Tree and house - Where to get advice

modelreject

Hi,

I have a tree growing beside my house and want to cut it down. Who would i get in touch with to find out if my foundations will be okay? Should I just ring round various tree cutting companies to fish out who is telling the truth or would I have to get a surveyor out to have a look.

Many thanks,
C

Ebe_Scrooge

Do you mean you want to make sure the act of felling the tree won't damage the foundations, or do you want to know if they're already damaged ?

If you suspect they may already be damaged then you'll need a builder / surveyor to take a look. If you just want to make sure you get someone who knows what they're doing, then the best thing is personal recommendation - i.e. find a tree surgeon that a friend has used and is happy with. Failing that you could look on The Arboricultural Association website, I think they're the governing body for tree surgeons.

It's probably worth a quick call to your local council offices first, to make sure the tree is not protected or has a preservation order on it at all - if it has, then you're restricted as to what you can do to it.

27col

The problem with ringing the Council to find out whether the tree has a TPO, is that some smart a*** might come and look and then put a TPO on the tree.

jaqui59

What type of tree is it, how tall is it and how far away from the house?

keystone

If its a big tree its not root damage to the foundations you need to worry about. Its the resultant heave when all that water that the tree was taking out of the ground suddenly has nowhere to go and the ground swells up. That WILL damage your foundations.

Cheers

artha

keystone wrote: »

If its a big tree its not root damage to the foundations you need to worry about. Its the resultant heave when all that water that the tree was taking out of the ground suddenly has nowhere to go and the ground swells up. That WILL damage your foundations.

Cheers

I think the type of soil makes a difference to heave. Clay soils are, as far as I know, most susceptible to heave

keystone

artha wrote: »

I think the type of soil makes a difference to heave. Clay soils are, as far as I know, most susceptible to heave

They are indeed. Sorry - should have made that clear.

Cheers

modelreject

It's a Holly tree and is about twelve foot tall. It is about six foot from extension. There is no sign of damage at the moment.

What would the tree surgeon do. Would they tip the trunk out of the ground? What happens to the dead roots?

keystone

The roots of a holly spread roughly to the height of the tree. However at 12 foot it aint enormous so you should be OK to chop it down even if you are on clay. Whats the diameter of the trunk? I'm guesing no more than about 4/5 inches? DIY job TBH.

Cheers

modelreject

It's pretty skinny. It ain't no oak. I will try and get dome pics up tomorrow. Thanks for all the help so far.

diable

Cutting down healthy trees is just like murder......................... ;o)))