Should I fill in hole?

[Cowboy78064]

Ok got my first job where the customer wants the stump removed. Should I fill in the hole left behind? Even if yall say no im going to fill it in anyway I just want to see what the norm is. But secondly should I put grass back over the dirt?

 

[Gologit]

If you already have your mind made up what to do, why are you asking?

 

[KenJax Tree]

I always fill the hole in with the chips and dirt if the HO wants the chips removed and grass seed or sod down i will do that but for more $$ of course.

 

[Cowboy78064]

If you already have your mind made up what to do, why are you asking?

Im filling this one in because its a small tree and an old widowed lady. Im asking about the grass and the fact that one day hopefully I will have bigger jobs and am wondering what the standard is on filling holes and putting new grass down.

 

[Cowboy78064]

I need more opinions please

 

[KenJax Tree]

What more do you need fill it in or don't but what are you gonna do with all the dirt and chips if you don't push it back in the hole.

 

[Cowboy78064]

What more do you need fill it in or don't but what are you gonna do with all the dirt and chips if you don't push it back in the hole.

Of course I would push all of that back in, but does anyone ever haul dirt in to fill the rest of the hole? Because there wont ever be enough chips from cutting it down to fill in where a big stump used to be.

 

[KenJax Tree]

I don't just haul in dirt unless asked and paid accordingly. The hole will always level off but it will settle after a while but the HO usually deals with that. My suggestion is just fill it back in and leave it because the fill dirt is coming out of your pocket.

 

[Cowboy78064]

I don't just haul in dirt unless asked and paid accordingly. The hole will always level off but it will settle after a while but the HO usually deals with that. My suggestion is just fill it back in and leave it because the fill dirt is coming out of your pocket.

Thank you

 

[mattfr12]

Of course I would push all of that back in, but does anyone ever haul dirt in to fill the rest of the hole? Because there wont ever be enough chips from cutting it down to fill in where a big stump used to be.

Are you sure there is not gonna be enough chips, usually its way the opposite way for for me. when i grind out like a 60 inch stump i wind up with a dump truck full of chips before the hole is flush with the ground again. And yes i always fill the hole back in its actually a liability if you don't. Someone breaks there ankle in it and now you created a hazardous situation that a slime bag lawyer might try and go after you for.

 

[rtsims]

Are you sure there is not gonna be enough chips, usually its way the opposite way for for me. when i grind out like a 60 inch stump i wind up with a dump truck full of chips before the hole is flush with the ground again. And yes i always fill the hole back in its actually a liability if you don't. Someone breaks there ankle in it and now you created a hazardous situation that a slime bag lawyer might try and go after you for.

I second that. Every stump I have ever ground out left way more shavings and dirt than was needed to fill the hole. Even packing it down your left with a mound.

 

[OHWC]

That is between you an the homeowner and what she wants. Honestly if you are asking questions like this you may want to go work for someone else first to learn how to interact with clients.

Sorry if I am a little rough. But if you do not know to cover this in your bid how are you going to run the rest of the business.

 

[Cowboy78064]

That is between you an the homeowner and what she wants. Honestly if you are asking questions like this you may want to go work for someone else first to learn how to interact with clients.

Sorry if I am a little rough. But if you do not know to cover this in your bid how are you going to run the rest of the business.

1. I didnt say I didnt say I dont know how to do a bid or interact with clients. I would honestly fill in every hole when Im done just out of professional courtesy. I was just wondering if it was common practice among other companies.

2. The reason I started this company was because everyone else in my area is a bunch of illegals who do half the job and usually do it wrong.

3. Thank you for your reply and opinion.

 

[Cowboy78064]

I second that. Every stump I have ever ground out left way more shavings and dirt than was needed to fill the hole. Even packing it down your left with a mound.

Now I get why yall are saying to fill it with shavings. Guess I left that part out. When I was doing this stuff as a part time thing for friends I just dug down about 3 ft and cut the stump out. It doesnt take too much time with the size of trees we have down here. But yes I do plan on grinding them out when I get that attachment for my skid steer.

 

[mattfr12]

Now I get why yall are saying to fill it with shavings. Guess I left that part out. When I was doing this stuff as a part time thing for friends I just dug down about 3 ft and cut the stump out. I doest take too much time with the size of trees we have down here. But yes I do plan on grinding them out when I get that attachment for my skid steer.

Ok i get it now so your not actually grinding the stump. your going to dig a trench around it below ground level and cut it off with a saw if i understand you correctly? then you are definitely going to need dirt.

 

[Cowboy78064]

Ok i get it now so your not actually grinding the stump. your going to dig a trench around it below ground level and cut it off with a saw if i understand you correctly? then you are definitely going to need dirt.

yes, that is correct. thanks

 

[trees2]

Ok got my first job where the customer wants the stump removed. Should I fill in the hole left behind? Even if yall say no im going to fill it in anyway I just want to see what the norm is. But secondly should I put grass back over the dirt?

Any job i do , unless it is going to be excavated , I always clean the hole replace it with high quality compost then either seed or sot it. Thats the way i roll! Remember people talk good or bad .But QUALITY is always better.

 

[rtsims]

Just out of curiosity, how much time and/or money are you spending digging around the stump, dulling your chain cutting it out with dirt caked on it, re sharpening your chain, fuel and time to get clean top soil and fill in the hole? In my way of thinking I would rent a stump grinder for about $65/ 3 hrs and grind all the stumps I had. My 2 cents. Just FYI. I bought a Carlton stump grinder last November for 5k, it has more than paid for itself.

 

[Cupocoffee]

I rarely backfill ...

When I bid a job and when I advertise my job, I make it clear that I do not backfill. Every now and then, I will backfill if it is for an old man or old woman who simply can't do it themselves. If they ask for me to backfill, I will add $10 to the job if it isn't a huge stump. I have NEVER had anyone balk at filling their own holes. Also, I will backfill if a hole is in the front yard and there is a chance a kid might ride his bike through it before the homeowner can get to it. I have a minimum price of $80 for any job, regardless of how small the stump. My minimum price per stump is $40 for anything 12" or less and the price goes up according to stump size. The only person who has ever complained about my price is my neighbor who is a self proclaimed millionaire. Wouldn't you know it. I try not to work hard but to work smart. That is why I don't understand trying to dig out a stump. Just last week I was called to a job by a plumber who had two workers trying to dig out a stump for five hours which was in the trench he needed to dig. He called me and I had the entire stump ground out in ten minutes. They were amazed. He paid those two guys $10 per hour for five hours each trying to get the stump out ($100) and then paid me $80 to grind it out. The plumber was really excited by the work I did and was very pleased with my price. I don't make much money on single stumps but it is still worth my time and often leads to more work.

 

[OLD MAN GRINDER]

I grind em and my wife fills them.....we allways push shavings into the hole and press
them down and then level and spread the rest, unless the customer has a tractor or
tells us not to bother, we just finished a 192 stump job and filled and leveled all the
holes, we get a lot of compliments on our work and it leads to more jobs, a lot of
times customer will give us more than the bid just because of our work....

Bob.....