I am clearing for a 16 X 24′ slab to be poured for a stick-framed, multipurpose building. The slab will be 6″ with j-bolts along the perimeter but with no water or power lines coming up through. There are oaks everywhere and I’m worried about damage to the slab from all the roots. Unfortunately, space is cramped and I want to utilize the shade the trees provide when my critters are inside fighting the summer heat.
Fortunately, it’s a flat area and there’ not too much leveling involved. Short of root barriers-which seem more likely to kill trees then anything else-are there any precautions I can take with the slab, aside from grout lines and siting it further away from the trees, i.e outside the canopy line?
Thanks.
Replies
The roots will push anything up.
The only thing that works for me is to have break lines in the concrete on 3 ft either side of know roots, break out the concrete and repour every ten years or so.
Roots wil always go to water so keep roof run off well away from the building and the roots won't be as much of an issue. You can prune the roots with a Ditch Witch every few years and that will slow them down too.