Amazing price differences - tree felling

Re: Amazing price differences - tree felling

Donna

>Hi Mike

I wish I lived closer to Maryland!! I live in NH :o(

On the more serious note, and to address your problem, if there are other neighbors in your area that are considering taking out some trees, you might talk to them, and try to get a package deal.

I've learned from personal experience that one of the reasons for the high cost is the company has to send their trucks, equipment, workers, etc. to ONE place, to fell ONE tree. If they get more work in that same area, they're likely to drop the overall cost because they're already there, and making more money by felling more trees. This is true even if the job(s) take more than one day. They leave the heavy equipment until the job is done.

Although we don;t get hurricanes that often in New Engalnd, we've had a couple in the past 15 years. When a neighbor wanted a few pine tress taken down that were weakened in a storm, we called the tree company, and so did another neighbor. We had 17 pines taken down in our front and side yard (we did our own clean up)and paid around $800.

Good luck.

Donna Banfield

Re: Amazing price differences - tree felling

Ron Sardo in PA

>Never go with the lowest price vendor.

Re: Amazing price differences - tree felling------

scott stefanoski in Boggy Baltimore------------ggF

>Mike,

i have a buddy that might be able to help you. he has a tree company and depending on what you want done, you may be able to cut a deal.

the last few i had him drop and i cleaned up which helped quite a bit. let me see if i can get his number for you. may take a few days.

------------ggFc1+YbRiDWmIfU26gH5i

Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

steve antonucci

>My MIL had a large cherry fall over in an ice/wind storm this winter. She called 3 guys, and the lowest bid was $800. They told her it would cost more because it was already down (and that made it harder?)

She contacted her local woodturner (moi) and asked if I could look at it. The base was about 26" for the first 6 feet, and then three large leaders (15"). The only "dangerous" cutting I did was on the leader still in the air. Overall, the tree had to be about 70' tall, and clean up took me about (3) 5 hour days.

If you think you can drop the tree safely, I'd do it myself. It's a lot of work, but very doable. Maybe you have some friends that own saws? Upper limbs make for nice firewood? Save the trunk for yourself. :-) Dropping a big tree is easy, dropping it right is not. I'd want twice the guess height as the distance from the house and any other thing you care about.

And for what it's worth, I have a bunch of "scary trees" by my house. I had a tornado come through my yard about 7-8 years ago, and they all took it just fine. I'd probably just leave it alone.

Steve

Re: Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

Bill Hale / The Wood Spinner

>If you need it down. Get some friends to help. Rent a tractor and get some heavy ropes that are at least as long as the tree is tall. use two of them for safety. Climb as high as you can and tie it off. Attach the ropes to the tractor and pull tight. Then put one person on the tractor, tractor in gear 2 nd or 3 rd and cut the tree. Pre cut the v , deep,on the side where you want it to fall and then cut the other side. As it starts to go have the driver keep tension on it and drive away.

Good turning and BE SAFE

Bill

Re: Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

Gary Evans

>Having the ropes long enough is important. I heard a supposedly true story about some guys who used a 40 foot rope on a 60 foot tree. Took out the truck pretty effectively.

GE

When using shorter ropes...

Bob Hackett

>Actually,when felling any tree with ropes,it`s better to use a snatch block.Far better to have the pull(either vehicle or winch type)at 90 deg to the path of travel of the object that`s testing gravity.A human is always involved in the pull and we squash far more easily than some folks suspect,even when protected by a vehicle.

Mainely,Bob

The risks of felling our own trees....... 

Russ Fairfield

>

One more Chevy put out of its misery......

TDaniel

>

Re: Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

TDaniel

>Actually, it is far safer to throw the tree with a come-a-long than with a vehicle if there is something large to tie the come-a-long to. I had a neighbor at a previous location that tried to use a tractor to pull a tree and his wife driving the tractor and when the tree started toward her she thought maybe the rope was too short and the tree was going to hit her so she jumped from the moving 100 hp tractor and landed under the dual wheels. A tall tree appears to get a lot taller when it is coming at you. As Bob mentioned, a snatch block is the best way to drop it, whether you use a come-a-long or a tractor. By the way, workmen's comp insurance is higher for tree service companies than any other job; wonder why?

TD

Re: Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Terry, are you gonna leave that poor woman under those wheels? Please finish the story.

Wally

Re: Mother in LAw's Dilemma too

TDaniel

>Sorry Wally. The lady was severely injured but lived. Crushed pelvis and many other problems that will follow her the rest of her life. The bad part is the guy's brother has a tree service company and they live about 1/2 mile from each other. All those boom trucks and bucket trucks were just sitting there. This is a true story, first hand knowledge here folks.

TD