Building a Shed Near a Red Oak: Root and Foundation Concerns

18×20 ft shed with slab and footings planned 2 ft from a 10–12 yr old red oak. Owner worries about tree loss and slab cracking.

Root Loss Calculation

Tree tolerates ≤30% root loss. Draw circle at drip line; overlay footing trench. If trench severs >30% of root "pie," expect canopy dieback. Roots are in top 2 ft of soil.

Better Approach

• Use a floating slab (no deep footings) to minimize root disturbance.
• Ideally, move shed farther away – 2 ft is too close; branches and trunk will eventually contact structure.