How do the trees affect my foundation

The act of cutting off the roots of trees that are growing near a building and installing a barrier to prevent their reestablishment in the area where they are not desired is called installing a root barrier. The need for root barriers is related to the fact that expansive clay soil shrinks as it dries out. Any structure that expansive clay soil is supporting will move downward as the soil dries and shrinks. If the soil dries on one side of the structure and not the other, the soil shrinks where it has dried and remains expanded where it has not dried, causing the structure to experience differential settlement. Differential settlement can cause serious damage to a structure.

Biobarrier Root Control System prevents tree roots from growing in a zone around the fabric. Placed between a tree root and the area to be protected, such as a homes foundation, driveway or anywhere that roots can cause damage, Biobarrier creates a barrier that causes roots to grow in another direction. Unlike solid barriers, it does not need to protrude above ground where it could be a tripping hazard and costly liability. Because it is a flexible geotextile fabric, Biobarrier easily fits the contours of any job site.

When there is a desire to improve the out-of-levelness of a structure by rehydration of the supporting soil and there are large trees involved, there must be a root barrier installed. Releveling in this case can be accelerated by the installation of a foundation watering system. The watering system should be arranged to supply water uniformly around the foundation of a structure during extended dry periods. The moisture provided must be enough to prevent the soil from shrinking during extended dry periods, but free water should not be allowed to accumulate at the perimeter or underside of a foundation.