The idyllic New England home often has a yard complete with beautiful trees that grow and change color with the seasons. New England autumn trees are some of the most beautiful sights on the planet, although we might be a little biased because of our love for the area!
This area is full of oaks, maples, birches, and many other gorgeous trees that oftentimes surround properties even in the heart of the city.
While this creates a beautiful atmosphere, it also means that tree damage to homes and properties is not uncommon. Let’s look at 4 ways tree damage can harm your property.
1. Tree Damage to Roof
Perhaps the most well-known tree damage is damage to your roof. Storms, wind, weather, and general age can cause trees to lose limbs or even fall altogether.
Fallen limbs, trees, and other debris from the trees can easily fall onto your home. Because of tree height, the roof usually gets the most damage. Shingles can be ripped up, chimneys knocked over, gutters pried loose, and you could even be looking at a hole in the roof or walls of the home.
To avoid this type of damage, regularly inspect the trees around your home. It’s sometimes safest to have certain dangerous trees (whether they’re old, sick, or simply too close to your home) removed or relocated.
2. Root System Issues
It’s not just falling limbs and trees you have to worry about. Tree roots are constantly growing and expanding underneath the ground. This makes it even harder to know where the root system is growing & what problems the roots could be causing because you can’t really see it. Even small roots can cause big issues.
When roots grow too close to your home or driveway, they can easily grow and expand in the foundation or the cement of the driveway. This can lead to cracks and large amounts of damage within your home’s foundation, which is both dangerous and expensive to fix.
Roots can also expand and contract, which has direct effects on the soil on your property. More on that later.
3. Drainage Problems
Trees and their root systems often grow deep enough and far enough that they can interfere with your plumbing, sewage, and pipe systems in and connected to your home. This can lead to clogged drains, leaking sewage, and water damage in and around the home.
Trees can also interfere with water drainage routes leading to flooded lawns and omnipresent pools of water. This can lead to mold and mildew growth, destruction of your lawn, and even lead to water damage in the home as well.
4. Damage to Lawn, Plants, and Other Trees
As we mentioned in the previous sections, trees can severely impact both the home and the surrounding property.
The drainage issues combined with the effects of the roots on the soil can change the chemical and physical formation of the soil itself. Lawns and properties with looser soil can allow the roots to travel more easily through the ground, which could lead to more damage to the home in the long run.
The disruption of the soil can also lead to structural damage and make it insufficient to support the home, building, or overall load anymore. This can be quite dangerous, and it’s important to speak to an expert regarding any concerns you have about this issue.
More densely-packed soil like clay can become easily compacted by moving tree roots, which can lead to similar effects as previously described.
Trees can also harm other trees and plants as well. If a tree’s root system is too large or widespread, this creates a monopoly over the nutrients, sunlight, soil, and water in the area, which can make it hard for other plants to survive.
Also, if a tree becomes sick or infected, it could easily spread to other trees around it, which could lead to widespread rot, fallen trees, and other similar problems.
Avoid Tree Damage with Proper Maintenance and Checklists
Trees are an awesome part of the New England experience, but it’s important to remember that tree damage is real and can be expensive. Keep your home safe and maintained by keeping an eye on nearby trees, fixing any damage ASAP, and speaking with your local experts.
Contact us if you have tree damage to your roof or property to get it fixed ASAP.