FAQ's

Do I need a Root Control Barrier?

The roots of a tree as a rough rule of thumb will travel approx 1.5 times from the trunk as the height of the tree. If you are beginning to notice cracks in your building, in between the brick work, or internally, doors are beginning to jam or not close easily, and you have trees in the vicinity, then tree/s may well be causing or at least contributing to the problem.

Root barriers are frequently used also to protect from tree roots, footpaths, driveways, and underground services such as sewer pipes. They are also used to arrest the spread of Bamboo.

We have installed root barriers to protect tennis courts, bowling greens, and playing fields from root intrusion. They are a useful tool in water conservation through preventing tree roots from desiccating the soil in ornamental garden beds, lawns and landscaped areas.

Are my or my neighbour's trees to blame?

A site inspection will enable likely identification of the tree roots responsible. Foundation distress is often a function of many variables including soil type, footing type and quality, seasonal variations and other causes of soil moisture fluctuations.

How effective is your HDPE root barrier against excluding roots?

We are so confident of the performance of our Root Barrier Installations that we warrant the Root Barrier Membrane for 50 years. The warranty excludes roots that go around or under the barrier.

How does the Root Control Barrier Work?

Our H.D.P.E High Density Polyethylene Root Control Barrier is inert and non – toxic polymer plastic. HDPE is resistant to breakdown from even the harshest of solvents or soil contaminants. Put simply, made up of polymer molecular chains, the HDPE has a density and pore size which is smaller than that of molecules of water, therefore the roots simply cannot 'grow' through the barrier as there is no water within the pores.

How much do they cost to install?

Although we can give you an indication of cost over the phone, most root barrier installations require a site visit. Price will vary depending on the lineal length, the barrier depth, location, and machinery access considerations, the number of underground services in the work area, the number of trees involved and the soil type. A full detailed proposal including recommendations and a full costing of these is provided.

How Do Tree Roots Grow?

One commonly held belief is that roots are thick and grow down into the soil for many metres

In reality tree roots:

• Are usually only large near to the trunk and get thinner the deeper and further from the tree they go. At a distance of just 3-4 metres from the trunk most roots are no bigger than a few centimetres in diameter.
• Spread outwards from the trunk, more or less parallel with the soil surface, rather than growing downwards
• Can spread horizontally in any direction for a distance equivalent to at least the tree's height, and upto 2 1/2 times in clay soils and/or where there are multiple trees.
• Are usually relatively shallow; 80–90% of a tree's roots are in the upper metre of soil. Few roots reach depths of more than about 2-3 metres and at this depth they are only a few millimetres in diameter.