eucalyptus root question?

[sihart100]

Hi

 

Ive had a customer email me to day accepting a quote for a jod i quoted a few weeks ago. the main part of the job was to dismantle a mature eucalyptus tree aprox 60-70 ft and about 1.2m in diameter.

 

The tree is only about 10ft from there house and they have asked me about the effect it could have on the foundations of the house after removing the tree and do they risk getting subsidence.

 

there is no sign of subsidence on the house but the last thing i would want to do is give the wrong advise

 

does any one have any knowledge on this, past experience or any recomandations?

 

many thanks in advanced simon

[Bundle 2]

No experience Im afraid although I am surprised it has not caused problems related to the built structure already being both so close (10 ft ?) and a Euclypt. They are known to have an invasive root morphology, at least those species which do well and so are typically planted here in the UK.

There is one point I would make though mate. After removing the tree, you are would be dealing with "heave" as opposed to subsidence.

I would be asking what soil type you are dealing with on site? The elastic soils are a problem ( so clays) But there are a raft of issues that would determine the liklihood of damage...let me refer you this thread as it may help you even if it doesnt answer your question directly....

 

Is a tree owner liable for heave?

 

cheers Tim.

[Dean Lofthouse]

I would tell the owner to dig a test hole or you get a posthole shovel and dig one to see how far down the underlying rock is.

 

The clay soil up here is very thin ontop of rock so theres no worry of heave. Dig in a flowerbed next to the house wall till you reach the foundation and see what it is built on

[Mesterh]

If the customer has any concerns get a consultant in who has professional indemnity insurance.

 

I would definitely not be commenting on it, they can hold you to that in a court of law if things turn nasty.

[Billy]

I would tell the owner to dig a test hole or you get a posthole shovel and dig one to see how far down the underlying rock is.

 

The clay soil up here is very thin ontop of rock so theres no worry of heave. Dig in a flowerbed next to the house wall till you reach the foundation and see what it is built on

way too many variable for this to work easily, unless the hous ein question is known to have relativley shallow trip foundations, in which case it probably will be on rock, otherwise could be doing alot of digging.

If it were me i'd make no comment officially and advise them to seek the advice of a building surveyor, either way the tree will damage the building eventually.

[Dean Lofthouse]

How do builders go on quoting to build extensions ?

 

It takes minutes to dig a test hole

 

 

Houses if they are fairly modern are built on solid, otherwise they would not have building regulations approval. Simples

 

If a building is that flimsy it can be affected by taking down one euc then I'd worry more about the coming wet season

[Robert_S]

If the customer has any concerns get a consultant in who has professional indemnity insurance.

 

I would definitely not be commenting on it, they can hold you to that in a court of law if things turn nasty.

 

What he said:thumbup1:

[sihart100]

hi thanks for the advise think ive opened a can of worms with heave and trees never put much thought into it as never had it any one ask the question before.

ive found a few articles about it through google and 1 says it can only cause problems if tree was established before property was build copy below

 

Soil Heaving (On clay soils only). can occur when an old tree dies - or is felled. The water content of the surrounding soil increases, thereby swelling the clay soils. This can affect surrounding buildings, by applying pressure to walls and solid floors, or even lifting the foundations. ‘Heave’ is only a problem if the tree had been established for a significant time before the building was constructed.

 

so think im going to pass the information back to the customer and let them make the decision there selves and state that im unable to make a professional opinion.

 

thanks again simon

[Billy]

How do builders go on quoting to build extensions ?

 

 

 

 

Houses if they are fairly modern are built on solid, otherwise they would not have building regulations approval. Simples

 

 

quoting for foundations is a risky business involving a lot of hardcore if your caught out:laugh1: until you put bucket to dirt you never know what you'll find. today in a major sandstone area i dug 7ft and only found a bit of broken stone and endless wealden clay whilst trying to dig a foundation for a wall , 10m from there on a seperate floor slab excavation i went down 18" and was on a solid bed of virgin sand stone! You can found a house on almost anything the soil just determines how it will be done. you never know whats gone on below the surface and what corners have been cut, the possiblities are endless, i'd stick to cutting tree's as giving advice on this sort of thing could get messy unless your correctly qualified and insured.

[Mark Bolam]

Fell it.

 

Take the money.

 

You have my personal guarantee the house will be fine.