I've got a huge tree right up against my house

I've got a huge tree right up against my house — What It Means and What To Do

Branches touching or rubbing shingles, or resting on the gutter; a trunk within a few feet of the foundation or a corner; a crown that overhangs so much the roof stays damp and mossy; roots surfacing near the footing; the tree filling a bedroom window. Note what you do not see — intact bark, an even full crown, and no cracks or cavities means you have a tree that is close, not a tree that is failing.

Not urgent

Distance is not a defect. It is a consequence, and it only matters through three specific mechanisms: something breaking and having a very short fall onto your roof, limbs abrading shingles and holding moisture against the structure, and — far more rarely than the internet implies — roots interacting with a footing. The useful question is never 'how close is it' but 'what part of this tree could fail, and is anything actually wrong with that part.'

What it usually costs

Normally a tree trimming job: $250 to $1,400 around Indianapolis, depending on size and access. A range, not a quote.

What it usually costs

I've got a huge tree right up against my house by town

Other tree problems