Storm Cleanup

[wildside]

Hey,

I currently do property maintenence type work. My question is how much of your tree work is just bucking a tree that is currently on the ground, the tree may have been already downed by wind or rot. I am asking because I was considering doing a storm cleanup type business where the trees are already down, this is sidework for me. Therefore, I will hopefully not need a climber or astronomic insurance. I would probably use a dump body and pickup and prob no chipper actually, well at first. I want all the wood for firewood. Thanks for your time to read this.

Any Ideas?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

people in the buisness dont really do much of that work, unless it is for regular clients. There are too many people out there who will do it for so much less then we can. if you don't have a lot of overhead, $30 an hour sounds great. Onece youve been doing this for a while it sounds like a nightmare.

Any landscaper or school kid can do your scenario. We goet our kicks off of the ones where the tree is hanging up in three others by a few tips, and has a house and three cars underneeth

 

[arboles]

I believe it would be a time for less than $75 an hour. Two good men, some saws and a truck are well worth $75 an hour.

 

[geofore]

$30/hr

How long are you going to work before you can buy the PPE you need to be wearing? Cutting on the ground is not as safe as it looks. A couple of chainsaws? Where are your chaps, eye protection, earplugs and firstaid kit? On the ground sounds easy but it is more dangerous if not done right. You still need the insurance and it still needs to be done right, ask your insurance guy, it may nor may not be cheaper insurance but it is dangerous work.
A couple of good saws will make it go faster, two small saws,45-50cc with a 16" bar for the limbs and one in the 65-80cc with a 20-24" bar that will pull a 32" bar for the trunks. You'll need it if you want to make good time. Train your two guys with saws on how to use the saws and make them wear the PPE.
You can do the jobs without em but you ought to have some wedges to get the stuck saws loose and pinch bar and cant hook to roll the logs over to finish the cuts that you made part way through to avoid hitting the dirt. Like I say you can get by without them but it makes things go better if you have the right tools when you need them. It's not just buy a couple of saws and go to work, you are not a homeowner doing your own tree, you need some equipment to go with the saws a homeowner usually doesn't have or use.

 

[Stumper]

Well said Geofore!

 

[arboles]

We had an awsome storm here on July 22. We did $80,000 in two weeks. Of course I have my own crane and the skills to get the big wood off of houses. Nevertheless, I have seen several guys with very little skill make a killing with a couple of pawnshop chainsaws and a pickup truck. With a little common sense, an optomistic attitude, and a desire to make some cash, you can succceed where others say you'll fail. I am a living testimony of that.

 

[rwilk]

Wildside,
You said this will be side work, and you want to do "storm clean-up". All the info everybody has said is correct: you can make money, you need insurance, you need equipment, you need training and safety, but you may need to check about being licensed. I wanted to cut firewood in the winter to keep my guys working instead them going onto other things. The Dept of Forestry said I needed an Arborist Lic. Now I am very glad they did, because this has advanced into a very profitable and ENOJOYABLE career. Check to see if you need a LIC and follow the rules. Don't be a fly by night jake leg. Also if you are going to invest money and time in equipment and training, do it as much as possible not just when the storms come.

just my thoughts

rwilk