How To Handle Tree Roots Damaging A Sidewalk?

As you walk through the streets and roads, the most common structures of the ecosystem that you encounter are the trees. Their value to the environment is undeniable. But trees can sometimes be a cause of discomfort for humans. 

One of the most common problems is overgrown tree roots. The overgrown roots damage the sidewalks, which cause people to trip and fall. This can cause serious injuries like strains, sprains, fractures of bones, backbone disc slips and head trauma. 

Tree roots keep on growing and you can definitely not stop the growth of the roots. What you can stop is the damage caused to pedestrians by the damaged sidewalks. In order to prevent anyone from suffering an injury on the damaged sidewalks and filing a lawsuit against you, the property owners must immediately repair or replace the sidewalks.

In this blog, we will discuss the damages caused to the sidewalks by the overgrown tree roots and provide effective methods for repairing cracked sidewalks. 

Signs Indicating the Damaged Sidewalks 

Repairing minor damage that the tree roots have caused is simple and quick. If you neglect these minor damages, they will turn into bigger problems, and ultimately, they will turn into a costly repair project. You will learn the signs that will let you know when tree roots are causing damage to your sidewalks.

• Due to the roots pressure, cracks appear on the concrete slabs. 
• The slabs are lifted from their actual positions.
• The sidewalk surface becomes uneven and undulating.
• Weeds and small plants start to grow in the cracks in the sidewalks. 
• Water from the soil comes onto the surface of slabs and causes water pooling. 

Steps to Fix Tree Root Damages on Your Sidewalks

To fix overgrown tree roots, you must have sufficient knowledge, tools, and techniques. Only after having proper knowledge and skills can you fix the damages on your own. Let us tell you some effective actions you can take:

1. Root Pruning

Root pruning is the process of cutting the ends of the roots to stop them from growing and causing further damage to the sidewalks. 

There are three major types of root pruning:

Mechanical Root Pruning: Tools like pruners and trenchers are used to prune the roots along the entire outer boundary of the roots. 

• Advantage: Effective for larger plants. 
• Disadvantage: Less precise than other methods.

Air Pruning: The roots of the tree are removed from the soil and exposed to the dry air, which is low in humidity. This will burn out the ends of the roots and they will stop growing. 

• Advantage: Cause less damage to the health of the plant.
• Disadvantage: Hard to meet the conditions of lower humidity.

Targeted Root Pruning: Some roots may grow longer and farther than the rest and cause extensive damage. In targeted root pruning, these specific roots are cut down while keeping the rest unaffected. 

• Advantage: More targeted for a few roots.
• Disadvantage: It can not prune the entire root system.

Sometimes it gets hard to decide which root pruning technique is required for tree root removal. In this situation, it is useful to seek advice from a certified arborist or call NYC Parks. The tree doctors working with NYC Parks can provide you with a better suggestion based on the size of the overgrown root, the type of plant and your budget.

1. Repair the Sidewalks

Secondly, you need to repair the damaged sidewalks. Each method has its own suitability based on the damage that occurred to the sidewalks. More damage adds to the cost of the sidewalk repair projects. 

Concrete Patching: This method involves patching the cracks and small holes using a concrete mixture. This method is suitable for minor damage to the sidewalks. 

Mudjacking: In this method, a hole is drilled. Then the mixture of slurry, made of cement, water and soil, is pumped into the hole to level the sunken slab with the rest of the slabs. It is cost efficient and suitable for sunken sidewalk slabs.

Foam Lifting: This procedure makes use of the foam to lift the sunken slab and make it equal to the other slabs. This method is quicker and more durable.

Replacing the Pavers: The damaged pavers are replaced. This may include concrete, stone or flexible pavers. This is useful to replace intensely damaged pavers. 

Replacing the Slabs: If the entire slab is damaged, it is replaced with a new concrete slab. This method is useful for the long term repair of damaged slabs. 

How to Prevent Root Damage? 

There are some methods that promote the planting of trees with minimal damage to the roads and sidewalks. You can use these methods to save on the cost of tree root damage:

Use a NonInvasive Root System: Some plants, like Japanese maple, have non invasive roots that do not spread much. These plants pose little or no damage to the sidewalks. 

Install Root Barriers: You can use the root barriers to prevent the growth of the tree roots from damaging your property. Rubber and fiberglass panels are used to block the root growth. 

Legal Considerations for Tree Root Damage 

NYC parks provide funds for tree root damage under certain eligibility criteria. If you don't request the repair of the tree root damage on your property, you might be responsible for the harm the damage causes to others. If you are not potentially aware of the rules and procedures, you must consult a lawyer to assist you.

Conclusion

You must not neglect any damage that is caused to the sidewalks on your property due to the tree roots. For the safety of the pedestrians and to secure yourself from any relevant legal prosecution, you must address the damaged sidewalks. You should address the damage to the root barrier for the sidewalk  and get a suitable solution. 

To ease the repair process, you can seek advice from a certified sidewalk repair contractor. Sidewalk Contractor Manhattan has the most dedicated and certified contractors for tree root sidewalk repair.

Expert Solutions for Tree Root-Damaged Sidewalks

At Sidewalk Contractor Manhattan, we specialize in addressing sidewalk damages caused by tree roots and other issues. Neglecting these damages can pose safety risks to pedestrians and expose you to legal liabilities. Our expert team provides comprehensive sidewalk repair and replacement services, ensuring compliance with city regulations. From DOT violation removals to ADA-compliant installations, we use premium materials and modern tools to deliver top-notch solutions. Trust us to keep your sidewalks safe, accessible, and in excellent condition.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you keep your sidewalks safe, accessible, and in excellent condition.