With human beings cutting down 15 billion trees every year, you might think we wouldn’t have problems with trees falling and needing removal. You might also be surprised at how much fallen tree removal cost is calculated. There are a lot of factors when trying to keep a fallen tree from damaging your property or getting rid of one that has, so think like a tree remover to get the figure.
Here are four major factors that come into play when calculating the cost of tree removal.
1. Height Matters
Depending on the tree removal service you hire, they might calculate how much it’s going to cost you based on how tall it is. There is sometimes a fee calculated based on the height while sometimes it doesn’t matter. If you’re dealing with a tree that’s under a certain height, you might just pay a flat fee.
Trees that are less than 30′ tall are usually going to cost you a certain amount of money that’s the same as you go down from there. Medium-sized trees are typically classified as those between 30′ and 60′ tall. Go up as high as 80 feet or more and you’re definitely paying by the foot.
These are the most common ranges that trees are measured in. When you’re getting rid of several trees of different heights, assume that the trees are going to cost you based on how tall they are. Don’t expect any two differently sized trees to cost the same amount.
2. Condition of the Tree Impacts Price
While you might think a fallen tree is a fallen tree no matter how you slice it, the condition of your tree is going to impact how much it costs to remove. If you’re dealing with a fallen tree or one that’s about to fall, you need to consider how dangerous it is for the remover.
Trees often need to be looked at by an arborist before they’re removed. They’re trained in looking for problems with trees and woody plants. If your tree is leaning dangerously, it’s going to need special treatment to be taken down carefully.
The history of a tree is going to come into consideration. If there’s been construction or landscaping near the roots, the removers will know that it could be unstable. If there’s been a history of care for the tree, that’s going to come into consideration when it comes time to take the tree down.
Trees that lean or have multiple trunks should be handled carefully. Trees that lean slightly are normal but if it’s low to the ground with roots exposed, you might be dealing with stability problems. Pair this with trees split into two or more trunks and you’ll be dealing with something that may fall or crack while the tree is being removed.
Cavities and decay, much like in teeth, impact how easy it is to remove the tree. If it falls apart with a fig from removal equipment, that’s going to be a problem.
3. Dead Trees Are a Mixed Bag
When you’re calculating the costs of removing your tree, removing a dead tree is going to change the cost of taking it down. If a dead tree is small, it’s going to be easier to work as it should cut easier. While they’re usually =weak and brittle, that has it’s advantages when you’re removing them.
If a large dead tree needs to be removed, it’s weakness and brittle innards are going to be more of a curse than a blessing. Trees that are dead or dying in the middle of a city can be a hazard. Big pieces can fall off and leave the property owner responsible for any damages.
There are some tree removal services that don’t bat an eye when dealing with a dead tree but some have more trouble based on the location. Unpredictability is the predominant issue that removers deal with when dead trees are being taken down. If a dead tree has already fallen or pieces of it are falling, then the remover is going to have to prepare for a lack of stability.
Most of this comes down to just how comfortable the removal company is with dead trees. Their experience is going to do much of the heavy lifting in determining how much it’ll cost to remove the tree.
4. Location Makes a Difference
While you might not think it matters where a tree has fallen, it turns out that the location ends up making a difference in how much it costs. The difference in removing a tree that’s in a challenging place can change the price by about 50%.
Trees that are sitting in the middle of a field are simple and easy to remove since accessing and moving them should be a comfortable experience. If a tree is in the midst of power lines or sitting in the middle of a nest of trees, it’s going to cost more to truck out equipment and do the work carefully. When a tree has fallen in the midst of a bunch of power lines or utility lines, then the removal service is going to have to be more careful.
They might be required to bring out a certified lineman to get the job done. Since these employees are going to be compensated more than the other tree removal staff, that impacts the cost.
Additionally, if the fallen tree is in the middle of homes and other structures, branches will have to be removed by rope to avoid further damage. When a tree falls in a forest, it’s much cheaper. When a tree falls in a city, expect someone to hear it and for the job to be more complicated.
Fallen Tree Removal Cost Can Vary
When you’re trying to calculate fallen tree removal cost, you need to consider all the factors that make a tree easy to deal with. You also need to think about whether or not you should have other trees removed now to save yourself the hassle later.
If you’re dealing with trees after a storm, check out our guide for tips.
