New driveways and patios can cause rainfall to run off into drains rather than being absorbed by plant roots in lawns or flowerbeds. This can mean that parched tree roots grow outwards in their hunt for sustenance, extending under properties and upsetting their foundations.
Esure home insurance has estimated that as many as 7 per cent of South Eastern homeowners are at risk of this, whether the culprit is your driveway or that of your neighbour.
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It is very appealing for homeowners in busy streets to create a bespoke parking space for their property, says Nikki Sellers, head of home insurance at esure. Unfortunately, for houses with a street tree or large front garden tree nearby, this can significantly increase the risk of subsidence.
She continues: A dedicated space may increase the value of your home, but subsidence damage will do quite the reverse.
The problem can be exacerbated if the driveway is made from concrete, a substance far less permeable than gravel or brick paving which will allow for filtration, or if the underlying soil is clay based.
Homeowners considering such a radical conversion are advised to be very conscious of nearby trees as their roots can extend for up to thirty metres, with much of the absorption coming from the last few. They are also advised to avoid laying concrete near to any trees and consider other options such as gravel, to watch out for cracks, and to also consider leaving adjacent areas of open soil alone.
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