Articles on root damage to foundations/root barrier protection

[Matt Follett]

Hi folks,

This goes out to all the lit junkies, with more journal articles then wood chips...

I need supporting articles for the effectiveness of root barriers...
Articles pertainding to foundation failure from exsisting tree roots etc...

No time to talk now, lots of searching myself to do, but if anybody has some sources, a 40" dbh Tulip tree sure could use your help

Ah why do I get myself into these fights

(for those who tuned into the Aliathus removal I didn't want to do... I think I am trying to make up for that!!)

 

[seanlarkin]

Matt,
Try going to http://www.biobarrier.com and see if there's any usable info on their website. I have seen some good, detailed literature from them, and I'm that if you emailed them and asked, they'd happily supply you a copy.

-Sean

 

[Tom Dunlap]

This has been discussed a lot no the ISA site.

Tom

 

[Matt Follett]

Thanks Guys

I think I am putting enough stuff together, got the Bio-barrier info, thanks. A very particular client, I'll need concrete evidence, we're perhaps bringing in a structural engineer to look at the building etc, etc.

Block wall construction, 1950's era, the crack have been there for a long time, typical tension side cracks from clay loam soil on other side, perhaps some subsidence effects...

Sinking footings on the garage, poor foundation work,... old...

Hoping that root barriers will put her mind at ease and she'll leave the tree alone.

The thing that erks me is she bought the house with the tree... 3 years ago... If I didn't like clapboard houses, I wouldn't buy one, and then brick it over, so why do people buy property with trees and then cut them down????

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Matt Follett
Hoping that root barriers will put her mind at ease and she'll leave the tree alone.

So you're thinking of installing barriers between the house and the tree? How far from trunk, how deep? 40" liriodendron do not like root disturbance.
My usual tack is to encourage root growth in other directions via compost inoculation,see mm/kb's great images on this! what thread was that? fert, mulch, water etc. That should imo take the pressure off the housebound roots to grow as much.
A big white oak I looked at 12 years ago--2 feet from house--folks showed me crack in basement wall. Was it tree related? Probably, I said. Will it get worse? Maybe, I said, but let's try doing these other things elsewhere in the rootzone and see what happens. OK they said, and so we did. Through hurricanes, ice storms etc. the tree has done very well. Crack in basement wall has not changed in all that time.
Success stories are nice to share--wish they happened more. This oak also had bacterial infection that got disinfected and now is completely closed over and asymptomatic. The academics say "how do you know it was your treatment, could have happened on its own" I say yeah but it may not have too, why sit on your hands?

 

[Matt Follett]

Guy

Thanks for the comments and thoughts.

I don't think root disturbance will be to much of an issue?, the tree is more then 30' from the house, I'm sure we'll hit some, but there has already been disturbance; as the foundation was water proofed from the outside (recently), my plan is to trench just a few feet from the foundation. Depth will depend on what we find soil structure/root zone wise... This is still in the infancy stage.

The compost idea holds water... I'm trying to convince the client that the tree is a benefit to her future garden plans, not a hinderance... I could potentially bring up that point as well.

what does mm/kb's stand for

Thanks again

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Matt Follett
the tree is more then 30' from the house, Whew! that's a good distance.
I'm sure we'll hit some, but there has already been disturbance; as the foundation was water proofed from the outside (recently), my plan is to trench just a few feet 2 should be plenty, huh?from the foundation. Depth will depend on what we find soil structure/root zone wise... This is still in the infancy stage. Good plan.

The compost idea holds water... I'm trying to convince the client that the tree is a benefit to her future garden plans, not a hinderance... Definitely. Many sites that have had leaves removed perennially benefit from adding good soil (not that I want to say anything controversial)

what does mm/kb's stand for

Mike Maas/Kneejerk Bombast. Thread was "cool pictures of tree work" or something like that I think. You can ask him.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

TAke a look at this:

http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/service/library/for98-008/index.html

There are a number of articles in the Jouranl of Arborculture. Go to the ISA site and do a search.

Tom

 

[Matt Follett]

Thanks Tom

I found that article by Dr. Coder, I am definatly including it in the 'pile' I will be presenting the client with, plus some from the J of Arbo..

A bunch of engineering articles on block walls, poured slabs etc.

Now I just have to lay on the convincing tone, without putting myself in a position of tremdous liabilty down the road