation?

Even though you can’t see them, tree roots constantly grow as they search for spots filled with nutrients and moisture. While there is plenty of information on tree roots out there, it’s still challenging to predict just how vast a tree’s root system will become.

Many construction companies recommend that a home be built a reasonable distance away from a plot of trees (and vice versa, trees should be planted away from the foundation). Root systems need adequate room to grow. If your foundation is an obstacle in their way, it’s not going to stop them. Instead, the roots will push up against or grow directly into the foundation walls, causing cracks.

Tree roots might not directly damage the home’s foundation in other cases. Instead, the roots may loosen the soil supporting the foundation. When soil shifts, it directly impacts the foundation’s structure. With enough soil movement, the foundation can settle and lead to other issues like uneven floors or stuck doors and windows.

Brick wall cracked from the foundation up.

Root systems need adequate room to grow. If your foundation is an obstacle in their way, it’s not going to stop them.

How to Protect Your Home From Root Damage

Protecting your foundation from growing tree roots doesn’t have to be a challenge. You can take several steps to keep these roots from disrupting the stability of your home. Some of the most common include:

Planting new trees, shrubs, and hedges wisely.
Transplant the trees, shrubs, or hedges already present in your yard so that they’re farther away from your perimeter.
Have a local contractor check the depth of your foundation. If it is especially shallow, you should talk to a contractor about steps you can take to secure it better.

Most contractors recommend that you do what you can to preserve the trees in your yard. However, if a tree’s root system has become especially aggressive, you can talk to your area’s professionals about removing trees from your property.

How to Fix Foundation Damage Caused by Tree Roots

When tree roots cause foundation damage, there are a few solutions at your disposal. JES has foundation repair methods to repair slab foundations, basement walls, and crawl space beams (all of which can be damaged by tree roots). Here are more details on each option:

Repairing Concrete Slab Foundations

If your home rests on a concrete slab and its been damaged by tree roots, we’ll install a foundation pier system. We offer three different pier varieties to adapt to various needs and situations, but each one accomplishes the same goal:

Push piers – straight steel rods are placed into load-bearing strata (sturdy subsurface rock) and then attached to the foundation footing.
Slab piers – used if there isn’t enough room in your yard for exterior excavation or if damage is directly under your home rather than near the sides.
Helical piers – generally used for lighter structures, its “helical plate” design allows it to screw into the ground for additional strength.

Push piers being attached to foundation footing, excavated ground.

Piers will redistribute the weight of your home and move it back into a safer, more level position. Our team provides free inspections that will help determine which pier is needed to repair your home.

Repairing Basement Foundations

Tree roots that have damaged basement walls usually cause issues like wall cracks or bowing walls. For situations like these, JES uses the following wall repair options:

Carbon fiber reinforcement straps attached to a basement wall.

Our team will determine which one is best for your home’s situation. Rest assured, each tool will provide your basement walls with newfound strength and slowly move them back toward their original position. These tools will also allow your basement to resist any future movement caused by tree roots.

Repairing Crawl Space Foundations

Crawl spaces are usually built with beams and columns that support your home. If tree roots push up against these supportive structures, they can cause sagging floors inside your home. In order to keep crawl spaces sturdy, we install the IntelliJack™ crawl space support system.

Once installed, each IntelliJack™ beam provides up to 24,000 pounds of support to the crawl space floor joists. One of the best features of the IntelliJack™ system is that it can be adjusted to fit nearly any crawl space.

Crawl space support beams installed in and encapsulated crawl space.

What Trees Have Aggressive Root Systems?

As mentioned, all trees can negatively impact your home’s structural integrity if planted too close to your perimeter. That said, some trees have more aggressive root systems than others. Some trees you may want to avoid including in your landscaping plan include:

American Elms
Willow Trees
Hybrid Poplars
Silver Maples

Considering that, plant these trees further away from the foundation. Alternatively, if you’re moving into a new space where these trees have already been planted, talk to the professionals in your area about the removal or landscaping opportunities at your disposal.

Contact JES for Expert Foundation Repair Solutions

Trees near your home risk causing foundation damage, but the issues can be fixed and prevented with our solutions. For over 30 years, JES has been a leader in foundation repair services, helping homeowners in Virginia, DC, Maryland, and North Carolina make their homes safer.

If you’re looking to repair your foundation or prevent damage altogether, consider working with our expert team. Contact us today to schedule a free inspection and take the first step toward protecting your most important asset—your home.

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Foundation Repair FAQs

What other foundation repair solutions does JES Foundation Repair offer?

JES Foundation Repair offers a range of foundation repair solutions tailored to different types of foundation issues. Some of the solutions they provide include helical piers, slab piers, carbon fiber repairs, crawl space encapsulation, and basement waterproofing. Their team of experts will assess the specific needs of your foundation and recommend the most suitable solution.

How often should I have my foundation inspected?

It is generally recommended to have your foundation inspected at least once every few years, especially if you notice any signs of foundation problems such as cracks in the walls, uneven floors, or doors and windows that stick. Regular inspections can help identify any potential issues early on and prevent them from escalating into more significant problems. Additionally, if you live in an area with unstable soil or experience extreme weather conditions, more frequent inspections may be necessary.

Can push piers lift a settled foundation back to its original level?

Yes, push piers are designed to stabilize and lift settled foundations. They are installed beneath the foundation and driven deep into the ground until they reach stable soil. Once in place, the piers can be used to lift the foundation back to its original level by exerting hydraulic pressure.