Tree root problems - new patio - What is best, block, slabs, resin ......

[Rossy]

Hi All,

We have loads of trees along our boundary. The roots have grown under the full length of our patio & lifted all the 450 x 450mm x 20mm stones. We also have a problem with them getting stained with the sap, leaves, insect stuff etc.

We are in the process of getting the council to do something about managing their trees. When this is done we want to excavate, remove all the roots, new base, replace patio.

A chartered surveyor advised a 100mm MOT base, is this right?

What would be the best type of patio top to go for? ie easiest to clean, & have some resistance to roots lifting the patio in the future years.

Slabs (small or large), resin, block paved, ????

Is it worth putting in a concrete or other, root barrier on our boundary?

Any advice most gratefully received.

Many thanks,
David.

[Tony McC]

You really, *really* need to read the main website, as all the questions you ask are covered there, and in far more detail that I'm prepared to re-type here.

However, tree roots will grow back over time, so some form of root barrier is required, and 100mm of sub-base is an absolute minimum - I would argue that it is nowhere near enough for root protection.

Each site troubled by roots present its own challenges. In some instances, a geo-textile will be adequate, whereas on other projects, a full-depth cast-in-situ concrete or flag-on-edge solution is necessary. You have to consider what trees are involved, what size and depth or roots, and how much you are prepared to spend.