canopy/root spread

[Paul Barton]

Just bear in mind that the RPA as suggested by BS5837 is just a guide designed to minimise root damage to trees in/near construction sites.

 

It is quite possible you will find roots outside this zone that will proliferate near drains etc.

[Bundle 2]

Maybe Paul...but you will find trees will not stick to the script as far as RPA goes. BS5837 is a guidance and quite good for it being none to prescriptive (IMO) There is always some leeway ( should be anyway) as roots will tend to exploit the areas of LEAST resistance. Roots rarely damage services or drains without slightly more complicated factors coming into play. That said, my point is the rpa is rarely a nice circle. If a wall or some other underground obstruction should be present, it is plausable the RPA will reflect this...( ie roots grow elsewhere...)

cheers.

[travis]

um, he's not constructing a house, the house is already there.

the house is an old welsh cottage, i think.

so there wont be any construction traffic.

he himself suggested digging a trench by the house to inspect for roots.

my suggestion was to get rid of the tree because, to me, its sounds like it's too near the house.

[nepia]

Don't waste the wood will you; turners love it. Cutting the rings ~4" from the knots (one side) is ideal I'm told. If it needs storing on site put it in the shade with open grain on the bare soil and don't cover it. That allows fungal action and subsequent spalting of the slowly drying wood.

[travis]

thanks Nepia, i knew someone would want the wood.

i obviously up for having it down, i wouldn't have any sort of tree growing close to my house.

[Paul Barton]

Maybe Paul...but you will find trees will not stick to the script as far as RPA goes. BS5837 is a guidance and quite good for it being none to prescriptive (IMO) There is always some leeway ( should be anyway) as roots will tend to exploit the areas of LEAST resistance. Roots rarely damage services or drains without slightly more complicated factors coming into play. That said, my point is the rpa is rarely a nice circle. If a wall or some other underground obstruction should be present, it is plausable the RPA will reflect this...( ie roots grow elsewhere...)

cheers.

 

That's the point I was making - the 12xdiameter guide is just a guide and tree's don't read British Standards:biggrin:

[Bundle 2]

OK...sorry if I was just repeating your point..!

[arb culture]

The roots will spread way beyond the canopy spread Travis.

 

But don't cut it down because of this. In the vast majority of cases trees and buildings can coexist with no significant structural problems.

[jaime bray]

the type of questions you need to be asking or finding answers to are:

 

was the tree there prior to construction of foundations etc

 

is the soil a 'shrinkable' clay

 

When was the house built, prior to 1975?? foundation depths were 0.4m deep. after that went to 0.9m, will the tree roots be influencing the soil water content to a depth that could affect the foundations, called zone of influence i think, well most roots function within top 600mm of surface layer, if tree was there prior to construction then by removing it your chances of soil heave are increased as the foundations were founded on the previously shrunk soil, due to presence of tree, and be aware that heave can take upto 25 yr to arise

 

its really not the kind of thing you just answer without suitable experience, and no man would give a opinion for you to go away with and say this that and tother,

 

its a mine field, protect your integrity and put him in touch with someone of suitable experience imho

Edited July 9, 2010 by jaime bray