For any of our projects that involve working around existing trees, we place the decision in the hands of the homeowner regarding the importance of those trees, and their relevance to the project design. In some cases, when a tree or trees are trying to be saved, we consult with an arborist, or multiple arborists, and rely upon their expertise to develop a plan for construction. In many cases, however, our clients don’t have the luxury of space, and the decision comes down to either the tree, or the pool, but not both. Obviously, there are no guarantees when dealing with living organisms, but whether working with an arborist, or on our own, we try to mitigate the intrusion upon the trees by performing clean cuts on the major roots, trimming back the foliage of the trees, and keeping the pool beam as far from the trunk of the tree as possible.

Precisely the dilemma I am struggling to resolve... my beloved 100' oak & 35' Jap Maple vs. garage & pool addition. The arborist I consulted believes the oak will endure but the maple, sadly, likely will not. Thank you.

BTW, I do love your project.

Thank you! Good luck with your project.