Tree Safety

Branches should be kept away from the roof structure to prevent damage.

Our House Detective in Sherman Oaks pointed out another problem related to the many trees that were too close to the roof—the evidence of animals in the attic. Critters often use trees as a superhighway into homes. Also, leafy trees too near the house can provide excellent cover for burglars. And dead branches have a nasty habit of falling down onto something or someone.

Luckily, the solution is as simple as a little bit of pruning, which you can often do yourself.

• The best time to prune most trees is in the early spring, before they begin to leaf out.
  
• Use the right size tool for the job: a hand pruner for small limbs and a small pruning saw or lopping shears for larger branches.
  
• Call a professional arborist for limbs over four inches, near utility lines, or in hard to reach places.

If you're putting a new tree in, instead of taking branches off, here's another safety tip: make sure you don't accidentally hit a buried electrical or gas line. Call your local utility marking service before you dig.

Guests
John LaRocca
Contractor, La Rocca Inspection Association
Website: www.laroccainspect.com
Also in this Episode

House Detective : Episode HDT-410
•	Tree Safety
•	Stove Anti-tip