Tree vs property protection - root barriers

[Doing it for the kids]

I’m having a battle with the insurance’s agents, they are I think hardly going above and beyond and want the easy life.

A listed house is suffering from subsidence and they are blaming a willow in the garden. They seem to be ignoring the fact that we have had a few v dry years, there will be little to no footings in the clay subsoil and whilst I don't doubt the willow is not helping, I think it’s unfair to blame it exclusively.

Naturally they want to fell it but I’m holding out. I know of other remedial solutions, the main one being a root barrier sheet sunk 2-3 m down between house and tree to keep roots away.

Has anyone any experience of this?

 

[Exfarmer]

Willow roots can go go 50 yards or more

 

[Exfarmer]

Should have said bulldoze the house

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Should have said bulldoze the house

I wondered when you would be along to comment

No that won’t be happening, she’s listed and been in our family for too long to ditch, as much as, at times, the thought crossed my mind!

If your at a loose end I am still waiting for your comments in renewables as well...!

 

[Pan mixer]

Mate had to do the root barrier thing with polystyrene sheets.

I am not sure it would work though - our house is on heavy clay, fortunately on a raft.

Cracks up to 50 mm wide and a metre deep around the raft with no trees to help would make anything lean a bit.

I have had to fell trees around the cottages which have traditional (i.e. no) foundations, the front wall was falling off those, no underpinning, they just took all the plaster off the walls upstairs in the 'cracking corners' and bent sheets of expanded metal round the brick wall, screwed it on with boxes of screws - in virtually every brick - and then replastered, been fine for 15 years since.