The 30 Minute Reno: Keeping trees at a safe distance

Most would probably be aware that a very tall tree growing close to a house is not a wise thing and could potentially be quite disastrous. Given that the storm season is fast approaching and some parts of Australia are already experiencing severe weather conditions we thought this information could serve as a timely reminder to pay attention to trees around your properties.

What are some of the risks involved with having large or tall trees close to a house? Here a just a few reasons...

Large limbs falling from trees into a yard can be dangerous for residents of the house (and neighbours) and other property such as cars, pets, outdoor structures and landscaping - which in itself is a good enough reason to keep trees pruned around the yard.  Falling limbs also pose a serious threat to the house. If a falling branch is large enough or the weather wild enough, there is the very real potential to cause some pretty serious damage to a house – including piercing a roof or destroying a part of the house.

If your property has older trees or trees that are rotting growing close to the house, nasty weather could easily cause the tree to be blown over.  If this occurs it will without a doubt cause extensive damage to the roof, guttering, windows, outdoor patios or pergolas should it fall on the house.

Dropping leaves falling onto a roof will eventually build up in gutters causing them to overflow in downpours. This could cause damage to ceilings and interior walls. There may not be any damage visible to the eye at first but the dampness it can create means you could also be at risk of making your home attractive to termites....there’s a whole new problem you will then have on your hands.  Mould can also be an issue with ongoing dampness.  A build up of leaves in gutters is also a fire risk.

Tree roots can grow under the foundation of a house and can result in cracks in the structure and will also cause windows and doors to stick if the tree root invasion is severe enough. There is also the risk of tree roots causing extensive damage to underground plumbing....an expensive lesson to learn if replumbing is required!  You can be sure you’ll be the first to hear if tenants find themselves with blocked drains and unpleasant smells emitting from under the house….

If trees are allowed to grow tall enough unwanted wildlife may invite themselves in from the higher limbs and take up residency in your roof space. Possums can do a great amount of damage and we’ve heard a story of a possum dying in a roof space and the body fluids seeping into the ceiling material…not good. Overgrown trees will also scrape along the sides of the house and windows which will result in the requirement for premature maintenance and/or early replacement. All of these problems can be quite costly to correct but can be easily avoided with a bit of pre planning or regular maintenance.

It is recommended that small trees and shrubs should be 1.8m away from your home and have regular pruning to ensure they stay small which will cause less headaches later on. Medium size trees should stay at least 4.5 to 5m from any building and large trees approximately 6-8m away.  Reno King Paul Eslick also gives the guideline that the height of the tree equals the reach of the tree root from the base – so the tree needs to be at least as far away from the house as the height it will grow.  He also recommends ‘looking up’ before planting – the tree probably will reach those powerlines!

About The Reno Kings
“From over 70yrs combined experience & $40million in property holdings, Reno Kings Paul Eslick, Justin Eslick & Geoff Doidge show you how to make money in property."

The Reno Kings have been successful in property for over 35 years – and it hasn’t been by taking risks!  And for 12 years now they’ve been showing people from all over Australia how to buy exceptional property deals, cleverly add tremendous value to residential properties through cosmetic renovation and development and to safely and successfully create wealth by building a property portfolio. 

Justin has been teaching alongside Geoff and Paul for the past 5 years and his town planning and professional buying skills are so very powerful that they won’t touch a property without Justin first giving it the ‘go-ahead’.  Others have come and gone, but the Reno Kings have always been there, powering along, using their safe and secure formulas to build up $40million worth of property.  Thriving – not just surviving – through 35 odd years of property cycles proves that what they’re doing is right!   And that’s why they get so many questions from property investors and why the media always go to them for help on property and renovation stories.  The Reno Kings are the trusted name in property education.