Help! I've hired some local 'independent' interlockers to do some interlocking out front. Upon coming home today, I noticed they cut off some pretty thick roots (about 3 veins or so each about 5 inches wide) that were about a foot under. These thick roots are about 3 ft out from the base of the tree. I believe the tree is a silver maple and it seems really old. Diameter of trunk is about 3 ft wide. Is this safe?

You Should Move This Question To Home And Garden, We Work With Wood But Not Roots. Lol

The silver maple have a poor wood... the risk can become when same strong wind make force on it

The silver maple is famous for falling over in high wind because it has a poor root anchor. Cutting those roots condemned your tree to almost certain failure. Get it topped off or completely removed as soon as possible. Your interlocking contractor is probably liable.