Vegetation, landscaping and grading is not just for a beautiful appearance around your building, but is also required to keep basements and building’s construction dry and prevent structural movement. There are several items to consider when inspecting landscaping and grading, which sometimes home-owners can overlook, take for granted, or underestimate the importance.
We generally advice our clients to trim all tree branches and shrubs periodically, so the branches do not touch or come close to your house’s exterior façade, openings, roof or built fences. We inspect the landscaping and grading to ensure a positive grade away from the building, and recommend our clients to take the necessary steps to ensure that. A proper grade will allow the water to flow away from the home and foundation. A negative grade allows the moisture to flow back towards the home and seep into the soil. The more rain and the more saturated the soil is to begin with, the more of a pressure this moisture puts on the foundation forcing itself through the foundation and into the basement.
Some trees growing near buildings cause no damage. But in some cases, subsidence and structural damage can be linked to tree roots and / or moisture. Blocked drains and lifted paving may also be a problem. Understanding the factors involved in tree damage to buildings, including soil type and depth of foundations, will help house owners determine what action to take and prevent serious consequences in the future.