Root Barriers

[TimberMan]

Has anyone had any experience with root barrier devices? I have a landowner with a big birch tree about 25 feet from her foundation, and the roots are causing a large horizontal crack in her basement wall. She wants to keep the tree if possible. I have heard of a product that comes in a roll, you bury it and it turns the roots away from whatever you want to protect. Any advice?
Thanks!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'll bet you that it is not the birch tree causing the cracking , but the poor construction and backfill with a dynamic soil. Many clays expand and contract with moisture content. Unless the tree is right against ths structure the roots don't have enough pressure to push a wall in.

My folks had a similar problem with a willow and a honey locust many years ago. The repair contractor excavated and backfilled with gravel. The also burried braces in the basement floor to keep the walll straiht.

Now what the tree can do in these conditions is exacerbate the drying by scavenging water at deeprer levels.

Many engineers I' have talked to agree with me in that a properly built foundation will not have problems with root damage.