Tree Removal for Tractor Shop

Jiles · Feb 20, 2014

My son plans to build a large shop and a large oak tree must be removed.
The tree is app. 60 foot tall and 3 1/2 foot at base.
Tree can be safely downed without damage to surrounding buildings.
Three estimates were all app. the same:
Cut tree down, no cleanup--$1,000.
Cut tree down and cleanup--$2,000.
Remove tree and stump and cleanup --$2,500.
To me, this sounds ridiculous, is it that high everywhere??

David G · Feb 20, 2014

Sounds reasonable for me.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 20, 2014

When they are removing the stump, is it being dug out or ground
out? Makes a big difference in $. Sounds a little high, on the
takedown, but I don't know all the particulars...

Spook · Feb 20, 2014

Sounds reasonable to me. Probably a 2 day job, for 2 or 3 guys.

Bryce Frazier · Feb 20, 2014

WOW, I should be in that business! If I was close enough to you I would cut it down, haul all of the debris (and wood if you didn't want it) off, and then introduce that stump to the birds with a little C4, all for $500.

Sounds like WAY to much to me, but I have never been in that situation! Bryce

Goose · Feb 20, 2014

As a yardstick, a couple of years ago, I had an elm tree of approximately the same size taken down.

A tree service charged me $700 to put it on the ground, and I cleaned up the mess.

However, by pure coincidence when I called the fellow on his cell phone at 11am, he just happened to be finishing a job six miles away, had all of his equipment with him including a bucket truck and a helper, and had the afternoon ahead of him uncommitted.

He told me if he had started from scratch from his home base 40 miles away, it would have been closer to $1,000.

So, I think your estimates are reasonable.

tomturkey · Feb 20, 2014

Sometimes it is easier and quicker to throw money at a project or problem. Sometimes on a tight budget you must put all the numbers together and decide where you can cut costs. Since all three bids are close, that must be the going rate. You will need to get most all of that stump removed as you don't want a bunch of organic matter under your concrete. My labor I have always considered at $0.00, therefore the more I did the more I saved. But I have skills that allow me to do most all of my own work and I'm cheap. lol gobble

bo · Feb 20, 2014

Way out of line. I live with huge white and red oaks. 60' would be my small one. I've removed about 5 of them. Never over $400 on the most recent one...about 2 years ago and grinding the stump was $200 with a very large Vermeer grinder. The trees had to be climbed and limbed and limbs lowered so they didn't bust up the other trees.
You're being had. Oh...clean up included click on the link also

tree

Husker44A · Feb 20, 2014

I had a large tree removed from the back yard. Huge White
Popular. Measured 6.5 FEET diameter at the base x 60 or 70
FEET HIGH. Cost me $1500 for removal. Ouch !!! If there's
nothing that can be damaged structure wise. I'd spend $$$ on
a chainsaw and extra chains and good day to drop the tree
myself for what they want for his tree to be removed. Call
some friends to help. I dropped a tree in the front yard that
was another white popular that was 2.5' x 60' and was cleaned
up that day. Took all day I also gave to wood away too as I
don't have a wood burner for the house.

Formerly PaMike · Feb 20, 2014

Not sure where you are located but in my area there is a good market for LARGE DIAMETER logs like you have. A couple of local guys have a side business of dropping trees like that and sawing the lumber for specialty projects. If you can drop the tree yourself I would think you can find someone to cut it up in return for the wood. Then just have the excavator yank the stump out when he is digging/grading for the building.

chuck machinist · Feb 20, 2014

Everybody needs to put braces on their kids,pay a mortgage,and provide for their family. Skills comencerate. He is taking the risk,and resposibility for the job.Have him show you the liability policy. $1000. Fair Price. Chuck

Josh in Pa · Feb 20, 2014

Since it can be safely downed without damage to buildings, why not just cut it yourself?
Josh

Mike (WA) · Feb 20, 2014

Lots of logging around here, so no big trick to find a faller to come on his day off and fall the tree- say, $200. Wouldn't take a good faller more than a half hour to do- they do trees that big around here every day.

Next, cast about for folks interested in oak lumber- furniture makers, hobbyists, etc.- give them as much of the tree as they will take, then cut up firewood and burn the branches. Free.

Finally, the hard part- removing the stump. Probably blow it, then guy with excavator to remove the roots. I wouldn't grind it- there'll still be lots of roots and sawdust left, and you don't want all that organic stuff under your slab.

ericlb · Feb 20, 2014

sounds real high i had a man call me for one, it was large, and between 2 houses and the local tree company had turned the job down, of course they didnt have a bucket truck, i do, took the thing down in small easy to handle pieces they helped on the ground with all the hump work, took me about 2 1/2 hours to get it cut down and i got 250, didnt hit the houses with anything,either

rick1 · Feb 20, 2014

You ever consider a different location and save the
tree

Bryce Frazier · Feb 20, 2014

That was kind of my thought for a logger. Everyone around where I live has three or four saws in the back of their trucks at all times! I personally have a Husky, 335x? with a 32" bar. I have fallen many, many trees and I don't think that one would be a problem! Bryce

wisbaker · Feb 20, 2014

Michael Perry is a Wisconsin author who writes about his life in North Western
Wisconsin, including the years he spent on the local fire department rescue squad.
In one book he talked about taking a tree like this down and enlisting his
brother's help, his brother was a logger. His explanation for waiting until his
brother could help....I've been on a lot of fire rescue calls where the last idea a
person had was "Gee I'll cut that tree down now", turned out to be a not so good of
an idea.

It seems like a lot of money but remember you're renting their time, their
equipment (with no responsibility for damage) and paying their liability and
workman's comp insurance. Wouldn't be surprised if their insurance costs are 30-40
percent of your cost. You can probably find ways to get it done cheaper, like no
insurance but if you elect to go that route understand the risk you're assuming if
the drop a tree on a building or car or someone gets hurt, maybe permanently.

I paid similar rates to have some large maple trees removed from the grounds of one
of the buildings I used to care for. It was a government owned building so I had to
have the insurance and use the lowest responsible proposal. The folks I used
already had the logs marketed, most went to a pulp mill but two went to a veneer
plant.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 20, 2014

Anyone in your area burn firewood? Or better yet do you have a wood stove.Since there is no problem with the tree hitting anything it'll take about 5 minutes to cut it down and a couple guys could cut the firewood out in a day most likely and if they need firewood they'll be glad to get it and maybe even help you grind the brush in a rented brush grinder.I'd guess your son will need to get a backhoe to grade the shop floor so they can dig the stump out,cut the tree off high so the backhoe will have some leverage getting the stump.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 20, 2014

He ain't a logger if it takes him 30 minutes to cut a tree that size,notch the one side and cut from the other and if you're just cutting for firewood then a slash cut would be real easy that way it'll split up the lower part of the trunk and make it easier to work up.

Mike (WA) · Feb 20, 2014

The problem with big, bushy oaks out in the open is you can't figure which way they'll fall, so you have to take it kind of slow and use a lot of wedges. Firs with no limbs for the first 40 feet are a lot easier.

Sure wouldn't do a slash cut on an oak that size- they tend to jump off the stump, and you don't know which way they're going to jump.

oldtanker · Feb 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 08:21:14 02/20/14) My son plans to build a large shop and a large oak tree must be removed.
The tree is app. 60 foot tall and 3 1/2 foot at base.
Tree can be safely downed without damage to surrounding buildings.
Three estimates were all app. the same:
Cut tree down, no cleanup--$1,000.
Cut tree down and cleanup--$2,000.
Remove tree and stump and cleanup --$2,500.
To me, this sounds ridiculous, is it that high everywhere??

I paid to have one taken down very close to our house last year. No cleanup was 350 bucks from a reputable bigger tree service.

Rick

Traditional Farmer · Feb 20, 2014

You're right you shouldn't be cutting trees that size.
A good tree cutter will know which way its going to fall and if you slash cut it can't jump off the stump because you quit sawing before you get all the way thru and the trunk and the stump are still connected when it hits the ground.

donjr · Feb 20, 2014

If it isn't close to anything, cut the roots around
the trunk, hook a chain high on it and put a good
sized tractor as far away as you feel safe, and
pull it over. Cut it up and finish taking the
trunk out with the big tractor.....

PJH · Feb 20, 2014

Ten years ago, we hired an insured tree cutter to remove a very large white oak that had a slight worrisome lean toward our church. Our tree would compare to the size of the tree that you described. His fee was $1800, cleaned up, and he left the stump untouched. He had to use a bucket truck and piece it down due to the church on one side and the cemetery on the other.

Could you leave the tree and move the shop? Foolish question perhaps, and one you've surely already thought of and rejected.

retired farmer · Feb 20, 2014

That is about what I paid for a tree trimmer back in the 90's.

Ray · Feb 20, 2014

If it's decent wood you could find someone to take it down and remove the wood for free.

Jiles · Feb 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 21:08:16 02/20/14) If it's decent wood you could find someone to take it down and remove the wood for free.

That's what I suggested and we are checking. So far, most, that are interested in Logs, are concerned with it being a "yard tree". Most sawmills in my area will not take yard trees.

Wile E · Feb 20, 2014

It is kinda high, but......
I would go to him and deal....Say, Hey Buddy.
You cut down tree, clean up mess. $1,200.
You have to figure that the owner wants $100 per hour for 3-4 man crew. A whole day job and then some.
Or you could just drop the tree yourself, call some buddies over and they can have some firewood, you buy pizza and beer when its over. (they help you cut it up too of course) This is what I would do.

Eldon (WA) · Feb 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 13:33:11 02/20/14)

(quoted from post at 21:08:16 02/20/14) If it's decent wood you could find someone to take it down and remove the wood for free.

Click to expand...

That's what I suggested and we are checking. So far, most, that are interested in Logs, are concerned with it being a "yard tree". Most sawmills in my area will not take yard trees.

Just put it in the "free" section of your local Craigslist and then be prepared to weed out the jokers. People around here love free firewood. You are lucky it is oak and not pine....

fixerupper · Feb 20, 2014

To add to Rick's post, if a floor will be poured it will be caving in someday when all those big oak roots rot away unless the area is dug out deep and new soil is hauled in and properly compacted. When I borrowed money from the FSA to build a bin one of the regulations stated it will not be built where the ground has been disturbed other than normal farming.

A neighbor had a Morton shed with a dirt floor built back in the 70's where there were trees. One corner of the building settled and ripped the steel siding because it was where a couple of trees had been. He had the siding replaced and it settled and ripped again. I'd look for a different location with solid soil. Jim

Geo-TH,In · Feb 20, 2014

$1000 for complete job, clean up and haul away. A cut and run should be much less if he just has to drop it.

I know a man with a sawmill. He is the only person I know who will make lumber out of yard trees.

I had a large walnut cut down. He took the logs. I told him to pay me what he thinks it's worth after he ran it through the mill. He sent me $300. That's better than giving to someone for firewood.

I would shop around for a lower price. Oak is what people like to burn too.

paul · Feb 20, 2014

That sounds about right for prices.

Most locations have bonding, insurance, and so forth rules
built in, the fella has a lot of overhead to cover that is
mandated.

My neighbor the lawn and snow guy cut down a tree for a
customer and got in trouble, he didnt have those fancy pieces
of paper..... While they raise the costs to the tree trimmers, it
also gets rid of a lot of competition so generally they are liked
and encouraged by the folks in business.......

You will need the stump dug out, any option to have it dropped
and the root gotten out, but you and some buddies do the
clean up?

Paul

WI Dan · Feb 20, 2014

That's a good price, considering it's a yard tree. Big limbs everywhere, probably not weighted evenly, who knows how many nails, wires, etc. are buried in the truck to ambush the chainsaw.

"By the Book" operators have many bills: employees (workcomp, unemployment, certifications) machines (loan, depreciation, repairs) fuel/material (gas, diesel, chains, oil) and butt-covering regulation fees. Liability insurance is huge. "What if's" are expensive...

I've got a 70' silver maple - triple trunk. Was quoted $700 per trunk to drop them (no cleanup). and that was in his off-peak season.

Aaron Ford · Feb 20, 2014

A lady in town paid $6500 for two large maples.
When the crew left there was no evidence that
trees had ever been there. Higher cost due to
proximity of houses, power lines, and soil
replacement/compacting.

It can get expensive.

Aaron

JWalker · Feb 20, 2014

Not sure how close you are to other buildings so this may or
may not work. I had several large pine trees 20 feet from a
farm building. I had a local independent track hoe operator
take them down stump and all at one time. These trees were
large enough I cut 4. 8X8"s out of 3 of the but cuts. The
operator made one scoop from the back side of the tree, the
took the bucket reached up how ever high he deemed
necessary then drove into the tree and pushed it down. He
took out 6 trees, cut the stups off, piled the stumps and limbs
in 2 hours and 15 minutes. Best money I had spent in several
years.

JWalker

oldtanker · Feb 20, 2014

The one they took down for 350 bucks was about 24 inches from the house and about 2 1/2 foot where they cut it at, red oak. Some branches were over the line from the pole to the house. I did tell em when it was convenient for them. About 2 weeks after the estimate the guy calls me and says I have a crew going out to a place near you, can they take your tree out today? Bucket truck and 3 workers. They were here about 20 minutes.

Rick

GordoSD · Feb 20, 2014

Don't build any closer than 15 feet to the stump. The roots will be under the building and cause major problems.

fixerupper · Feb 20, 2014

I would still be very cautious about putting a building where a big tree was without completely deep excavating first. Jim

Royse · Feb 20, 2014

(quoted from post at 17:04:37 02/20/14)

(quoted from post at 13:33:11 02/20/14)

(quoted from post at 21:08:16 02/20/14) If it's decent wood you could find someone to take it down and remove the wood for free.

Click to expand...

That's what I suggested and we are checking. So far, most, that are interested in Logs, are concerned with it being a "yard tree". Most sawmills in my area will not take yard trees.

Click to expand...

Just put it in the "free" section of your local Craigslist and then be prepared to weed out the jokers. People around here love free firewood. You are lucky it is oak and not pine....

I just saw one of those ads on CL.
"Free firewood. Must be bonded and insured."
This tree is right next to their house.
I wished them good luck with that one!

armand tatro · Feb 20, 2014

#1 Save the tree! Move the shed!
#2 Use the money you would have to take tree
down on a cement floor!
#3 Doing it this no need to worry about dirt
settling!
Build the top of floor at least 12" to 18"
above grade because as time passes the wind
will blow dust into the sod against the
the building. If the building is above grade
water will drain away from the building!
Armand

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