Pine trees close to property

TomsMom

andrewmp wrote: »

The close proximity was mentioned in the survey, they just didn't give any action points relating to it other than to keep it trimmed or something.

The surveyors I worked for used to make the suggestion that it would be prudent to have the trees removed if above a certain height (i.e. as in your scenario, if tree falls is it taller than and therefore would hit the house). As these trees tend to be shallow rooted they are going to be looking for water (other posts refer to gardens being very dry where these trees are). Images of cracked water pipes/drains and roots growing towards them come to mind. Any tree surgeons/experts in your area who can maybe give you some advice as to whether the tree needs to be removed?

The odds of a car going into it are very low as it's in the back garden.

:rotfl: :rotfl:

I quoted that scenario as we sold a house 14 years ago with tall conifers in the (small) front garden that were probably only about 6' away from the house. The new owners had them removed soon after they moved in. Presumably their survey suggested it. Shame, as it was on a busy main road and being a short front garden the trees did afford some degree of privacy when double decker buses went past! Plus they were nice trees

How much would it cost to remove such a tree?

Don't know Andrew. Maybe someone with recent experience of this will come along. Or got any mates with muscles who can help?

poppysarah

Davesnave wrote: »

Poppysarah thinks 40' is quite a way. My MIL has leylandii relatives 150' away that take the sunlight from her garden at around 4pm in August.

Well pointed out - but as the OP had to be told they're there in a survey he's not noticed them. Although I spose people do stop maintaining their gardens etc so in thfuture they may not get lopped down as often.

Well worth marking east on a plan and working out how much they'd interfere with the sun

lil_miss_17

If they're 40ft away and 20ft high, even if they fell down they would still be 20ft away from your property. Can't see any damage occurring from that.

Cannon_Fodder

andrewmp wrote: »

I've just bought a house with a 24 foot tall coniffer 3 meters from the house.

The surveyer didn't mention much about it and said it showed no signs of damage. Would I be better off getting it removed?

Best to get expert advice, check the age of trees etc, before wielding the axe...

It could be that water removal by the trees has already occurred, and the ground has settled/adjusted to that new dry scenario...

So that when you cut the tree down, you could reverse the situation, make the ground wetter and INTRODUCE the opposite of subsidence, HEAVE...

Trimming down might be short-term option, if you are worried about storm damage.


"Heave is most often caused when a mature tree dies or is removed and its root network no longer draws water from the subsoil. The ground therefore accumulates water in the absence of this dehydrating effect and swells, forcing the foundations on top of it upwards"

http://www.norwichunion.com/press/fs-subsidence-heave.htm