Although trees are generally a desirable feature of home landscaping, they can pose a threat to buildings in a number of different ways. Inspectors may want to educate themselves about tree dangers so that they can inform their clients about potentially dangerous situations. Tree Roots and Foundations. Contrary to popular belief, InterNACHI has found that tree roots cannot normally pierce through a building’s foundation. They can, however, damage a foundation in the following ways: Roots can sometimes penetrate a building’s foundation through pre-existing cracks. Large root systems that extend beneath a house can cause foundation uplift. Roots can leech water from the soil beneath foundations, causing the structures to settle and sink unevenly. Other Dangers: Trees that are too close to buildings may be fire hazards. Soffit vents provide easy access for flames to enter a house. Leaves and broken branches can clog gutters, potentially causing ice dams or water penetration into the building. Old, damaged or otherwise weak trees may fall and endanger lives and property. Large, weak branches, too, are a hazard, especially if weighed down by ice. Tree roots can potentially penetrate underground drainage pipes, especially when they leak. Water that leaks from a drainage or sanitary pipe can encourage root growth in the direction of the leak, where the roots may eventually enter the pipe and obstruct its flow. Trees may be used by insects and rodents to gain access to the building. Falling trees and branches can topple power lines and communication lines. Original Article: https://www.nachi.org/tree-dangers.htm
Do Trees Talk to Each Other?
A controversial German forester says yes, and his ideas are shaking up the scientific world. I’m walking in the Eifel Mountains in western Germany, through cathedral-like groves of oak and beech, and there’s a strange
