Renewal Construction CEO
For Decatur Living magazine, September 2007
Q: We are planning to build an addition to our house that will be near a large tree. What do we need to consider?
A: Building near mature trees takes careful planning, but it can be done. The primary concern is how will the root structure of the tree be affected? This will depend on many factors, including tree species, age, size, location, and drought conditions.
Trees have two root systems to consider.
• Structural root plate - the large, stabilizing roots that keep the tree from falling over.
• Critical root zone - through which nutrients and water are absorbed.
Avoiding a negative impact on either of these root systems will require careful planning and should be approved by your local jurisdiction. As a general rule, a tree’s critical root zone extends out 1 foot to 1.5 feet for every inch of the tree’s diameter, as measured at breast height. Often, a tree plan is required as part of the building permit process before building near any trees will be allowed.
A common strategy for minimizing the impact to the tree’s root system is to design and build the addition on piers instead of a continuous footing/foundation system. The architect must be aware of this early on as part of the design process. A qualified remodeler will be sure that an arborist is brought into the project as well. It is also critical that you check with your local building department early in the design process. Each jurisdiction has different requirements, and those requirements are often updated.
Just email virgina@renewalconstruction.com. Be sure to include your name and phone number in case we need additional information to answer your question.
