There are many variables involved in removing trees from homes and properties that make it very difficult to know if the cost submitted to you is reasonable or not. In order to evaluate the costs associated with a tree removal it is important to understand what is involved in professionally removing a tree. Below is a case study of an actual tree removal completed in Vermont. This Study details the many components of a professional tree removal and how each of these components impacts the overall cost. There is also a link to a video of the tree removal to give you a better understanding of the process.

• Tree care is the 5th most dangerous profession in the nation.
• The tree care industry is unregulated and a majority of the companies that call themselves tree care companies are in effect "pick-up truck and chain saw" operations that are underinsured and not appropriately trained to do this work.
• Using a professional tree care company reduces the risk of property damage and/or injury. When possible you and your clients should only use companies which are members of the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) and have certified arborists on staff.

In December, 2010, an 80' pine tree with a 30" diameter weighing approximately 35,000 lbs fell on a home in Vermont and caused significant structural damage. As the pine fell, it also forced an adjacent maple tree onto the roof as well as the tops of 4 additional pines. A professional tree care company was contracted to do the work.

Limbs of the tall pine pierced the roof. This required crew members to work inside the home so they could cut out interior limbs. Chainsaws were used for this procedure and the interior of the home was protected with padding and nylon plastic. Once the interior limbs were cleared the pine and other trees were lifted off of the house and roof, section by section, using a 33 ton crane.

Once removed, the smaller wood and branches were chipped and the large wood loaded directly into a dump truck for disposal.

The large wood was hauled to a legal dump site 20 miles away and the chips were dumped on-site away from the home.

Five (5) men (certified arborist, crane operator, climber, ground crew) worked on-site for 6 hours. This was an emergency situation and work was completed on a Saturday.

    

HMI is the only national provider of comprehensive tree and landscaping services that include emergency tree removals; standardized health inspections and average replacement cost analysis of trees for insurance, accounting and legal purposes; tree preservation services; and customized reports and inventories of landscaping. For more information, please visit HMI's web site at www.HMIadvantage.com or call (866) 937-6468.