Tree trimming/block wall horror stories?

[Spiky Bugger]

We found a house we want to buy. (Yeah...I know we just bought this one, but we are semi-nomadic, so deal with it.)

The house is pretty much EXACTLY what we want and the area is very nice although it wasn't the location we thought we wanted...if that makes sense. The house is in horrid disrepair, which is what we like. It means we get to do things our way.

But...there is a massive tree on the property...it's already messed up a bit of a block wall. It is really big. If the seller allows it, I'm going to have a certified arborist go take a look. But I'm afraid that, at the very least, some monumental tree trimming is going to have to happen. And the home inspection, if our offer is accepted, is being done by a structural engineering company, so we will know more about the block wall.

So...who has had to pay thousands for tree repair/rescue/removal? What can you tell me about that? And has anyone removed or had to reinforce a concrete block wall lately?

 

[Sheanie]

Had a huge row of maple trees (neighbors) ruin our basement drainage. Dug down to the base of the basement weeping tile TWICE to remove roots. Reinforced basement wall all the way around with re-rod and cement to freeze the bowing. I measured the crack every month from the day we first noticed it, and it never grew after the re-rod job, which was guaranteed. Another maple (ours) had to be removed from too close to the house in back. It had completely clogged our sump pump tile. We used to flush the tiles with copper sulfate in an attempt to kill the maple tree roots, but it never worked reliably. When we finally got all that done and had the tiles all replaced with impermeable replacement one-piece things, we moved. The house was in perfect condition: new roof, new gutter helmets, soffets, commercial downspouts and eaves, new garage door, oak floors refinished throughout (even kitchen and baths), new kitchen and baths. Moved to our current 150+ year old farmhouse, where we've been fighting the old-house losing maintenance game ever since. Just got home from the local homebuilders show, where we got 4 appointments for metal roofing, no-sand floor refinishing, window replacements, bathroom remodeling and geothermal heating. This last winter our heating bills were over $500 per month. Probably because the house is made of swiss cheese. We were thinking about moving to a condo, but nothing we saw had enough character or sunshine. Not to mention dirt. I need dirt to grow pansies in. Lots of dirt. And the condo association wouldn't allow me to operate my air compressor for upholstering, the fuckers. We re-roofed this house in 2005, took off 13 tons (yes, tons) of roofing, which consisted of 2 layers of cedar shake and 3 layers of asphalt shingles. You could actually hear this old lady of a house sigh with relief.

Right now we have a 100+ year old willow tree that will be removed this spring. It has cut off power to the school across the street regularly since we moved in. Trimming it away from the power lines has resulted in an ugly tree that now leans precariously towards the house. Since January it has caused power outages twice, both times making a sonic boom that shakes the house. We are in contact with the utility company and the school, and are working towards the earliest removal possible. Just as long as they remove it completely this time. Trimming a willow is like fertilizing it. It just sprouts more branches wherever it's trimmed.

Trees will ruin a block wall by root action and water damage. Once the block wall is cracked, you can assume the drainage tile at the base is filled with roots. The roots resemble white hair, very fine and very tough. Copper sulfate does not kill existing roots. It doesn't even prevent more roots from forming. I'd recommend calling a sewer company with a TV camera to run through the drainage and sewer. That way you can get a look-see at the problems you're dealing with. Be prepared to see "white mice" (tampons) and other things you don't want to see. It's a mess, so if you can, have them access the tile from the clean-out OUTSIDE your house.

If I were looking at a house with block wall damage, I'd think twice before buying it. Especially since you already seem to know that the tree has caused damage. Walk away.

If I were to total the cost at the first house, it was over $7500, and my husband dug around the house himself. Back then, he was younger and broke 3 shovel handles. Now he has 2 bulging discs in his back and would never even think about doing it himself.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Wow...our block wall is about 50-60 feet from the house. But there is an inground pool in between. I don't know where the sewer is in relation, but I will go check. Thanks.

In California, at least the last three layers of that roofing would have been illegal. In earthquake territory, I think it is now two layers max, to prevent top-heavy houses from becoming ass-over-teakettle houses post-earthquake.

And, yeah...it's always all about the ******' air compressor, isn't it?!?

 

[bearmom]

Is the block wall a retaining wall?

I live in the pacific NW, so big trees are an issue here. I buy a lot of property as well, so I have seen trees f-up just about everything they can, from heaving driveways and patios, messing up retaining walls and house foundations, to finding ways into the sewer lines and destroying them. I sometimes get auctioned property, so have seen some messed up **** that no one else wanted to deal with.

I've easily spent over 100k on tree removal / thinning / maintenance in the last 20 years, and it would be more but I've half-assed it on some. If it's just one big root going way out of it's way to do some damage, sometimes they are willing to dig and just cut off that one offender, but you do need to make sure it doesn't compromise the stability of the tree. That's an issues with all the tall evergreens around here.

Total sympathy for Sheanie about the willow. They are the worst. Both destroyed sewer lines I've seen were from willows, as they can send the tiniest hair sized feeder roots by the billions, and when they find a source of moisture or nutrient, even into what appears to be a very sound system, and then multiply and destroy at an amazing speed. You usually don't know it's happened until one the all drainage from the house stops, as the line is stuffed with bloated roots and the only sewage going down the drains is what can seep into the yard. Gag.

It sounds like you have the right people evaluating it, and it wouldn't faze me unless it was a retaining wall near the house foundation, and then it still wouldn't be a deal killer. Being an aggressive negotiator, this just sounds like a good reason to negotiate X- thousands off of the price. I'd pick the very worst case scenario price for negotiating, and then hope that the experts will offer you a workable alternative.

 

[DianaCox]

I'm in a killin' mood when in come to most plants outside my house on my property. When we bought this house, we had lived in it for a year, as a rental, and bought it from the Asian owners. It had a bazillion trimmed - but leggy - fussy boxwood hedges lining every ******* inch of the perimeter of the property, plus every inch around the house where possible - along the narrow driveway and around the front of the house where there was a little dirt left, and a DOUBLE row making the narrow walkway to the front of the house even narrower - but with a row of ornamental rose trees in between (that their gardener stupidly pruned BELOW the graft one time, making them just ugly flabby rootstock roses). The stupidest thing - those horrible boxwoods filled the 3' verge between the sidewalk and the curb, so you couldn't park a car in front of the house and open the passenger door. The boxwoods were not only old and leggy (when trimmed, until some leaves grew back, it was all thick bare branches), they were infested with weeds and spiders.

My husband and my son spent the better part of two years, in spurts, removing those boxwoods - which had grown roots that were as big as what was above-ground. Pickaxes were required - there must have been 300 bushes. Fortunately, none grow back. Ditton, the aspen tree the brilliant former owners planted squarely on top of the sewer line in the front yard. We planted an apricot/peach/nectarine multi-graft on the other side of the walkway as a replacement.

The wooden fence around the yard was covered with - and bowing under the weight of - a beautiful wisteria plant. The base of it was a foot in diameter, easily. We cut it down when we replaced the fence (to the consternation of the young couple who had just bought the house next door, with the wisteria on the shared fence, which was in bloom when they looked at the house, as something they were looking forward to enjoying), when it fell over in a storm - but 5 years later, it is STILL growing back every year. I also made the mistake of planting an ornamental passion fruit plant, which also WILL.NOT.DIE after I realized how invasive it was, and tried to get rid of it.

Funny - I can kill plants I want to nurture, but killing ones I don't - it's TOUGH.

 

[Spiky Bugger]

Is the block wall a retaining wall?

I live in the pacific NW, so big trees are an issue here. I buy a lot of property as well, so I have seen trees f-up just about everything they can, from heaving driveways and patios, messing up retaining walls and house foundations, to finding ways into the sewer lines and destroying them. I sometimes get auctioned property, so have seen some messed up **** that no one else wanted to deal with.

I've easily spent over 100k on tree removal / thinning / maintenance in the last 20 years, and it would be more but I've half-assed it on some. If it's just one big root going way out of it's way to do some damage, sometimes they are willing to dig and just cut off that one offender, but you do need to make sure it doesn't compromise the stability of the tree. That's an issues with all the tall evergreens around here.

Total sympathy for Sheanie about the willow. They are the worst. Both destroyed sewer lines I've seen were from willows, as they can send the tiniest hair sized feeder roots by the billions, and when they find a source of moisture or nutrient, even into what appears to be a very sound system, and then multiply and destroy at an amazing speed. You usually don't know it's happened until one the all drainage from the house stops, as the line is stuffed with bloated roots and the only sewage going down the drains is what can seep into the yard. Gag.

It sounds like you have the right people evaluating it, and it wouldn't faze me unless it was a retaining wall near the house foundation, and then it still wouldn't be a deal killer. Being an aggressive negotiator, this just sounds like a good reason to negotiate X- thousands off of the price. I'd pick the very worst case scenario price for negotiating, and then hope that the experts will offer you a workable alternative.

Good info...thanks.

My problem is this...the elderly residents there died in December and February. So the sellers, their kids, have not resided there, which means they don't have to disclose as much as a resident would.

But the real issue is that troublesome old law of supply and demand. Where we are looking--excluding the house with the garage band rehearsing next door and the place with the two car garage next door but the neighbors had seven vehicles and a kangaroo--everything is selling in less than a week.

We lost a bid on a place where we "only" offered 97.8% of the asking price. We are almost at the point of figuring out how much OVER listing price to offer.

The possible upside (and simultaneous downside) to this is the potential gain on the house we are leaving. It seems to have gained about 20% in value in the 13 months we've owned it, and the current supply of similar homes seems to be about...uh...maybe two houses. (Downside is the capital gains exclusion issue...oh well.)

 

[bearmom]

Lol, scanning too fast.

"Ditton, the aspen tree the brilliant former owners planted.." so skimming that I'm thinking "You NAMED the tree???".

No one else is allowed typos until I have some strong coffee.

 

[Sheanie]

Wow...our block wall is about 50-60 feet from the house. But there is an inground pool in between. I don't know where the sewer is in relation, but I will go check. Thanks.

In California, at least the last three layers of that roofing would have been illegal. In earthquake territory, I think it is now two layers max, to prevent top-heavy houses from becoming ass-over-teakettle houses post-earthquake.

And, yeah...it's always all about the ******' air compressor, isn't it?!?

In Michigan, anything over 3 layers of shingles is illegal. Was when we bought the house, too. It was also illegal NOT to disclose a seasonal well on the property, among other things. Didn't stop them from doing it.

Boy, there's an in-ground pool added to the situation? With the heaving in Michigan, I'd be eye-balling the pool as the block wall problem then. I don't know how far your particular trees' roots can travel, but here in Michigan, a sugar maples' roots have been known to travel 30 feet past the farthest branch tip outward in search of underground water.

We paid asking price for this old house, built in 1867, and we were secondary. The first buyers' financing fell through. We will be lucky to get what we paid for it when we sell, because the neighborhood is declining in value. Section 8 housing creep is too close, bringing kids with pit bulls into the apartment complex near us. People aren't keeping up their homes anymore, and crime is up. We also have a convicted arsonist living within sight of my bedroom window, doing house arrest with tether. No fewer than 7 child sex offenders within a 2 mile radius registered. Our prospects are dismal.

 

[Sheanie]

@Diana , I grow passionflower vines in summer here. It's my favorite vining plant ever. Not for the Christian "meaning" behind the flowers, just because I love the bizarre looking blooms. Do you know what cultivar yours is? What do the leaves look like? Are they heart shaped or do they have fingers? My favorite flower, of course, is the pansy. Because they have faces in the flowers.

 

[DianaCox]

@Diana , I grow passionflower vines in summer here. It's my favorite vining plant ever. Not for the Christian "meaning" behind the flowers, just because I love the bizarre looking blooms. Do you know what cultivar yours is? What do the leaves look like? Are they heart shaped or do they have fingers? My favorite flower, of course, is the pansy. Because they have faces in the flowers.

I'm sorry - I don't know the shape of the leaves - perhaps serrated? - every time it rears its head (sort of literally), I yank it or squirt with RoundUp - and it laughs at me and acts like it is Vitamin R. I bought it at a nursery. Yes, I loved the alien flowers, but it is WAY too invasive.

 

[Munchkin]

First question is, who owns the fence? Are you very sure it would be yours and yours to maintain? I own 2 of the fences on my property and the DOT owns the one in my backyard. And I'm very glad because it's about 15 feet tall!

Don't be in too much of a hurry! The right place will come along!