Dirt in stump holes??

[MidwestTree]

How many of you offer dirt to go back in stump holes after grinding? I am the only one in the area that offers this and it is a huge selling point.

Dana

 

[ORclimber]

How do you do it efficiently? Seems like it would be a pain to pack around dirt. Travel time is my worst enemy on stump grinding, the last thing I want to do is add more driving to get dirt.

 

[Menchhofer]

We have been removing all chips and filling in with quality topsoil for years. We also seed and straw when requested. Yes, it is can money for you have the equipment so it does not become too labor intensive.

We keep a pile of pulverized topsoil here just for that prupose. We use power-trac if needed to remove chips and to load the soil onto trailer. We usually charge double for this service or even a bit more.

 

[Ax-man]

If I have to do this I use the dirt from around the base of the stump if available or use the dirt with the least amount of chips in it usually from the back side of the stump where you finish grinding. I use this material for a low fill and topdress with bagged quality top soil. It is easier for us to use bagged dirt than to load or unload bulk soil . Saves time and space on a truck and just easier to handle.

Midwest, where is Wellington located ?? Are you North , Central or downstate Southern Ill. ??

Larry

 

[murphy4trees]

Double what price.... say a 24" DBH oak...
How deep do you grind???
Doesn't it also depend on access with equipment???
I would say double for hauling the chips alone, then triple for backfilling and seeding....

 

[Ax-man]

Originally posted by murphy4trees
[B
I would say double for hauling the chips alone, then triple for backfilling and seeding.... [/B]

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That is the way I figure it too. Don't really get a lot of takers on the adding soil part, most are happy if you just remove the chips level to the ground for the extra.

I do try to stay away from hauling chips and dirt as much as possible, a lot depends on the customer and the way the site is taken care of.

Stumper makes a good point on this, your there because you have the equipment and know how to get the job done, let others less skilled do the landscaping part.

Larry

 

[Lumberjack]

We do as little removing of the chips as possible, maybe 4-6 jobs a year that we have to do. We charge double to remove the chips (varies, but that is a baseline) and more if we have to remove all the chips and fill completely with top soil.

 

[Menchhofer]

Originally posted by murphy4trees
Double what price.... say a 24" DBH oak...
How deep do you grind???
Doesn't it also depend on access with equipment???
I would say double for hauling the chips alone, then triple for backfilling and seeding....

You are correct....

 

[begleytree]

If you're not refilling with topsoil and seeding, you're half-assing the job, and leaving money lay on the ground.
-Ralph

 

[Ax-man]

Originally posted by begleytree
If you're not refilling with topsoil and seeding, you're half-assing the job, and leaving money lay on the ground.
-Ralph

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That is your opinion, personally I don't share it. I would rather make more profitable dollars doing a quickie prune job than play around with stump chips and dirt.

Grinding stumps and cleaning up the mess isn't that profitable, especially when everybody and his brother has a grinder doing them for next to nothing, if that isn't enough you can rent one one with dull teeth.

I've seriously considered subing out our stumps because it is just one more thing to do to get a job finished that I just don't care to do. Let some one else put up with the hassle of broken teeth, belts, tires, bearings and sheaves, I got other things to do that make better money than stumps.

Cleaning up after a machine that can a grind a 4 ft. plus stump 12" below the ground in a wet heavy clay soil, that leaves behind a small mountain of mixed dirt and chips, just isn't my idea of leaving money on the ground.

Larry

 

[begleytree]

ax-man, you are obviously in need of estimating skills then. If you are not afraid of a little work, and can price jobs to make money, its out there for the taking. Heck, what buisness owner is shoveling chips anyway? a buisness is a profitable venture that works without you!!( the owner)
BTW subbing out work is a good way to lose customers. You let joe smoe grind out your stumps and the homeowner is asking him about trimming the other tree in the yard.
-Ralph

 

[ORclimber]

Originally posted by Ax-man
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I've seriously considered subing out our stumps because it is just one more thing to do to get a job finished that I just don't care to do. Let some one else put up with the hassle of broken teeth, belts, tires, bearings and sheaves, I got other things to do that make better money than stumps.
Larry

I'm right there with you.

 

[MasterBlaster]

There are basically two options, with various degrees of each, to choose from; A) You clean it up... B) You don't.
Realizing this, you offer both options, priced accordingly.

Usually, the client will opt for the lower price of leaving it. Even the rich ones... their yardman will work it into the beds. I love those ones. A tree service will make more money doing treework than stump grinding clean-up.

And if they want it spiffy clean, at least you're getting paid for it!

 

[MidwestTree]

I just got back to this, have been watching the Xavier game. I went to high school with the head coach, Thad Matta.

This service has gain me alot of work. When someone around here wants a tree removed they also want the stump ground and they know that I supply dirt (for a charge). The competition doesn't so I get the job even if I am a little higher in the removal. Very rarely does the customer let you leave all the chips since it is more than would fit into the hole. I have a small loader that I can use and I haul the chips away in a dump trailer and bring the dirt back in it. Back up and dump out what I need. I usually stock pile a bunch of stumps for one day (when the wind is blowing harder than I want to work in or a saturday, easy way to finish the week off).

This service also got me an account with the power company grinding stumps. They liked the idea of making the home owner happier with a better finished job which helps reduce the anger of a tree being removed by the power company.

Thanks for the replies. I know that this is a service that can not be profitably supplied in all areas but was just interested how many do due it.

Dana

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by begleytree
If you're not refilling with topsoil and seeding, you're half-assing the job, and leaving money lay on the ground.
-Ralph

Sorry but you are wrong.

We have been doing stumps (soley no other services till last august) and we havent cleaned up 20 jobs in 6 years. Most of the time the customer doesnt want to pay the extra money to clean up the stumps.

For grinding stumps we charge (on average) $125 an hour. Can you make/ charge 125 an hour for cleaning up the stump? The time spent cleaning up the stump, the grinder is just sitting there, not making any money.

The standards where you live aint nationwide. In the south, most people, by far, clean up there own stumps.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by TreeCo
I'm not much for filling in holes but I do own two stump grinders. I've been making money with stump grinders since 1986. Make no mistake, stump grinding does take a lot of equipment maintenance. I spent 2 hours the other night changing teeth.

Dan

It takes me 15 min to change the main cutters and 35 to change them all? But we use raycos super tooth so that might explain it.


Oh and we normally backfill the hole with the blade or the wheel.

 

[begleytree]

Whats wrong with you people?????????
You charge the same hourly rate wether you're in a tree, or grinding stumps. No one hour is more pofitable than the next.
I charge 175 an hour no matter what I'm doing, if its grinding old brush piles, its the same money as stumps, or takedowns, or class 1 prunes.
are you suddenly worth less when the stumper shuts down?????

'come on guys, live a little. a job that you break even on is one you went in the hole on. You're better off sitting at home than working at a variable hourly rate.

-Ralph

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by TreeCo
Carl,

When did you get out? I heard about your meth lab thing. Good luck.

Dan

HAHA

 

[kurtztree]

Here is another thing you guys that want to sub out your stump grinding. What if the subcontractor doesn't show up when they say. You tell the customer they will show up on such a day then they don't for a couple more days later you get pead off people then. I went through that finally went and bought my own grinder because I got burned to many times.

 

[MidwestTree]

How long does it take you to clean out a hole, we usually have it done in fifteen minutes on large stumps. I think of it as leaving the chip the same as leaving a yard not raked. The custumer is going to look at it as half done.