How to Repair a Driveway or Parking Lot Damaged by Tree Roots

Trees are beautiful and enhance the appeal of many homes and businesses. In fact, trees are so beautiful and sought after for their shade that they add over $31 billion to the value of homes across the country. The downside is that trees come with a few drawbacks, and one of those is tree roots.

Trees can’t live without their roots. That’s how they take in water and other nutrients. So why are tree roots bad? The problem is that tree roots grow without any concern for what is above them.

Can Tree Roots Be Stopped?

One of the first things you should consider is the location of any tree in your yard. If you plant a tree, make sure it’s not too close to your home’s curb, sidewalk, driveway, utilities, or foundation. There are other steps that you can take as well.

A defensive measure that you can take is to install a root shield. A root shield will prevent the roots from growing underneath your home’s pavement and asphalt driveway. Of course, that isn’t always an option. Sometimes we move into homes that already have trees too close. What happens then?

Tree Root Damage

The tree will become a nuisance if it is too close to the pavement. As tree roots grow underneath the pavement, they force the pavement upward. This causes cracks to form and can cause an entire section of the driveway to break apart.

Another issue is that cracking will occur over time in areas where the tree root may not cause immediate, noticeable damage. As the tree roots absorb water, they will swell; as the water subsides, they will contract. This can cause both shallow and deep cracking of asphalt.

If not addressed, the problems will only get worse. So how do you repair a driveway damaged by tree roots?

Repairing Damaged Pavement

The first step to repairing the damage is to remove the sections of pavement that are being raised or cracked. Removing sections can be difficult, but an asphalt or concrete saw will work. These tools will allow you to remove the broken pieces of pavement and get down to the problem.

Don’t repave the area yet, because the problem will return. Instead, you want to remove any small roots that you find in the area. You can dig down under the asphalt and cut the roots. If the roots are large, don’t cut them, as this could lead to the tree dying, which would cause even more trouble.

What you want to do in this case is to install a root shield, which will prevent the small roots from regrowing. You may also be able to dig down underneath the roots, which will encourage them to grow deeper and not damage your pavement.

Once you’re done with that, the area can be repoured or patched. You can do this by applying fresh asphalt or concrete to the area. The only downside to patching asphalt or concrete is that not everyone has the tools, time, or knowledge to do the job right.

Talk To An Expert

In cases like this, there are two things that you can do. You can begin by asking an arborist, which is an expert on trees, how to tackle the situation. Removal of the tree may be recommended, but often they will have less extreme solutions.

You should also speak to an asphalt or concrete contractor. Most people don’t have a saw capable of cutting through concrete sitting around. Contractors do, and they can pour new pavement or patch old pavement efficiently.

Remember, repairing the damage of a tree root is pointless if you don’t address the underlying problem. Before you get in over your head, speak to a knowledgeable professional. This will end up saving you a lot of time, headaches, and money.

Your Asphalt Driveway

If you begin to notice the tell-tale signs of tree root damage, you need to act fast. The longer you wait, the bigger the job is going to be. Trees are great to have around, and there’s no way to stop them from growing roots. As long as the repair is done right, you won’t have to worry about more damage for years to come.

If you’re struggling to contain tree roots and they are starting to damage your pavement, we can help. CPEX has all the knowledge and the tools to get the job done for you. We know how to repair driveways that are damaged by tree roots. If you want to set up an appointment or talk to a contractor that can help, contact us for a free quote.