Tree Removal - Clay Soil

[Faisal]

Hi - Can someone please help. Just bought a house and the surveyor missed some step cracking at the the rear boundary wall which i noticed is behind the tree located to the end right hand side of the photo. They are Leylandiis. Please see first photo. He has advised me of the following :

 

"That the trees pose no risk to the house but it would be prudent to reduce the height of the conifers in stages – I suggested 50% now and the rest at the end of the year of early next year. At the moment the boundary wall, from the photos sent, does not need any repair other than repointing. As mentioned yesterday, to avoid having to repoint the wall again, it may be worth delaying this repointing as the cracks are likely to close up over the next year as the soil expands slightly as less moisture is taken by the trees. When the trees have been removed and the soil movement has finished the walls can be finally repointed. "

 

The second Photo was taken in 2016 when the growth was significantly more. Please see photo 2. 

 

 I would like to know if there is a risk of heave or anything elase when the trees are removed as per his advice. I have  already reduced them by 50 % They are about 7 m from my house and about 2 m from my neighbour to the rear. Apparently the cracks have been like this for 3 years. Any help would be appreciated. This is not a good start for me buying the house. The surveyor missed the cracks and tried to use the second photo as part of his site visit survey claiming the vegetation blocked the view of the wall which I have contested through RICS and is being investigated so its been quite stressful to say the least

 

Thanks

 

[Mark J]

Those trees are likely younger than the house and wall. If they are you can fell them without a risk of heave; staged reductions are pointless as the soil will ultimately restore to field capacity. It looks like the ivy became well established between pic 2 and pic 1, ivy that close to a wall in an area prone to subsidence is not a good idea. That is assuming the damage it is related to subsidence and that it isn't down to sub-optimal drainage from the downpipe. 

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Mark J

[Faisal]

Hello Sir - I have cut the roots to the Ivy. The surveyors report did not mention subsidence so I am a bit confused with your feedback apologies if I did not understand this. Am I right in assuming I should remove the ivy ? The only step cracks are in the rear boundary wall but not the garage ? 

[daltontrees]

My first question is where is this? Is it in an area known for shrinkable clays. If it's not then you are not looking at tree related subsidence or heave.

I'd get that Leylandii away on point of principle, horrible and ill-concieved and only going to cause some kind of problem eventually. It's obviously there for privacy, but I'd bolt some posts to the wall and put a trellis up above wall height and get some light climbers in, like clematis, jasmine maybe honeysuckle.

[Faisal]

Hi the area is in yarm in middlesborough.

The whole thing has worn me out. I will get them removed. 

 

[Steven P]

Not sure about the soil type - an area I know a bit - Yarm centre is in the U of a river bed though suspect this house is above the flood plain. Locally there are clay soils... but not sure about this estate.

 

Cracks in the wall but not the garage... could all be due to foundations, lesser foundations on the wall.

 

I'd also consider removing the trees - they will grow higher over time, for a fairly small garden will block the light. If the garage is sound and the clay is shrinkable, and affected by the trees, letting them grow larger will only make any future problems worse, or create problems with the garage.

[Faisal]

Hi Steven I am going to get them removed. I am pursing the surveyor as he should have spotted the issue or raised the trees for concern.  Although he has confirmed that they pose no risk to the house in writing.

[Mark J]

There are superficial deposits of soils with a clay component around Yarm.
Personally, I would probably fell the trees, remove or containerise any climbing plants which are adjacent to walls, and then repoint the wall.  But it's not something I can say with certainty without seeing things in person. 

[Faisal]

Thanks Mark. That's what I will be doing.