Too Close for Comfort?

[BigRedDog]

Just about to put up a nice two storey larch frame strawbale exten. The customer wants to keep this very old ash, I've said if it were my call id get rid. No matter how much you love trees you don't want them demolishing your house, can always plant some more elsewhere. The tree has sprung from the ball of a much older tree, strangely not much roots found while excavating right up to it. What you think?

[Gerbutt]

Looks to close to me, I certainly wouldn't build anything that close to a tree. I'm no expert though.

[18 stoner]

If it were mine it would have been firewood before the footing was dug:blushing:

 

Oh, sorry, i think its too close:thumbdown:

[RPA]

Too close

 

Will deff have buggered the job now anyway - footings, compaction, etc

[skyhuck]

If the customer loves it I would fit some root barrier and give it a chance.

[BigRedDog]

An alternative opinion, inerwesting:sneaky2:

 

Compaction is not really much of an issue, you can't tell from the pics really but this site is basically on the side of a mountain, and its pretty much pure limestone shale (spelling?) under a few inch of poor soil, the mini digger was really struggling to cut that hole, which is probably why there aint many roots, very poor soil.

 

The footings are going to be limestone with lime mortar, no concrete or steel on this project, so it can handle a bit of movement, though probably no a tree falling on it. Its about the most exposed site I've ever worked on, there is actually a local word for the wind that comes down this valley, and she's clearly not that well rooted!

 

Thanks for your comments...

[Arborist Sites]

What LA cover your area ? I cant belive that hasnt been identified during planning

[BigRedDog]

This isn't technically in the UK but it was identified at planning and we have permission to remove if we need to. Its going to need a bit of limbing at the least. I just had a look at an old thread with pictures of a big beech even closer, and as I said this building will be able to stand a bit of movment around it, so maybe it should be given a stay. I think if it was my house I'd still be cutting it down, tis Ash after all, so it'll come in handy next winter:thumbup1:

[Ian Flatters]

If they want to keep it? id suggest root barrier for the building side and then place a wooden prop to support the side away from the hole if possible at least if it moves a bit like its going to fall you've tried to stop it. Thats just my opinoin tho.

[Mesterh]

Looks like if it will fall it will be a way from the building.