Tree Roots creating foundation settlement?

Question

My NE corner of the house is 6 inches lower than the NW corner. I am told this a severe slope. It is a 75 year old house in the Chicago area which has a clay soil. The foundation is of concrete block. I am told it did not settle 6 inches overnight, however I am told that a 35 feet Dutch Elm tree may be the culprit. It is located on the NE corner only 14 1/2 feet from my foundation. Should I cut down the tree or is there an easy way to irrigate the tree ? Would cutting down the tree make matters worse ?

There are crack on the foundation wall. They are worse in the NE section. They were patched previous to me moving here. I am having a new footer installed on the NE section as I am told there must be a bad foundation on this corner.

I already signed a contract for the new footer. I assume there is no downside to a new footer. If it does not work I can always put pins underneath the footer. I have had several contractors in and the solutions vary from installing a sump pump to helican pins. All agree the NE corner should be addressed. This corner used to a coal room (80 years ago ?) and sits underneath my front porch. I am told front porch sections typically sag ? Advice ?

Answer 1

Tree roots don't cause Setteling, they cause heave, - Jack up the Corner, and shim on top of the block wall, or Mud jack the footer, they drive steal rods to bedrock, and lift the footer, .

Answer 2

Doubt very seriously that the tee caused the settling. Six inches is a HUGE amount of settling. Are there cracks in the foundation and upper floor walls? Most likely, the settling results from the house being built on some fill that was not properly compacted before construction. There are TONS of large trees that close to houses in the entire Chicago area where the houses have not settled. No, it didn't settle overnight. Set up some way to measure the settling and see if it's still going down. BTW, it is not a Dutch Elm. There is a disease of Elm trees called Dutch Elm disease.

Answer 3

Did a building inspector tell you that you needed a new footer? You state that this problem was patched before,did you have the home inspected or did you buy it "as is "? You need a building inspector to check out your house now. Obviously, stop gap, patching solutions aren't working. This new footer idea may not work either. You need some professional help!