Replacing and Repairing Root-Damaged Sidewalks!
Generally, your sidewalk might be safe and quiet to walk by, however, in between a couple of slabs the roots of the trees have pushed pieces of the sidewalk up which is creating major bumps and stumbling rocks that can possibly be a safety hazard for others and cause accidents and dangerous problems for the passersby unknowingly.
While the conflict of replacing and repairing roots and sidewalks can sometimes feel intractable, there are quite a number of possible solutions existing to minimize and even eliminate the issue. To be effective and successful for sidewalk repair in NYC, homeowners should act on several levels. By involving sidewalk concrete contractors early in the process and making the key decision sooner for making repairs can ensure that there is no unnecessary removal of trees while repairing and providing accessibility along the sidewalks.
The responsibility of repairing and replacing sidewalks:
For repairing and replacing, the responsibility is typically determined by each city and can vary widely. Some cities like New York City place full responsibility for the upkeep of street trees and sidewalks with adjacent property owners.
Many homeowners and property managers first check to see if tree roots are causing the problem and notably after the sidewalk is repaired the problem seems to escalate after the first few years as trees begin to mature and their root system starts to expand and the roots reach out of the small allotted space to between the curb and the sidewalk.
The challenges with tree-damaged sidewalks:
Generally, the best way to plant trees is to give them larger spaces away from the sidewalks and streets. However, if it is too late and you have already bought a home or own a property with already planted trees in the narrow state then you will have to look for the necessary repairs and replacements of concrete with the help of a sidewalk contractor. With a far more impervious surface that is a landscape flaw that can create significant maintenance costs for homeowners so it is necessary that it is simply repaired by enlarging the tree pit and removing the extra concrete and then filling the pit with gravel, and covering it with grass.
Even after enlarging the tree pit, the sidewalks start to lift at the seam or expansion joint. So the still raised portion of the sidewalk needs to be repaired. Once the slab lifts, there is a serious liability issue which can be a trip and fall hazard. In cases like these, rather than replacing concrete, removing the trip hazard is more often cost-effective.
Repairing the sidewalks:
A sidewalk repair contractor in NYC can employ a variety of design strategies and construction techniques after they examine your sidewalk and if it is eligible for repairs:
Replacing the sidewalk:
While repairing is an option, for the long run replacing the concrete sidewalk entirely by hiring a contractor might be a better idea. In case of a large displacement where grinding the slab down is not an option, the contractors can remove the damaged sidewalk and re-pour the concrete into the gap to bridge the roots covering it. With this, there would be no abrupt tripping hazards and sidewalks will also end up flat.
When moving the sidewalk away is not an option, increasing the thickness to 4 to 6 inches will make it harder for the roots to lift or break the slabs preventing the likelihood of pushing off roots.
