Dead Oak??

[Haulinwood]

I have a HO that has a 45' tall very dead oak. It is past the point to climb and take down, also the yard is sloped in such a way that I can not get a towable lift in the back yard. Bid pick truck can not get close enough either. Any opinions on how to get this dead tree down? Power lines are on the back side of this tree but 10" away at least. I am throwing around the idea of using a extension ladder to get up high enough to top it and then bring the rest down. I can not drop the tree where she stands for there is no room for the whole tree, but partial would work. I hate to use a ladder, but I do not know of another choice. Thee are other trees in the yard, but all young, sapling young. Also what would some of you charge for such a tree, I do not have pics. Tree has about 12-15 large branches to take down before dropping the rest.
Thanks for any and all ideas.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

I have a HO that has a 45' tall very dead oak. It is past the point to climb and take down, also the yard is sloped in such a way that I can not get a towable lift in the back yard. Bid pick truck can not get close enough either. Any opinions on how to get this dead tree down? Power lines are on the back side of this tree but 10" away at least. I am throwing around the idea of using a extension ladder to get up high enough to top it and then bring the rest down. I can not drop the tree where she stands for there is no room for the whole tree, but partial would work. I hate to use a ladder, but I do not know of another choice. Thee are other trees in the yard, but all young, sapling young. Also what would some of you charge for such a tree, I do not have pics. Tree has about 12-15 large branches to take down before dropping the rest.
Thanks for any and all ideas.

It's past the point of climbing, but ok to lean a ladder against? Sorry, not getting that one. Without pics, it's kind of tough do give advice, except it sounds like you might be in over your head on this one.

 

[derwoodii]

45 foot dead oak ok consider a throw line over major limbs and pull up a good solid bull rope tied back to good winch, tear it apart to basic trunk.
Yes crude but works & if needs must Oak very brittle weak when dead can easy nuff to ripp limb off the trunk. The trick once limbs off is the trunk thou here block down is more often possible

 

[Haulinwood]

It's past the point of climbing, but ok to lean a ladder against? Sorry, not getting that one. Without pics, it's kind of tough do give advice, except it sounds like you might be in over your head on this one.

The trunk is pretty solid up to about 12', and has the branches off of that and up into what at one time was a canopy. The client wants to leave the 10' to 12' section in tact, they were thinking of having it carved or what have you. Thanks for the reply.

 

[TreeAce]

Need pictures. There is no way to get a towable lift back there? What about a self propelled lift? Is it possible to put a lift into the back yard with a crane ? Then muscle the lift close enough? Oh wait u said ground uneven? Hmmm u may need to think like an Egyptologist on this one. I suppose the home owner has a slim budget? That maybe your biggest problem.

 

[Haulinwood]

Need pictures. There is no way to get a towable lift back there? What about a self propelled lift? Is it possible to put a lift into the back yard with a crane ? Then muscle the lift close enough? Oh wait u said ground uneven? Hmmm u may need to think like an Egyptologist on this one. I suppose the home owner has a slim budget? That maybe your biggest problem.

It may be possible, IF I can get a good self propelled unit. The house sits on flat ground, right behind the house is a 20' incline I would say at a 40% incline, maybe more. IF and again IF I can get a towable or some type of lift back there, it would be a no question. As far as a budget, they really did not say, they have one bid thus far at $3200.00 from a Arborist. I was figuring half that even with the rental of a towable lift.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[B Harrison]

It may be possible, IF I can get a good self propelled unit. The house sits on flat ground, right behind the house is a 20' incline I would say at a 40% incline, maybe more. IF and again IF I can get a towable or some type of lift back there, it would be a no question. As far as a budget, they really did not say, they have one bid thus far at $3200.00 from a Arborist. I was figuring half that even with the rental of a towable lift.
Thanks for the reply.

I knew there would be a catch, your trying to out bid a pro. I am seeing someone in over there head, sorry!
The only way around this is for you to hire a arborist to work for you (if your licensed) and let them do the removal while you do the grunt work and clean up. In this situation I have a flat rate for my labor per day plus any equipment I put on the job......Tractor, trailer, Dump Truck..........

add in for your fuel, mark up what the insured arborist will charge you and maybe you will get the job.

Be careful.

 

[TreeAce]

Doesnt sound like a good job for someone who may not be a full time pro. You will have to answer that one honestly to yourself. I know I have posted questions just looking for opinions and received answers that implied I didnt know anything. But around here it can be hard to say. Keep in mind that getting a lift back there isnt necessarily solve the whole problem. There are still lots of things that can go wrong with a tree as dead as you are describing.

 

[woodchuck357]

Even dead oak is usually pretty strong. Throw a rope into the top and yank the thing hard, if it doesn't break out I would think it's ok to climb. Hard to tell without pics, but an oak would have to be very rotten to be non-climbable.

I have climbed some that I had to chop the rotten sap wood off to make places for my spikes to dig into the solid heart wood, but most of the time long gaffs can dig thru to solid wood.

Standing dead hickory gets rotten so fast I wouldn't climb one after the first year dead.

 

[ATH]

I'd be as worried about the roots letting go as the top breaking out....

Anything where you are putting a rope up high and puilling, you have to ask "how sure am I that this will not pull the whole tree down".

 

[B Harrison]

even if not climbable (not sure why), but ok, a ladder could be used vertical ratchet strapped to the tree.

Get a throw line in the top, climb to where the canopy was, make your scarf and a decent backcut, but not deep enough to send the tree. Wedge the back cut slightly and then get down and loose the ladder.
Now with a com along wench the top down. There is always a way.

Now if there are limbs close to wires that prevent this from happening, and you cant see an easy way ( I know of a lift that could be put in with a 4 wheeler and get a 45' tree on a slope) for a machine, then hire someone or bow out, like I said be careful.

 

[Zale]

Are the power lines 10" or 10' away? Either way, I would drop the lines if they are the house drop. You can guy the tree using bull ropes to stabilize it during removal. If your plan is to work off a ladder and do it for half the price of the other bid, you might want to ask yourself why is the other bid so high? Have you already given a price and you're trying to figure out how to do it?

 

[miko0618]

if there where no power lines, could you drop the whole tree? the power company can come out and take the line down, you drop the tree and they put the line back up. its about a $300 charge around here.

 

[ATH]

if there where no power lines, could you drop the whole tree? the power company can come out and take the line down, you drop the tree and they put the line back up. its about a $300 charge around here.

It is free around here...guess they figure that is cheaper than cleaning up the mess later.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

It may be possible, IF I can get a good self propelled unit. The house sits on flat ground, right behind the house is a 20' incline I would say at a 40% incline, maybe more. IF and again IF I can get a towable or some type of lift back there, it would be a no question. As far as a budget, they really did not say, they have one bid thus far at $3200.00 from a Arborist. I was figuring half that even with the rental of a towable lift.
Thanks for the reply.

So , 3200 for someone who knows what they're doing versus 1600 for someone with a ladder. I know who I would go with. It's OK to be in over your head, but not if you don't recognize it.

 

[Haulinwood]

Thanks for everyones replies. I do feel I am over my head on this particular tree. I was not tryin to underbid this guy, the HO just called for a bid. Whomever this HO goes with, I would like to see how this particular tree will be done.
Again, thanks to everyone whom replied. I would rather have a person shoot straight and speak their mind, I never take it to heart.
Thanks again, and be safe.

 

[beastmaster]

One of the biggest dangers with dead Oaks are the roots. Many times that is what killed the tree and how ever bad it looks above ground, it worse below ground. Nothing wrong with admitting your in over your head on this one. I do a lot of hazared trees, there's always a way, but there are so many little subtle things to look out for that if missed can kill you or destroy property.

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Thanks for everyones replies. I do feel I am over my head on this particular tree. I was not tryin to underbid this guy, the HO just called for a bid. Whomever this HO goes with, I would like to see how this particular tree will be done.
Again, thanks to everyone whom replied. I would rather have a person shoot straight and speak their mind, I never take it to heart.
Thanks again, and be safe.

You just moved to the top of the class in my opinion. Being willing to learn and ask advice, and then actually take it puts you ahead of half the industry. I really would like for you to swing back by the job and take a couple pics, you'll get better advice. Jeff

 

[Haulinwood]

You just moved to the top of the class in my opinion. Being willing to learn and ask advice, and then actually take it puts you ahead of half the industry. I really would like for you to swing back by the job and take a couple pics, you'll get better advice. Jeff

I will see what I can do, especially if I am there when another company does this job. I also do not know how long the HO will ponder in making a decision?
Take care and be safe out there.

 

[B Harrison]

So , 3200 for someone who knows what they're doing versus 1600 for someone with a ladder. I know who I would go with. It's OK to be in over your head, but not if you don't recognize it.

Yeah I have never heard that, but it puts a lot of things into perspective. If you at least know it before hand, then when something goes wrong you will have made a back up plan and adapt.