Wondering “can a tree damage your house?”, and if so, how? You’re in the right place! You’ll find all the answers you need here, from the professional tree damage restoration company Cleaner Guys.
Table of Contents
- CAN a Tree Damage Your House?
- Things a Tree Can Damage if it Falls on Your House:
- What To Do if a Tree Falls on Your House
- How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Tree Falling on Your House?
- More Resources
- If a Tree Falls on Your House in Western Washington State
CAN a Tree Damage Your House?
Yes, a tree absolutely can damage your house. In fact, depending on how large the tree is, how it falls, and where it lands on your house, it can damage almost anything on or in your home. Let’s break down all the things a tree could damage that you should be aware of.
Things a Tree Can Damage if it Falls on Your House:
Your Roof
The most common victim of tree damage is the roof. Unfortunately, rooves can be one of the trickiest and most costly things to repair, depending on the damage. Sometimes, if the tree only impacted a very small bit of the roof, you might not have to replace it. But more often, in the case of large, heavy trees, the damage is extensive enough to require replacing the roof.
The Framing
A tree strike often damages the framing inside a house, which is one of the most dangerous things that could happen. The framing is the skeleton that holds the whole house together and holds it up. If a tree falls on your house, it may likely damage the framing holding the roof up, rendering the entire house structurally unsound. You should evacuate your house immediately after a tree strike, and remain outside until a professional can assess whether the framing is damaged or not. More on what to do if a tree hits your house in a later section.
The Foundation
Can a tree damage your house and its foundation? Yes, it can! If the tree is close enough to your home, the roots could reach the foundation of your home. If the tree falls, it can uproot those roots, potentially cracking or even breaking the foundation if it is near enough.
Power Lines and Electric Conduits
Falling trees often take down nearby power lines with them as well. This can be extremely hazardous to anyone inside the home, and it is another reason why the first thing you should do in the event of a tree strike is get out of the house and get somewhere safe, until a professional confirms that the home is safe to enter.
Another electrical hazard common to tree strikes is the electrical circuitry inside the home. If any tree limbs puncture through the roof or walls, they can damage the electric wires running along the framing throughout the house, or even break lights and other fixtures! Keep your family safe from electrical hazards, and don’t reenter your home until a professional confirms it’s safe to do so.
Walls and Ceilings
Often, a large fallen tree can break through the roof and the ceiling below it as well! This requires drywall repair, as well as the restoration of any other interior materials, including light fixtures, wallpaper, trim and moldings, door frames and doors, and anything else damaged by the tree strike.
Restoration companies like Cleaner Guys typically receive calls for this kind of work!
Plumbing
If a tree falls close enough to a bathroom or kitchen, it may also damage the plumbing. This introduces a couple of new hazards, the first of which is obviously water damage. We see water damage accompanying tree strike damage all the time. The second hazard is the possibility of any of the water being dirty. The restoration industry categorizes contaminated water as “grey water” or “black water”.
“Grey water” is the relatively clean wastewater from plumbing other than the toilet. This includes sinks, bathtubs, showers, and washing machines. This water isn’t clean, but it usually isn’t hazardous, like black water. “Black water” is the contaminated sewage water from toilets containing fecal matter and urine. Black water is an obvious hazard, and another reason its best to abscond from your home with your family until a professional informs you that it’s safe to return.
Insulation Replacement
If a tree falls through your roof and damages your ceiling, it’s likely that insulation will fall through. The insulation will need to be replaced after everything else has been fixed.
Siding
Trees often fall during storms, and often either a tree or simply the force of the storm itself will damage your home’s exterior siding.
Damaged exterior siding leaves the inner walls and framing of your home vulnerable to the elements. Interior walls are not designed to withstand rainwater and other such elements. Hire someone to repair the exterior siding of your home promptly; otherwise, you’ll face even more water damage. At least use a tarp to shield it from the elements.
What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your House
As previously mentioned, the first thing to do is to get all residents out of the house and to safety. The next thing to do is take as many clear photos of the damage as you can. Those photos will be invaluable when you involve your insurance company. After that, there are several calls you’ll have to make, including your insurance company, a roofer, a tree strike damage restoration company, and more!
Click here to read about all the people you’ll need to call if a tree falls on your house, to make sure you don’t miss any.
In the photo above, you can see an example of what to do if a tree falls on your house! This is a photo from an actual Cleaner Guys job site, where an over 80-foot-tall tree fell on someone’s house. They called us, and within 48 hours we had this tree removal crew out to take care of the damage.
How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Tree Falling on Your House?
The cost of repairing the tree strike damage depends entirely on the scope of the damage. But a general ballpark estimate for most tree strike damage restoration jobs is in the thousands of dollars.
More Resources
What To Do About Water Damage in Your Ceiling from Tree Damage ⟶
How to Fix Water Damage in Your Walls From Tree Damage ⟶
Catch Up On the Symptoms of Mold Sickness (Which Often Follows Storm Damage) ⟶
If a Tree Falls on Your House in Western Washington State…
If you’re looking up “can a tree damage your house?” from anywhere North of Seattle in Washington State, count on Cleaner Guys to help you fix it if you ever DO have tree damage! We’re a highly-respected restoration company in Washington State, with a mission of complete integrity and transparency, honest prices, and high-quality workmanship.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
This Post Has 2 Comments
I find it alarming that overgrown trees could affect your home wirings or structure if left unchecked. I can see how having the tree removed or maintained can prevent these issues from happening in the first place. I should share this with my aunt who wants to plant trees around her backyard next year.
Thanks for the suggestion to have your trees removed if they pose a safety risk that may damage your home. I have a friend who wants to invest in a countryside real estate space for eventual retirement. I should talk to him about finding a tree company that can remove trees around his home when needed.