Surface damage caused by tree roots

Tree Roots Lifting Paving and Driveways

Roots grow where conditions suit them — often just under a warm, moist paved surface. As they thicken they lift whatever is above.

Cutting them is not automatically the answer, for the tree's sake and sometimes for legal reasons.

Patio and Landscaping work by Gardenscape in Essex

Before cutting anything

Check whether the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or sits in a conservation area — both are common in Essex towns, and works can require notification or consent.

Severing major structural roots can destabilise a tree, which is a safety issue as well as a horticultural one.

Surfaces that cope better

Rigid surfaces crack; flexible ones tolerate movement. Resin-bound over a flexible base, or a no-dig build-up with a cellular grid, can be laid over a root zone with far less damage to the tree.

Artificial grass over a shallow, sensitively built base is another option in root-dense areas.

Root barriers and reinstatement

A root deflection barrier installed at the edge of a new surface directs future growth downward and away. It is far easier to install during construction than to retrofit.

Where paving has already lifted, we re-level with the root zone in mind rather than simply relaying to the old levels.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cut roots under my own drive?

Possibly, but check for a TPO or conservation area first and take arboricultural advice on major roots.

Will the paving lift again?

Not if the surface is flexible or a barrier is installed; a rigid relay over active roots usually will.

Is removing the tree the simplest answer?

It may be the most damaging one — and it may need consent. Assess the surface options first.

Roots wrecking your paving?

We design surfaces that work around established trees.

Get expert advice Call 07535 661664