Good trees help make your yard and property more valuable, enticing and personable. Damaged or overgrown trees have the opposite effect. They are also potentially dangerous to you, your family and home. Most homeowners do not have the skills and equipment to safely and effectively conduct a tree removal operation. Hiring a tree removal service is almost always the only safe way to remove damaged or overgrown trees from your property.
What are the best tree removal services near you? What is involved in a tree removal operation and how much is the average cost? Read on for tips and information to help you find the best tree removal service for your needs today.
What Does a Tree Removal Service Do?
A quality tree removal service removes damaged, dangerous or dead trees and stumps from your yard and property. Specialized gear and certified operational technicians are generally required for these procedures. These jobs are often dangerous, especially if not conducted properly. While some are less dangerous than others, the use of motorized equipment with fast powerful blades causes every tree removal job to be handled with extreme care.
A tree removal services pulls dead tree stumps out of the ground. It cuts off loose or broken branches on larger trees then cuts down the tree using specialized gear to help guide the tree on a safe downward path. Once a tree or trees are down, they are cut into smaller, more easily removable pieces. Most times the pieces are placed into a wood shredder and turned into chips, which are hauled off by the service provider. Other times, perhaps at your specific request, the pieces are cut down to firewood size. The latter service might require an additional charge or be conducted by a different service provider altogether.
Average Cost of Tree Removal Services
The average cost of tree removal services varies based on many factors specific to your situation and location. It also changes from service to service. The size of the tree or trees being removed is one primary factor. The location of the tree on your property also affects price. A tree damaged or broken from lightning or strong winds poses more danger to the workers than does a dead tree in the middle of a yard with all branches intact. More challenging and dangerous jobs are usually quoted at higher prices. If your situation requires immediate attention an additional rush charge is also often added to the bill. What other factors affect the average cost of tree removal services?
Client requests affect the price of all tree removal services. Some clients do not permit vehicles to be driven on their lawns. This means different equipment must be used to reach the tree and remove it. It might also require more manual labor to be hired to complete the job. The type of equipment used affects the costs, as does the amount of laborers required to do the job. The type and height of the tree(s) also alters the price accordingly. Finally, the time estimated to remove the tree(s) and how dangerous the job is also affect what you are charged. The average national cost of tree removal services for a single tree is just over $430. The national average range is between $400 and $900 per job. Prices are sometimes as low as approximately $150 and other times as high as approximately $2,000. Be certain to get a quoted estimate in writing before agreeing to hire any tree removal service to protect your pocketbook from surplus charges at the end of the job.
Equipment Used for Tree Removal
The equipment used for tree removal services often requires special training and is designed for use by only certified arborists. Rigging equipment is used for climbing up taller and thicker trees. It is also used to cut down large heavy limbs and carry large power tools/heavy equipment around the job site. Cutting equipment includes basic handsaws, hatchets and chainsaws. It also includes tree loppers, pole saws and wood chippers. Climbing the trees is the most dangerous part of a tree removal process. This makes climbing equipment both essential and the most important gear for all arborists. Climbing equipment includes ascenders, descenders, pulleys, rope, saddles and slings. It also includes crucial safety gear such as hard hats, goggles, first aid kits and radios for emergencies.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Tree Removal Service
There are eight main questions to ask a tree removal service prior to hiring one. The safety of you, your family, your property and all removal service laborers are always paramount. So is the protection of your finances due to further damage and/or potential lawsuits. The eight main questions to ask a tree removal service prior to hiring one are:
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Do you have valid insurance?
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Will I be responsible for damage to your workers or equipment?
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Is your staff consisted of professionally trained certified arborists?
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What are your credentials and references?
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Do I need a permit for this job to be conducted?
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What is your detailed, specific plan for removal?
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What will the total job cost?
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Will there be additional, unexpected charges at the end of the job?
If a tree removal service does not show proof on insurance do not hire it. Do not accept responsibility for damage to workers or equipment during the job. Hire only services staffing certified arborists for your protection. Do not agree to additional charges at the end of the job unless it is put in writing as a possibility in the initial estimate and agreed upon by you in writing. Asking these questions and committing to this approach helps save you money and protect your interests during a tree removal service operation on your property.
Find National Tree Removal Services Near You
There are local tree removal services in your area. There are also national tree removal services operating all around the United States. Some, such as Nationwide Tree Service, offer twenty-four hour emergency removal services. Additional tree removal services operating near you and resources to find them include:
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Angie’s List tree removal search
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HomeAdvisor tree removal search