How Roots Affect Structures

Although roots rarely cause significant damage to homes, the root systems of plants and trees that are located too close to your home may find their way through any existing cracks in your foundation or breaches in your plumbing or sewer lines. Because roots tend to follow the path of least resistance and try to exploit any voids in search of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, they may continue to grow into foundation cracks and plumbing/sewer breaches. This may lead to different aesthetic and structural problems over time.

Roots could also grow under your home, walkways, and driveways, disturbing the soil and leaching a lot of water from the ground underneath all these structures. Soil displacement combined with dry conditions could cause clay soil—which is predominantly found in many locations across Texas, including Houston—to shrink significantly and crack. As the soil becomes inefficient at supporting different structural loads, it may cause your home’s foundation as well as other structures to settle and sink unevenly. Over time, this could cause a whole host of problems, including:

  • large cracks in your foundation, walls, ceilings, and floors;
  • misaligned doors and windows;
  • walls leaning inward or outward;
  • sloping floors, walkways, and driveways;
  • attached structures, like stairs, garages, and chimneys, pulling away from your home.

If roots invade your plumbing or sewer line, some problems you may observe include:

  • slowly flowing or completely clogged drains, which won’t clear with a plunger, drain cleaners, or flushing treatments;
  • sinks and/or toilets backing up frequently;
  • gurgling sounds and/or unpleasant odors coming from your plumbing fixtures;
  • changes in water pressure.

Although all the aforementioned issues could be fixed by digging, cutting, and removing the roots that have caused the damage and making the repairs required, preventing the damage in the first place could help you avoid all the hassle and the costs associated. The easiest and least expensive way to prevent costly root damage is to install root barrier systems.

 How Root Barriers Work

The way trees or shrubs look below the ground is much different from the way they look above the ground. Most trees and shrubs have root systems that grow right beneath the soil surface—typically in the top 18 inches of the soil—and extend up to 3 times the width of their canopies. However, some trees and shrubs develop deeper roots. It is, for this reason, most root barriers should be installed to depths up to 6 feet, depending on the tree and/or shrub species you consider planting. Once installed, root barrier systems protect the structures present on your property by redirecting roots away from them.

Below are a few benefits and reasons why we recommend these systems instead of other solutions.

  • Root Barriers Are Effective. When root barrier systems are installed correctly, they provide an effective solution for controlling invasive root systems without damaging your plants or home. That’s because root barriers act as underground walls that keep roots from invading the structures you have on your property.
  • Root Barriers Are Safe. Unlike chemical treatments, root barriers are made from materials that aren’t harmful to the environment. As a result, using root barrier systems on your property is safe for all of your plants, pets, and children.
  • Root Barriers Are Durable. Root barriers are usually made from impermeable plastic materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, or geotextile fabrics. Because these materials can withstand burial in soil for long periods of time and aren’t exposed to direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, root barrier systems can last indefinitely.
  • Root Barriers Retain Moisture. Impermeable root barrier systems hold moisture at the locations where they’re installed. As a result, they can keep your plants alive and prevent damage to your home’s foundation and other structures during drought conditions.  

Although root barriers bring along important benefits, their effectiveness, durability, and ability to retain moisture depend on how they are installed. Because incorrectly installed root barriers may fail to provide sufficient protection against roots, while preventing your plants from developing healthy root systems, thus hampering their growth, the installation of these systems is best left to the professionals. Regardless of whether roots have already caused some damage to your property, or you have any concerns about the health of your plants, our professionals are able to perform any foundation, plumbing, and sewer line repairs required along with correct root barrier installation so that you can enjoy all the benefits of root barrier systems.

How Roots Affect Structures

Although roots rarely cause significant damage to homes, the root systems of plants and trees that are located too close to your home may find their way through any existing cracks in your foundation or breaches in your plumbing or sewer lines. Because roots tend to follow the path of least resistance and try to exploit any voids in search of oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, they may continue to grow into foundation cracks and plumbing/sewer breaches. This may lead to different aesthetic and structural problems over time.

Roots could also grow under your home, walkways, and driveways, disturbing the soil and leaching a lot of water from the ground underneath all these structures. Soil displacement combined with dry conditions could cause clay soil—which is predominantly found in many locations across Texas, including Houston—to shrink significantly and crack. As the soil becomes inefficient at supporting different structural loads, it may cause your home’s foundation as well as other structures to settle and sink unevenly. Over time, this could cause a whole host of problems, including:

  • large cracks in your foundation, walls, ceilings, and floors;
  • misaligned doors and windows;
  • walls leaning inward or outward;
  • sloping floors, walkways, and driveways;
  • attached structures, like stairs, garages, and chimneys, pulling away from your home.

If roots invade your plumbing or sewer line, some problems you may observe include:

  • slowly flowing or completely clogged drains, which won’t clear with a plunger, drain cleaners, or flushing treatments;
  • sinks and/or toilets backing up frequently;
  • gurgling sounds and/or unpleasant odors coming from your plumbing fixtures;
  • changes in water pressure.

Although all the aforementioned issues could be fixed by digging, cutting, and removing the roots that have caused the damage and making the repairs required, preventing the damage in the first place could help you avoid all the hassle and the costs associated. The easiest and least expensive way to prevent costly root damage is to install root barrier systems.

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