New Braunfels Foundation Experts puts homeowners who need root barrier installation in New Braunfels, TX in touch with an independent local company that can keep tree roots from drying out the soil under the slab.
Live oaks, pecans and other large trees shade many New Braunfels yards, and their roots spread far beyond the edge of the canopy. On clay soil, those roots can pull moisture from beneath a slab, and the part of the house nearest the tree settles as the soil shrinks.
How Trees Affect Foundations on Clay
Clay shrinks as it dries. A large tree near a house draws heavily on soil moisture, most of all in hot, dry summers, and the slab above that soil can drop. The result is cracks and sticking doors on the tree side of the house.
Where Barriers Matter Most
Root barriers matter most on the clay side of New Braunfels, where soil shrinkage drives movement. On lots with shallow soil over limestone, roots behave differently and movement often has other causes, so a barrier may or may not be the right tool. Ask the inspector what is driving movement on your lot before you dig.
What a Barrier Is
A root barrier is a vertical panel set in a trench between the tree and the house. It guides roots downward and away from the soil under the foundation. It does not kill the tree.
Installation
- Utilities are marked before digging.
- A narrow trench is cut between the tree and the house.
- Roots crossing the trench are cut cleanly.
- The barrier is placed and the trench is backfilled and compacted.
Protecting Valued Trees
Many New Braunfels homeowners prize their trees. Cutting large roots stresses a tree, and oaks in Central Texas are also at risk from oak wilt, which can spread through fresh wounds. Ask an arborist about timing and wound care before cutting oak roots, and ask the contractor how far from the trunk the trench will run.
Repairs and Barriers Together
A barrier will not lift a slab that has already dropped. The piers handle the structure; the barrier tackles one of the reasons it moved.
Material and Depth
Most barriers are made of heavy plastic set into a narrow trench between the tree and the house. How deep it should go depends on the tree and the soil. Ask what material and depth the company plans and how they will handle roots they cut.
Watering During Drought
During long dry spells, trees pull hard on the soil near the house. Steady, even watering around the foundation can reduce the swing between wet and dry.
Ask Before You Cut
If the tree belongs to a neighbor or stands near the property line, talk with the neighbor before roots are cut. Cutting large roots can harm a tree, so ask whether an arborist should look first.
Common questions
Will a root barrier hurt my live oak?
Cutting roots stresses any tree. Ask about placement and timing, and consult an arborist, especially for oaks.
Do I need a barrier on a rocky lot?
Maybe not. On shallow soil over limestone, movement often has other causes. Ask the inspector.
How deep is a root barrier?
It varies with the tree and soil, often several feet.
Does watering replace a barrier?
No. Steady moisture helps, but it does not keep roots from spreading under the slab.
Can a barrier fix existing cracks?
No. It helps prevent further movement. Existing movement may need piers.
Is the request free?
Yes. There is no cost or obligation to send a request.