My neighbours (very nice people that I get on with very well) are suggesting that I cut down this tree as the roots are near to their conservatory and could potentially damage their foundations in future. The tree itself is about 3-4 metres from their house.
I’m not sure exactly what type of tree it is but I know it’s about 25/30 years old and I’m obviously completely against destroying it. Trimming height sure, cutting down, no.
Thought I’d ask in here what the likelihood is of a tree that age and size causing any significant damage in the future and if my neighbour has a point?
TL/DR: Neighbours suggesting I cut down old tree due to potential foundation damage. Likelihood?
by Revolutionary-Ad2355
9 Comments
I presume the tree was their before the conservatory. The general rule is that the roots extend the height of the tree so you could potentially top it but I agree with not taking the tree down. Too many people are taking trees down for silly reasons.
I assume that the tree was there before the conservatory, in which case I would say that is their problem not yours.
I also can’t see the conservatory in the photos, how close is it to the tree?
Edit: you did say three to four metres, that’s plenty of distance and it isn’t going to damage their foundations
Just to add a bit more context: I’ve only been in the house for a year but the tree was there before the conservatory yes. The entire garden’s outskirts have all sorts of tree’s from Maple/Oak all of which have been planted there over 25+ years ago however this is the only tree that is close to the building. (Picture added below)
https://preview.redd.it/aglx77wbkhpf1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7dc1c984d51a62ca1832794b09d1b56fcae9685b
Na, it’s not a huge tree and it is not going to get a lot bigger, so there shouldn’t be any danger to your neighbor’s conservatory foundation.
Also, the tree was likely there first.
Don’t cut it down. You don’t even need to trim it unless the branches cause problems on your neighbor’s side.
I suggest neighbours mind their business tbh you can plant what you want in your garden
From the picture it looks like sycamore tree. It will grow a lot bigger. The root can damage the foundation as your neighbour suspected. Seed from this tree can spread everywhere. It grows like weed. If you see one growing close to your house definitely pull it up as soon as you see them.
Edit: i am sorry for the wrong identification. It is not sycamore.
It’s probably blocking the sunlight on their side, that will probably be the real reason.
Don’t cut it down because it’s not a big tree and shouldn’t cause any problems.
They would or should have been told that it was a problem when they got the conservatory built.
Neighbours are always nice in the first year, I made this mistake, I cut some height off my tree because ‘it was scaring the neighbours wife at night with the shadows on the wall in their bedroom’ I shit you not!
I did it and from then it never stopped! From the fence rattling in the night, to birds shitting on her side of the garden because they are sat on the fence looking my way, because I had a bird table, honestly my advice is, politely decline and just say a polite hello if you see them coming in and out of front door! We moved in the end it was so bad with our neighbours.
They’ve identified the issue before there’s a problem, they have plenty of time to put a root barrier in then. Conservatories usually have pretty shallow foundations so yes, there is a risk.
A tree of this size 25-30ft should be around 6-8 feet away from the corner of a house or outbuilding and around 8-10 feet away from a wall so no it shouldn’t cause any problems, 3-4 meters away is more than ample…