Tree Roots and Concrete Damage

Many people don’t know that the root system of a tree is often twice the size of its canopy. If you have a tree with branches that extend over your house or driveway, then the roots are stretching even further below them.

Tree roots are constantly searching for water and nutrients in the soil. Over time, this can cause the soil to become weak and unable to support your concrete slab or driveway. Inevitably, cracks will appear in the concrete, and your home may suffer significant foundation damage.

Thankfully, there are answers to the problem, but it’s important to understand how tree roots affect the soil before we dive into potential solutions.

Soil Type Matters

Tree roots interact with the ground differently depending on the soil. There are two types of soils that can be significantly affected by tree root growth:

• Clay Soil – may become dry and brittle as moisture is taken by roots
• Sandy soil – may shift or crumble as roots move through it and take moisture

In Florida, sandy soils are quite common and are easily affected by tree roots. While tree roots are beneficial to your yard in many ways, they can still cause issues if they run under your driveway, patio, or foundation.

When moisture is taken from the soil of any type, the soil shrinks and creates a gap between itself and concrete structures resting on top of it. These hollow areas, or voids, are where concrete crumbles and sinks into. Knowing what type of soil is below your home can keep you well-prepared for concrete issues and tree root problems in the future.

Get to the Root of the Problem

There are certain steps you can take as a homeowner to prevent roots from damaging your concrete. However, many of them involve digging far below the soil to access tree root systems. Even then, root systems are hard to control over time without the proper knowledge or equipment.

Alpha Foundations has a simpler and more effective approach to concrete damage – polyurethane injection. You may have heard of mud jacking before, a traditional technique used to level out cracked and damaged concrete by inserting a mud mixture below the concrete.

PolyRenewal™ injection follows the same principles as mud jacking but improves upon the process tenfold. Mud jacking rarely solves the problem, as mud eventually faces the same risks as the original weakened soil. Essentially, mud jacking fights dirt with more dirt.

PolyRenewal™ injection uses a durable, long-lasting, waterproof material to lift damaged concrete. The material is not susceptible to root-related damage, so you won’t have to worry about your concrete sinking because of the beautiful trees in your yard.