Most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover tree root damage to sewer systems. Because homes insurance covers unexpected and inadvertent damage, and tree roots grow over time, this is the case. The water in your sink slowly swirls before seeping down the drain.
Can you claim tree root damage on insurance?
If tree roots cause damage to your home, your homeowners insurance coverage should protect you in the event that you need to file a claim. If they advise you to remove a tree as a precaution and you refuse, you could be held liable for any subsequent harm.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree root?
It may give coverage in certain cases, but it excludes numerous types of tree damage. Read your insurance policy carefully to find out the specific answer to the question “Does homeowners insurance cover tree damage?” That way, you may acquire a better understanding of your coverage and exclusions by getting a homes insurance policy review.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree root damage?
Tree root damage is usually not covered by homeowner’s insurance. Insurance protects unexpected losses, but tree root damage normally occurs over time. Because there is time to avoid it, coverage is frequently omitted. (It is called negligence if the problem is not handled.)
By shifting dirt or causing soil to dry out, tree roots can cause damage. While this can have an impact on a home’s foundation, it is frequently excluded from insurance coverage.
Does homeowners insurance cover fallen tree damage?
In some cases, homeowner’s insurance will cover tree damage when a tree falls. The damage caused by a tree falling due to a covered cause, such as wind or ice, may be covered.
This is only true if the tree causes harm to a covered structure. If a tree falls on a lawn and no damage is done, the insurer will not pay anything. If it falls on a house, a fence, or another structure, however, insurance will cover the costs. Roof coverage, for example, in homeowners insurance would cover the cost of repairing a roof that had been damaged by a tree falling on it.
Does homeowners insurance cover my tree’s damage to a neighbor’s property?
Tree damage to a neighbor’s property should be covered by homeowners insurance. Liability insurance will cover this type of loss.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree damage from a neighbor’s tree?
No, tree damage caused by a neighbor’s tree is not covered by a property owner’s insurance. If a neighbor’s tree causes property damage, the neighbor’s homeowner’s insurance should pay the damage. This should be covered by your homeowner’s liability policy.
Does homeowners insurance cover tree damage to my car?
Tree damage to a vehicle is usually not covered by homeowner’s insurance. If a tree falls on the vehicle, though, auto insurance may provide coverage. Only if the automobile owner has comprehensive coverage is this covered.
Who is liable for tree root damage?
In most cases, obtaining a report from an arborist stating that the damage was caused by the tree’s roots is required to succeed in a claim.
A surveyor’s report certifying the degree of the damage, the remedial work required, the expected cost of such remedial work, and any depreciation in the value of the damaged property is normally required.
Who can be liable for damage caused by the roots of a tree?
The owner of the land where the tree is located is normally responsible for any harm caused by the tree’s roots. However, if the occupier of the land in question (for example, a tenant) is in a position to ‘abate’ (put an end to) the nuisance, they may be accountable. Even if they do not own or inhabit the land on which the tree is located, a person who has a sufficient degree of control over the tree may be held accountable.
Who can bring a claim for damage caused by the roots of a tree?
A claim can be filed by the owner or occupant of property that has been harmed by tree roots.
If the damage happened before the property owner purchased it, they may be able to collect the cost of all corrective work required on the basis that the nuisance was a continuous annoyance, and they do not need to prove that the property has sustained further physical damage since they purchased it.
What loss can be claimed?
A claim for damage caused by tree roots will often include the following:
- the expense of removing the nuisance for example, the cost of cutting the tree’s roots if the owner or person in charge of the tree fails to take reasonable steps to remove the annoyance within a reasonable time;
- loss incurred as a result of a decrease in the value of the property in question (subsided properties are generally more difficult to sell and, as a result, it is often difficult to achieve market value when they are sold); loss incurred as a result of a decrease in the value of the property in question (properties that have suffered subsidence are generally more difficult to sell and, as a result, it is often difficult to achieve market value when they are sold);
- the cost of alternative lodging if the owner or occupier of the property is obliged to vacate the premises while the work is being done;
It will be the claimant’s responsibility to demonstrate that any expenditure they made was both reasonably incurred and reasonable in terms of amount.
The claimant may also seek an injunction prohibiting the tree’s owner or whoever has control of it from causing any more damage.
The owner or person in control of the tree, on the other hand, will only be liable for the cost of any remedial works that were’reasonably foreseeable,’ and the claimant will typically be expected to give them a chance to abate the nuisance before incurring such costs.
Foreseeability
It will be necessary to prove that the defendant knew, or should have known, that such damage would occur in order for the damage to be “reasonably foreseeable.”
The defendant will not be liable for any damage caused by a tree if there is only a remote probability of such damage. The fact that a tree is mature, tall, or on clay is unlikely to suffice in demonstrating that any damage it causes was reasonably foreseeable.
Normally, a defendant is only responsible for the expense of any corrective work once the claimant has been notified of the harm and the defendant fails to take reasonable steps to cease the annoyance within a reasonable time. That will not always be the case, however.
If the tree is very close to a property, the genuine risk of harm to the land is usually foreseeable since the defendant must have known, or ought reasonably to have known, that the owner or occupier of the property in question might recover the costs of remediation.
If owners of neighboring properties have notified the owner or person in charge of the tree of damage to their properties, the owner or person in charge of the tree may have been aware that there was a real risk of damage to other properties in the area, even if the owners of those properties have not notified them of such damage.
Can a person be liable for damage resulting from the roots of a tree that was not planted by him?
A nuisance emerges when a person allows a tree to expand from their land into that of their neighbor, regardless of whether the tree was planted by them or by a person from whom they purchased the property, or if the tree was self-sown.
What damage can tree roots do?
Normally, more than a third of a tree is buried beneath the earth. The roots are significant in a number of ways, despite the fact that they are buried. Fine roots collect the water and nutrients that the tree requires to grow and thrive, and they are transported to the stem by coarse, woody roots. The coarse roots also serve as a support for the tree, preventing the crown from being overturned by the wind. The soil is held together by a network of fine and coarse roots, which also helps to prevent soil erosion and landslides on steep slopes.
Tree-care specialists are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of tree root damage from a variety of urban maintenance and construction activities. Roots are killed by physical damage during cable and pipe laying, road changes, and soil compaction or regrading during building construction, in addition to chemical harm such as de-icing road salt and herbicides.
Tree roots must grow through a substrate that is frequently more debris than soil in city streets, where they must survive in the confined area between buildings and roadways, under concrete pavements. Surprisingly, roots not only survive in this adverse environment, but they also explore its limits, pushing against the limitations on a regular basis.
How do tree roots interact with pavements?
Roots can deform and shatter man-made structures such as buildings, pipelines, and pavements as they grow and thicken within their limited space, causing harm to many tree-lined roadways.
Each year, the woody roots thicken. The growth rings in woody roots are just as well defined as those in the stem in temperate regions of the planet. Shallow roots sprouting just beneath the pavement are eventually pushed closer to the surface by this secondary thickening. Roots can exert enough energy to bend asphalt or even concrete as they expand, and they can readily shift slabbed paving. And as roots continue to develop after a surface fails, the upheaval grows. The majority of the damage is located within 2 meters of the tree, partially due to the rapid growth of this area of the root system, and partly due to the ‘buttressing’ of roots close to the stem. With increasing distance from the tree, the roots branch and taper, becoming smaller and less harmful. However, at greater distances from the trunk, considerable damage can still be seen.
Because ignoring pavement degradation is not an option, especially when pedestrians are at risk, pavements are repaired once they have been ground down or roots removed. Unfortunately, highway engineers frequently demand that any trees causing noticeable harm be completely removed.
During road work to install or repair utilities, street tree roots are frequently injured. Trenching activities near pavements can be extremely harmful, resulting in the abolition of huge numbers of street trees. Severing roots fully along one side of an already constricted root system drastically limits a tree’s ability to absorb water and nutrients, facilitates root disease infection, and makes the tree much less sturdy right away.
It is vital to understand how root systems develop and interact with their surroundings in order to build and manage hard surfaces around street trees in order to minimize root damage:
Root architecture
A multitude of factors influence how tree roots develop, including soil type and structure, soil water content, and temperature. Trees can be matched to the soil or soil conditions can be changed to produce more suitable root systems. With this in mind, it’s crucial to think about how tree root systems grow, how they respond to soil conditions and barriers, and how rooting patterns differ between species.
How do roots explore and exploit the soil?
Trees take advantage of as much soil as possible by spreading their roots out in all directions, and they reproduce where the conditions for growth are best. Because it contains the highest nutrient concentrations, sufficient aeration, and warm temperatures, soil near the surface is perfect for root growth. As a result, the majority of tree roots are found near the surface. Condensation of moisture on the underside of pavements (or sidewalks) makes the soil near the surface particularly conducive for growth in places of the world with high temperatures and minimal rainfall. During the growing season, deeper soil layers have less nutrients, lower oxygen levels, and cooler temperatures, as well as being considerably more difficult to penetrate due to increased compaction.
Although roots develop in all directions, those under the finest conditions grow the longest and thickest. So roots are mostly found near the soil surface in the most advantageous conditions, not because they deliberately seek out these environments, but because these are the roots that develop and thicken the fastest.
Structural roots
The tree’s fastest-growing roots, known as surface roots, thicken quickly to form the structural root system that keeps it upright. Trees are sustained by a root system that consists of three to eleven massive structural roots. If a tree is to remain stable, these must develop as equally as possible around it. If a tree has grown very few structural roots, or if one or more have been destroyed during trenching or road construction, it may be vulnerable to windthrow during storms.
The number of structural roots has an impact on pavement degradation as well. When roots grow close to the surface, a tree’s biomass (root matter) allocated to four major roots will inflict far more harm than if it is distributed evenly across, say, eight major roots. Because the slower spread of tiny roots can be accommodated rather readily by soil compression beneath the pavement, this is the case.
Barriers to controlling street tree roots
Large roots are frequently found near the surface where soil below the base of a barrier is compacted or wet. The largest roots, however, tend to stay deep in the soil if it is loose and thoroughly aerated. As a result, properly built barriers can successfully deflect roots, but soil conditions suitable to root growth in the region below the barrier’s base must be provided.
Rather than simply diverting roots, some commercially available barriers trap root tips in holes in cloth or mesh that do not extend with the root, effectively stopping them from growing. Other products inhibit growth by gently releasing chemicals. Where roots have a high tendency to return to the surface, certain types of barriers may be more useful.
Minimising damage during road work and trenching
Recommendations for trenching around street trees (NJUG 2007) divide the area surrounding trees into three zones:
If excavation is absolutely necessary within the forbidden zone, roots should be safeguarded and mechanical excavation should be avoided. Even if digging is permissible in the designated zone, roots should be safeguarded. Trenchless techniques should be used wherever possible; if trenches are unavoidable, they should be broken rather than continuous. To avoid root or stem damage and needless soil compaction, backfilling and other operations near the tree should be conducted. The National Joint Utilities Group has a complete set of guidelines.
Designing space for trees into urban developments
The easiest way to avoid problems between tree roots and the needs for pavements and services in urban streets is to design in room for street trees from the start. There are a variety of materials and systems available to offer the space required for tree roots to flourish without becoming a nuisance or subject to damage.
Street tree root excavation
In a tree-lined downtown street, larger trees were inspected. This was an asphalt pavement in Sheffield, England, that had been destroyed by 30-year-old cherry trees. Using an air tool called a Soil Pick, the pavement was lifted and roots were extracted.
The roots were meticulously mapped and studied after they were exposed. The cherry trees in this study had two to five major roots, but their spread was generally limited by the road on one side and a wall on the other. Because of soil compaction, none of the root systems excavated in the study had grown deeper than 60 cm. The majority of pavement cracks were produced by roots larger than 10 cm in diameter. Large surface roots, as expected, have caused the most serious sidewalk damage. Surprisingly, fast-growing roots as deep as 40 cm have also been shown to have caused harm. When roots were just below the surface, pavement cracks followed the underlying root path.
Effectiveness and risks of pavement repair
The pavement had been repaired in the excavated street by chiselling down roots that had caused damage before re-laying the asphalt. This proved to have only short-term benefits, and in the long run, it may have exacerbated the condition. Damaged roots had calloused around the chiseled region, causing the new sidewalk to be lifted over a broader area. Complete removal of massive roots during sidewalk restorations, on the other hand, saves repeated damage but compromises stability. Both techniques of repair carry the danger of introducing disease. In some circumstances, removing and replacing harmful trees with less aggressive ones may be the best option, but whenever possible, solutions should be sought to prioritize tree protection. To minimize damage and safeguard the tree, the best way is to create and maintain hard landscaping.
National Joint Utilities Group Guidelines
NJUG is a non-profit organization dedicated to (2007). Utility Apparatus in Close Proximity to Trees: NJUG Guidelines for Planning, Installation, and Maintenance (Volume 4). London’s National Joint Utilities Group
Additional information
J. Claridge (ed) (1997). The Present and Future of Arboricultural Practice Amenity Trees Research 6. Department of the Environment, Transport, and Regions, London.
M.P. Coutts, C.C.N. Nielsen, and B.C. Nicoll (1999). The structural root system of conifers develops symmetry, rigidity, and anchoring. 115 in Plant and Soil 217.
B. Nicoll (2002). The root cause of sidewalk deterioration is urban trees fighting back. Tree Care Industry, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 3639.
B.C. Nicoll and A. Armstrong (1997). The Root Architecture of Street Trees and Pavement Damage SILN 138/97/SILN Arboriculture Research and Information Note. Arboriculture Advisory and Information Service, Farnham, UK.
B.C. Nicoll and A. Armstrong (1998). Pavement degradation and root architecture of Prunus root systems in a city street. 259270 in Arboricultural Journal.
Direct damage by urban tree roots: paving the way for less destructive street trees, Nicoll, B.C. and Coutts, M.P. (1997). The Present and Future of Arboricultural Practice For the Amenity Trees Series, I did some research. Department of the Environment, Transport, and Regions, London.
B.C. Nicoll and M.P. Coutts (1998). Rigid Barriers Deflection of Tree Roots 143/98/SILN Arboriculture Research and Information Note Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service, Farnham, UK.
B.C. Nicoll and D. Ray (1996). Tree root systems adapt their growth in response to wind and site circumstances. 899904 in Tree Physiology.
D. Patch and B. Holding (2007). To Development, Through the Trees. Tree Advice Trust, Farnham, UK. Arboricultural Practice Note (APN) 12.
Smith, J. Roberts, N. Jackson, and J. Roberts (2006). In The Built Environment, Tree Roots Amenity Trees Research 8. The Stationery Office is based in London.
B. Tobin, J. Ermák, D. Chiatante, F. Danjon, A. Di Iorio, L. Dupuy, L. Eshel, A. Jourdan, C. Kalliokoski, T. Laiho, R. Nadezhdina, N. Nicoll, B. Pagès, L. Silva, J. Silva, J. Silva, J. Silva, J. Silva, J. Silva, J. Silva, J. (2007). Towards tree root system developmental modeling. Plant Biosystems, vol. 141, no. 3, pp. 481501.
Am I insured if a tree falls on my house?
Trees, shrubs, and branches can become projectiles after a hurricane or windstorm, capable of traveling great distances and causing substantial property damage. In most circumstances, an insurance provider will not spend time attempting to determine where a tree or branch originated.
When a tree is felled on a neighbor’s property, your insurance company may try to collect from the neighbor’s insurance company through a procedure known as subrogation. You may be compensated for your deductible if this occurs and your insurer is successful.
Maintaining your trees’ health and properly preparing them for winter weather and storms is critical to minimizing damage from your own treesremember that poor management is not covered by homeowners insurance.
Can tree roots damage pipes?
With hair-thin strands, roots can readily clog pipes. The sludge, when combined with the grime and grease that flows into the sewer pipes, can make toilets, sinks, and other drains slow and even back up. Roots can also cause pipe cracking. Clay pipes in older plumbing systems are particularly vulnerable.
How do you tell if you have roots in your pipes?
Drains that take a long time to empty Root damage is often indicated by slow-flowing drains. If you flush your toilet and it takes a long time to drain or you hear a gurgling noise, it’s likely that roots have gotten into the pipes. Note: In older homes or properties with huge trees nearby, the risk is very great!
How much root damage can a tree take?
The tree’s ability to obtain water and nutrients is harmed when root function is lost. The amount of root material a tree can lose and still survive varies depending on the tree. The amount of root loss that can be sustained depends on the size of the tree and its original health. When compared to a smaller tree, a larger tree can afford to lose more root mass. Moderate root injury is defined as 15 to 30% of the total root surface. It’s only a matter of time before a tree loses more than half of its roots and succumbs to the elements.
How do you treat tree root damage?
You’ll need to aerate the soil if the roots are damaged, especially if the soil is compacted. Water, oxygen, and nutrients can reach the roots of your trees more easily with improved soil aeration. It also helps to prevent soil compaction. Drilling small diameter holes in the soil under the tree canopy or employing a powerful equipment that loosens soil with compressed air are both options for improving aeration.
When should I be concerned about tree roots?
Concrete foundations are rarely seriously harmed by roots. Roots can occasionally push their way through existing fissures, enlarging them. However, as long as you keep your foundation in good shape, you shouldn’t have any problems with tree roots.
If you have extremely strong trees, though, you may have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness Mother Nature’s inexorable (if slow) fury unleashed on your home. You’ll notice the following signs:
Roots, once again, rarely cause foundation damage. The same indicators may appear if the soil beneath your home is disrupted by erosion or other circumstances. Before you do anything else, you’ll need to look into the roots. Examine the foundation near your trees to check whether their roots reach out and begin to grow down. If they do, your foundation issues may have been caused by them.
Before you plant trees, be sure you have root barriers in place. Roots are deflected deeper into the earth and away from foundations, pavement, pipes, and other structures by these barriers.
Remove the infringing roots. However, this suggestion should be used with caution. When a tree loses even a little piece of its roots, it can die. This phase should be completed by a tree-trimming expert who has the necessary knowledge to do so without hurting the tree. While you wait for the tree to recuperate, put up root barriers and feed the remainder of the tree.
Remove as much of the root system as possible before cutting down the tree. Root development might sometimes be too fast and widespread for you to regulate. You’ll need to hire a tree removal professional to cut down these trees in order to save your property. Your trees contribute to the aesthetics of your home, but you can’t leave them there if they threaten to ruin it.