Hazard trees are responsible for countless injuries and many deaths per year in the United States. If you have identified a hazard tree on your property you need to take appropriate tree removal action.
For that, you will need to find the right tree removal company. Sometimes companies that specialize in things like lawn care and lawn maintenance also provide a tree removal service.
Other times you need to seek out the services of a dedicated arborist or tree removal company. Read on to learn what to expect during the tree removal process.
Finding the Right Tree Removal Company
The first step in getting rid of that monster snag in your backyard is to do adequate research about a variety of different tree removal companies. Doing research implies a bit more than Google searching “tree removal near me.”
Preferably your candidates will be professional arborists. This means that they are certified, trained, and educated on how to take care of trees.
It’s okay if your candidates aren’t specialized arborists, but don’t expect them to be able to take on the specific types of jobs arborists can do.
After reviewing your candidate’s qualifications you should consult some online reviews about them to get some public opinion about their reputation.
Many past and present customers will have something to say about each of your candidates. Make sure to scroll past any fake reviews and only value the ones from actual people who include their full name.
If your candidates have a bevy of positive reviews this is great, but your reputation snooping is not over. Next, consult the Better Business Bureau and make sure that they have a certification.
You can also consult their Scam Tracker to make sure that the company you are researching is legitimate.
Other Things to Consider
The main things you should be looking for in a tree removal company are reputation, experience, ability, insurance, and price.
Having already researched reputation, make sure that your candidate’s experience level is up to par. Don’t settle for anyone with less than five years of experience.
Rookie tree companies are prone to accidents and when removing a tree accidents can turn deadly. You also want to make sure that your project is well within their ability levels.
Felling some trees is a complicated process that requires a high level of expertise and specialized equipment. If your tree is out of a candidate’s league they should make it known to you during their initial assessment.
As far as insurance goes, you want to make sure that your candidate is licensed and insured. A lot can go wrong during the tree removal process.
If the tree comes crashing down on your or a neighbor’s house you may be liable for the damages if you hire an uninsured company. Finally, price is the last factor to examine.
Tree companies get to choose their own rates for a specific project. Make sure to ask for a quote from multiple different companies beforehand. Weigh other factors such as their experience and ability levels against the price.
That said, assuming all your candidates are equal in these areas you should go with the one that quotes you for the lowest price for your project.
The Actual Tree Removal Process
The physical act of removing your tree is an amazing feat in itself. Your chosen company should send over a team of employees to handle the tree removal process.
The first thing they will do is walk your grounds and determine what work needs to be done. A lot of times removing a single tree means mitigating other hazards nearby or clearing out brush around its base.
At this point during their initial inspection, they should be able to offer you an estimate. The next time your company shows up it will be with chainsaws at the ready to take down your tree.
Depending on the scale of your job they may also need other specialized equipment such as ropes/rigging, ladders, and pneumatic jacks.
Tree felling is dangerous work, so they will first determine where and how they will lay down your tree. If there are valuable assets within a tree’s lay (the area where it is expected to fall) things may be a bit more complicated.
This is where the ropes rigging and specialized equipment come in. Your tree should be able to be taken down in a single afternoon shift. If it is a simple job, they can fell the tree using a chainsaw alone.
If it is more complicated, or a large tree surrounded by property assets, they may want to cut your tree down piecemeal.
This involves cutting individual branches and segments from the tree one by one and lowering them down with a rope.
This makes things a lot more complicated and time-consuming but it is a safer option than trying to take the tree straight down with traditional felling methods.
After Your Tree Is Down
After your tree is down, a professional will buck it up with a chainsaw and remove the extra wood. They may ask you if you wish to have it chopped into firewood-sized logs, or if you would like it hauled away.
The choice is yours, but you might as well get some free firewood if you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove. The last phase of the tree removal operation is cleanup.
Your tree service team will remove all debris from the tree and will proceed to grind down the stump if you request them to do so. This will remove all evidence that there was ever a tree there in the first place.
Call a Professional for Tree Removal
Do not under any circumstances attempt to remove a tree yourself unless you have tons of tree felling experience. You may get injured or killed during the felling process.
Your best bet is to call a professional tree removal service. If you have a dangerous tree that needs to go contact us today. We can give you a free estimate and get your tree safely to the ground fast and easily.