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Follow your ethics and your pocket book will fill quicker.
For the past thirty years I have worked as a commercila arborist in Minneapolis and have only seen one tree for sure and maybe a second that could be blamed on foundation cracks. Last summer this discussion came up here too. Check the archives. Depending on the soil, the crack maybe from the root maybe because of soil movement. Trees are a very visible taaarget but probably not at fault as much as people are told.
The contractor may be an expert at foundation work but not at tree work. Consult experts for better advice like you are doing. As far as I know, roots grow where there is water and oxygen. Basement walls should be dry if the foundation is built right. (Here I go, shooting off my "expert" mouth!)
Finding roots near cracks in walls may only be anecdotal. The roots may not really have cracked the walls.
There are products available that use a geotextile fabric as a ccarrier for a root barrier. The fabric has nodules of slow release herbicide or anti rooting hormone I am not sure which. After the footing trench is excavated and the roots are cut clean, lay the fabric in the trench before backfilling.
Save the trees!
Tom Dunlap