Tree roots: Drains

mr-bob_2

Hi,

Looking for some advice, hopefully someone can help.

I have recently bought a house (6 months ago) - there is a silver birch tree quite close to the corner of my house 1-2 meters. It is around the size of my house in total and the trunk it quite thick - so it has been there for a while.

It turns out the tree is right next to a manhole cover and has - according to my neighbours - blocked the drains in the past with its roots.

There was no mention of this being a possible problem in my Homebuyers report. There are also a number of cracks at the back of my property (inside, around the tops of windows mainly, mainly hairline) that weren't mentioned, and the path going around the house is cracked near where this is. So I fear it could all be related to this tree. (There was a crack here in the path against the property wall too which then caused a Pyracantha to nest there and climb the wall).

I am wondering what the next step should be. I don't particluarly like the tree and could happily see the back of it - but I don't want it to cause any further problems, and want to ensure no serious damage has already been done.

Will any of it be covered by the buildings insurance, will making a claim cause any issues when renewing or selling the house (ie do I need to then declare anything). Or can I just get the thing cut down and not have to worry about it.

The house is like 50 years old, and I assume the path is also (ex-LA house and they all have those paths round). And the tree seems to have been there a good while too but I'd assume was put in after the house was built - or they'd be !!!!!! to try put a sewer right next to it as well as build a house near it.

cyclonebri1

Silver birch is 1 of the friendliest trees to have near the house, if there is such a thing.
It's roots are more restricted and less probing than most, BUT, at a couple of metres from the house and at the same height, you have big big trouble.

You have to have this removed, but be aware that when it's removed there can be a swelling/uplift of the ground due to the water that is at present being sucked out by the tree. Can cause as much damage as the shrinking.

I can't comment on the insurance aspect, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Get a tree feller in and cost it and take his advice.;);)

You need to have the drains scoped to see if there is any new damage, not too expensive for the camera alone, but if he finds new damage it can get ££££.

anotherbaldrick

As post above, but you need to say the nature of the ground conditions. If you are built on clay, big trouble, the clay will heave upwards on removal of the tree and take your foundations with it. If you are on sandy soils not so bad and chalk no problem .

mr-bob_2

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

As post above, but you need to say the nature of the ground conditions. If you are built on clay, big trouble, the clay will heave upwards on removal of the tree and take your foundations with it. If you are on sandy soils not so bad and chalk no problem .

The soil is clay, I believe.

Isn't paying for a survey meant to find these problems? Aren't they meant to look for manhole covers too. So shouldn't both of these issues have been reported by the surveyor?

anotherbaldrick

mr-bob wrote: »

The soil is clay, I believe.

Isn't paying for a survey meant to find these problems? Aren't they meant to look for manhole covers too. So shouldn't both of these issues have been reported by the surveyor?

In my opinion yes, even a surveyor who was not local to the property and with knowledge of the area should have flagged this issue up. Clay heave is a well documented condition and any professional in the trade (including surveyors) will be conversant with it. Even if you only had a "Home Buyers Report" it should have been flagged up under section "J"

http://www.broxbourne.gov.uk/environment_and_planning/building_control/trees_and_hedges.aspx

keystone

mr-bob wrote: »

Isn't paying for a survey meant to find these problems? Aren't they meant to look for manhole covers too. So shouldn't both of these issues have been reported by the surveyor?

Not IMHO if its a House Buyers Report which aren't worth the paper they are printed on. The thread seems to be getting in a bit of a lather (although there are some perfectly valid points being made) over nothing more than a bit of hearsay and gossip from a neighbour. Perspective issues? Flaying the Surveyor alive is hardy warranted.

However, I'd suggest a tree of that size needs reducing over a period of time (probably two or three seasons) to avoid future problems.

BTW tree roots don't normally break into drains. They will, however, find their way into drains which have already been broken.

Cheers

anotherbaldrick

over nothing more than a bit of hearsay and gossip from a neighbour. Perspective issues?

.

Silver birch as big as the house, trunk 1-2m away from house wall. A perspective issue ?

martinthebandit

anotherbaldrick wrote: »

.

Silver birch as big as the house, trunk 1-2m away from house wall. A perspective issue ?

From some of the replies already I would say 'yep, some of the posters need to get a perspective'

To be honest sorted properly, as has been previously advised its almost certainly not a big problem, at least the OP should be grateful its not a willow

moneyistooshorttomention

I had suspicions that the roots of a neighbouring tree had got into the communal sewer nearby (which I suspected would be cracked with age).

I got the local Water Authority in to inspect and they found I was correct and cleared and repaired the sewer and, at that point, I felt it unlikely the roots would be able to manage to breach this sewer again.

In the event, there was the added point that, as I also suspected, it would appear the tree was getting a lot of its "nourishment" (water and "food") from this sewer and, on having the sewer mended, the tree has been unable to access this any longer and has now died.

So - when you say "drain" - do you mean your own personal "drain" on your land or are you referring to a "communal sewer"?

cyclonebri1

I agree with the point of gradually reducing the size of the tree, I should have mentioned that.

I had 2 x 25 ft high willow trees in my hedge, luckily at the top of my garden. Willow is 5 times (est) more destructive than silver birch.

They were 30yds from the house, but unfortunately about 30ft from the two houses to the rear.
I took them down by 1/2 one year, gave them 3 years, took all the regrowth and 1/2 of the rest and at that point they gave up, they have gradually rotted out since, 15 years on and the final rotted stump will come out this year.

Removing the stump of yours would as suggested be too risky, juist get the drains checked and go from there.

Legally I haven't a clue were you stand, sorry.

anotherbaldrick

martinthebandit wrote: »

From some of the replies already I would say 'yep, some of the posters need to get a perspective'

To be honest sorted properly, as has been previously advised its almost certainly not a big problem, at least the OP should be grateful its not a willow

Silver birch as big as the house, trunk 1-2m away from house wall.

Those were the statements made in the OP's first post