Trees & Root Damage to Driveway

[greyam100]

Hi Folks,

My neighbour has some trees/bushes separating our driveways. One of the roots is cracking the surface of my drive, since before I bought the house. The damage doesn't seem to have worsened much, if any over last 4 years. Some photos here:
https://www.diynot.com/diy/media/albums/driveway-front-garden.26088/

We are looking to re-vamp our garden, complete with new driveway, but I'm not sure what should be done about the offending root(s). Our houses are built on engineered slopes made from compacted hardcore, typicall about 500mm below the surface, so I guess the roots don't have much depth to go to. A few queries:

1. What types of trees are they?
2. Best course of action to prevent the root damaging my new drive once laid?
3. Will other roots below the surface start to cause problems, redirect themselves if they are exposed during removal and replacement of the driveway?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[endecotp]

1. What types of trees are they?

They look like the dreaded Leylandii, and they look as if they have had their tops lopped and some lower branches removed at some point. (It's not impossible that it's some different but related species.)

Have you spoken to the neighbour? It's not impossible that they would like to get rid of them apart from the issue of having less of a barrier for a few years while a replacement gets established.

2. Best course of action to prevent the root damaging my new drive once laid?
3. Will other roots below the surface start to cause problems, redirect themselves if they are exposed during removal and replacement of the driveway?

I'm not an expert, but I'd guess that the established roots won't move much now. But I'd go for a surface that will survive some movement, e.g. gravel or tarmac, rather than one that will show every mm of movement.

 

[r896neo]

I have the exact same issue in my own drive, same trees same old tarmac drive lifted and cracked in places by roots. If you have the height clearance then Removing the tarmac, installing a geotextile membrane and hardcore then a new surface should mitigate any problems. This will leave you aprox 6'' higher than your current level. it would be essential to keep the trees well trimmed and not let them increase in height in particular.

The only way to be sure is to remove them though and when i come to do my own I will remove them.

 

[lostinthelight]

Difficult to tell from the pics but Judging by the upright habit of some of the tips they may be Thuja, squash the foliage between the fingers, it it smells of oranges,it more than likely is.
litl