How to remove several hundred stumps

[Meesterbeeg]

I recently got involved with a contract for FEMA consisting of 800 trees, 4000 hangers, and several hundred stumps. They do not want the stumps ground, rather dug up and filled with fill dirt. Some jobs have only one stump, while another has 256 stumps. Would an average back-hoe be efficient? ( I think an excavator, would be too big of piece of equipment to move from job to job. Some of these locations are residential.) Most of these stumps are pine and oak, ranging from 12" to over 48". How many stumps, on average, could an operator do in a 10 hour day? Just wondering if any of you have been down this road before.

 

[NickfromWI]

Sounds like you got your self in to a mess!

Get some dynamite.

 

[Meesterbeeg]

I think they have enough fishing holes around here, already!

 

[Redbull]

I agree with Nick. See what it would cost to contract an explosives expert. He could possibly do less damage than a back-hoe.

 

[Stumper]

. problem number one. FEMA. Problem number two. Dealing with people that will not accept results but must tell you HOW to do YOUR job. Back away if you can. If involved means already contracted practice kicking your own butt and rent a backhoe or mini trackhoe(better).

 

[Lawn Masters]

Just a piece of advice on a mini excavator, get something larger than a Bobcat 331. I have seen a 325 struggle with a 20" stump before.

 

[eyeinstine]

Yikes!

i wouldnt want to be in your shoes! I sure hope you get paid very well for this! Im an equipment operator by trade, and have done a fair amount of stump and tree removal with an excavator and a backhoe.. The excavator is definitly way faster, and easier.. On soft ground, it will do less damage to the lawn than a backhoe hoe.. As long as you turn slowly and carefully. Ideally, would be a backhoe for the smaller stumps (under 18") and the hydro hoe for the larger ones.. Either way, it sounds like you have a few years of steady work ahead of you.

Have fun
Ron

 

[clearance]

You need a decent sized hoe on tracks with a thumb. A rubber tired machine will take too long and its too hard on the machine.

 

[Lumberjack]

Backout if you can.

If you cant tell FEMA to shove it and contract with one of these.

Will make fast work of the stumps, cheaper than hauling off the stumps, paying the tipping fee, bringing in dirt, and filling the holes.


Clearance, who cares if its hard on the machine? It would be a RENTAL.

 

[wannabebad]

If you used a stump grinder, I'd figure 1 stump=1/2 hour. Remember you'll need to grease the machine, move from point to point and back fill with the chips. Some will definately be quicker, while those 48"ers will eat up time.

 

[Stumper]

And for pities sake don't grind 2 feet of clean wood sticking out of the ground-cut it off with a chainsaw and then grind.

 

[DDM]

They do not want the stumps ground, rather dug up and filled with fill dirt. 12" to over 48".

If you used a stump grinder, I'd figure 1 stump=1/2 hour. Remember you'll need to grease the machine, move from point to point and back fill with the chips. Some will definately be quicker, while those 48"ers will eat up time.

Ummmmm They cant be ground Per his initial Post.
The 12" would not be too much problem with either the Hoe or excavator. A 48" Oak will be Darn near impossible without a Large 60000 Lb + Excavator. The rootball itself will weigh in 7000 lbs plus and probabaly 10' Diameter Plus.

 

[Newfie]

Ummmmm They cant be ground Per his initial Post.

Come on Dave, quit cluttering up the thread with details.


I would say there isn't any one machine that is gonna be perfect for all of the jobs. The large stumps are going to need a large tracked machine as mentioned by others. A smaller rubber tired backhoe would be ideal for the smaller stuff accessible only across asphalt or concrete.

I hope you bid this right w/ charges for each time equipment gets moved. Any requirements or restrictions regarding tearing up existing turf to access?

It sounds like these stumps and trees are scattered about a few here and a few there, left over from the hurricane? That will slow down production and you definitely bill accordingly for your time. This could make you a millionaire or screw you into the ground if not bid properly.

 

[DDM]

Come on Dave, quit cluttering up the thread with details.

I Know I Know Just a Small Detail.

This could make you a millionaire or screw you into the ground if not bid properly.

O Yes and remember Those 48" Rootball holes will probably need a Half a Tandem load of dirt to fill in! Any spec's on re compaction?

 

[Lumberjack]

If you used a stump grinder, I'd figure 1 stump=1/2 hour. Remember you'll need to grease the machine, move from point to point and back fill with the chips. Some will definately be quicker, while those 48"ers will eat up time.

Wannabe, the stump I posted a pic of above took 7-8 minutes (30" tall and 2' at the cut). This is with the roots ground out and the stump ground about 8"-10" deep. Your figures are off. Probably woulda been 5 minutes if the stump was ALAPed.

DDM, FEMA should be telling a man how to do his job.

See if you can negotiate using a grinder and then removing the wood chips and back filling. We have done countless jobs for the government and other agencies. Not grinding is going to eat alot of proffit.

If you could give me an average diameter and height of the stumps, with a ball park number of stumps and the soil composition (rocky?), I could give you a ball park of what we would charge to grind the stumps (we only grind, no cleanup unless ya really like spending money) if we worked there, and an approx. time it would take to grind all the stumps assuming they arent spread out too bad.

 

[Meesterbeeg]

Thank you all for your responses. One thing for sure I gathered--no one piece of equipment will be the answer to my prayers. Also, I found out from the GC, I may be able to opt out any job involving stump removal. I completed one job today( kind of a test run, contract doesn't start until Apr. 8th). I dropped 2 medium-sized pines and 3 10" oaks for $1800. We were there for 2 hours. Everything is brought to the curb. No hauling. Now, all I have to do is wait . . . wait . . . and wait to get paid.

 

[DDM]

DDM, FEMA should be telling a man how to do his job.

I Think they are!

 

[Meesterbeeg]

Lumberjack----
How far are you from Pensacola? I noticed one of the locations had 270 stumps. I'll check again if grinding is possible. They are splitting this job among 3 of us tree companies. Maybe they could sub out the stumps to you guys. I'm sure you are properly liscensed and insured and so forth . . .

 

[basnighttrees]

If possible save the stumps for last or in groups. Rent the biggest rubber track exavator you can haul yourself. The tumb is a plus but will cost more to rent. Rent the machine buy the week first with the option to keep for the month if needed. If you have the resorces to show up with the exavator and top soil to back fill do it. The job will work for you if you have a system in place before you start. Good luck.

 

[Lumberjack]

Meesterbeeg, I am 293 miles from you.

That is about 243 miles outta our service area. There should be someone nearer to you that grinds stumps.

However, summer is coming up and a trip to the beach would be nice......

I doubt that 300 stumps is worth the drive for us, no offense.