hackwriter
New Member
I have a very large (60-foot) split oak tree in my backyard. The split is only about 7' off the ground, so the tree is essentially a large "V".
The tree has been cabled for at least 10 years. (We have been here for 6.) The property slopes downward away from my house; the tree is near the bottom of the hill. The cable is about 35-40' up.
One trunk of the "V" angles towards my neighbor's house. If something happens to the cable, it's a pretty good bet that this trunk will fall on my neighbor's house.
Every time we have a storm with wind or ice, I am worried sick that this is the time the tree will fall.
I have about 8 large oaks in the yard, and I hate to take down any of them. It breaks my heart to do this, but I've decided that I'm tired of worrying about this tree. The tree leafs out fine, but it has lost a number of large branches in recent years.
I have gotten a number of estimates that are all over the lot. The guy I think I want to use not only came in with the lowest estimate, but gave me a copy of his insurance certificate ($1MM liability, $1MM, property damage, workmen's comp, etc). I had some questions about the insurance, left a message, and he called right away. He explained that the way they will take the tree down (because they can't bet a bucket or crane into the backyard) is send guys up there and cut it down piece by piece. He says that by the time they get to the cable, enough weight will be removed from the tree that there will not be a danger of the split causing the remainder of the trunk to fall.
The neighbor whose house is at risk has told me that he thinks that at one point, the previous owner of my house poured concrete into a rotted area at the bottom of the tree. I have no way of knowing if this is true, but obviously if it is, they won't be able to remove the stump.
Other estimates either came in ridiculously high or with what I regard as questionable tactics such as verbal-only estimates, high-pressure to "decide now", assertions that "you won't get a lower estimate than mine", etc. That's why I'm inclined to go with the guy who lined up his ducks in a row right away (and whose ad said he specializes in "large and dangerous trees).
Can anyone give me any thoughts on this?
The tree has been cabled for at least 10 years. (We have been here for 6.) The property slopes downward away from my house; the tree is near the bottom of the hill. The cable is about 35-40' up.
One trunk of the "V" angles towards my neighbor's house. If something happens to the cable, it's a pretty good bet that this trunk will fall on my neighbor's house.
Every time we have a storm with wind or ice, I am worried sick that this is the time the tree will fall.
I have about 8 large oaks in the yard, and I hate to take down any of them. It breaks my heart to do this, but I've decided that I'm tired of worrying about this tree. The tree leafs out fine, but it has lost a number of large branches in recent years.
I have gotten a number of estimates that are all over the lot. The guy I think I want to use not only came in with the lowest estimate, but gave me a copy of his insurance certificate ($1MM liability, $1MM, property damage, workmen's comp, etc). I had some questions about the insurance, left a message, and he called right away. He explained that the way they will take the tree down (because they can't bet a bucket or crane into the backyard) is send guys up there and cut it down piece by piece. He says that by the time they get to the cable, enough weight will be removed from the tree that there will not be a danger of the split causing the remainder of the trunk to fall.
The neighbor whose house is at risk has told me that he thinks that at one point, the previous owner of my house poured concrete into a rotted area at the bottom of the tree. I have no way of knowing if this is true, but obviously if it is, they won't be able to remove the stump.
Other estimates either came in ridiculously high or with what I regard as questionable tactics such as verbal-only estimates, high-pressure to "decide now", assertions that "you won't get a lower estimate than mine", etc. That's why I'm inclined to go with the guy who lined up his ducks in a row right away (and whose ad said he specializes in "large and dangerous trees).
Can anyone give me any thoughts on this?