What have you broken and fixed?

[TreeGuyHR]

As in something on a client's property.

In five years: one window, couple bird feeders, plastic irrigation stand pipe, 30 ft. stretch of blacktop, and a 16 ft. section of board fence.

My climber broke the board fence and I did the rest -- fixed it all at my cost, no insurance claim.

The fence was the latest. Shouldn't have happened. My climber didn't switch out to heavier gear fro the top of a big pine take-down, and a loop of rigging line wrapped around the pulley, essentially jerking it to a stop and snapping a scrap of rope (one of his old favorites) connecting the pulley to the tree. Of course, there was an audience. Just put up the new boards yesterday after three coats of primer; the neighbor didn't mind that I replaced clear fir with clear cedar (the fence WAS old, and the lower board had some rot).

I attached a few pics.

Fence before and after being smashed:

View attachment 266793View attachment 266794

Fence repaired:

View attachment 266795

 

[arborjockey]

All my front teeth

 

[KenJax Tree]

In 15 years i've broken a few sprinkler heads and a patio block and cracked a sidewalk but the sidewalk was already marked for replacement so that didn't cost anything.

 

[jefflovstrom]

opcorn:
Jeff

 

[OLD OAK]

As in something on a client's property.

In five years: one window, couple bird feeders, plastic irrigation stand pipe, 30 ft. stretch of blacktop, and a 16 ft. section of board fence.

My climber broke the board fence and I did the rest -- fixed it all at my cost, no insurance claim.

The fence was the latest. Shouldn't have happened. My climber didn't switch out to heavier gear fro the top of a big pine take-down, and a loop of rigging line wrapped around the pulley, essentially jerking it to a stop and snapping a scrap of rope (one of his old favorites) connecting the pulley to the tree. Of course, there was an audience. Just put up the new boards yesterday after three coats of primer; the neighbor didn't mind that I replaced clear fir with clear cedar (the fence WAS old, and the lower board had some rot).

I attached a few pic
Fence before and after being smashed:

View attachment 266793View attachment 266794

Fence repaired:

View attachment 266795

What is the story behind the 30 ft of black top?

 

[Carburetorless]

I dislocated my finger the other day. Not sure how I did it, and didn't even know I had until I was on the ground and pulled off my gloves.

Now every time I take a dump and try to wipe my butt my finger pops out of joint. It's kind of annoying.

 

[KenJax Tree]

I dislocated my finger the other day. Not sure how I did it, and didn't even know I had until I was on the ground and pulled off my gloves.

Now every time I take a dump and try to wipe my butt my finger pops out of joint. It's kind of annoying.

He meant property not bones, but i hope it heals fast

 

[Carburetorless]

He meant property not bones, but i hope it heals fast

Oh yeah, I broke the home owner's shovel handle digging up a bush he wanted to save. Half a roll of electrical tape and five minutes later I was back in business.

 

[TreeGuyHR]

What is the story behind the 30 ft of black top?

Weeelll

Over-confidence plus a brain fart?

I had a pine "stub" (3 1/2 ft. on the stump and 80 ft., where it was topped at around 16 in.) that I proceeded to fell by leaving a normal width hinge and face, directed at the lay parallel to a local road that dead ended nearby.

Mistake: I should have had a line at 180 degrees from the lean that was towards the home across the road; instead, I had a 7/8 line running from the top of the tree to my bumper winch, at around 120 degrees from the lean (trying to land the trees 90 degrees from the lean).

So, I cut it, put in two wedges, and had my guy touch the winch, only to have the tree fall and swing back towards the road, splitting the difference (60 degrees from the lean); it went diagonally across the road and put a furrow and divots in it (from large knots).

I expected to get a bill for about $600 - 1000 based on a phone call estimate with a paving guy, but he never got back to me and i never got a bill. I even called him and he said that he didn't do the job (30 ft. of black top was cut out, about 3 ft. wide, and hot patched).

Audience, as usual.

I was too bumbed to take any pics of it on the ground, but have a few from before:

View attachment 266824View attachment 266825View attachment 266826

 

[mikewhite85]

Tons and tons of sprinkler lines and heads, especially when stump grinding. I often keep a bucket of fittings in my truck. It's easier for me to fix them than to have to take the time to work around them. Everyone has irrigation systems around here since it's so dry. My guys also recently hit a pressurized water line. It took 3 or 4 hours for the city to come and turn off the valve (which was so corroded and gnarled we could not do it ourselves). Was quite a nightmare.

We have also broken a few wood slats, a number of tiles on spanish tile roofs, a few bricks, and probably a few other things.

I took out a palm tree that was undermining a 4" block wall and there was a huge crack that you couldn't see with the tree there. I should have paid closer attention to it before I did the job and pointed it out to the customer. At the time I thought maybe it was possible that I had done something to crack it even though the wall was about 30 years old. All that to say I ended up paying for half of the price to replace it. Learned my lesson on that one big time.

 

[beastmaster]

We have also broken a few wood slats, a number of tiles on spanish tile roofs, a few bricks, and probably a few other things..

I believe one of those spanish tiles was from that pecan tree Joel and I did. I might be responsible for a brick or two, also:msp_sad:
I crushed and replaced a Bar-b-que. does that count?

 

[ATH]

Just a few weeks ago: I moved a table with a tile top out of the way so I wouldn't break it. It was heavy, so I didn't want to drag it across the deck. When I picked it up to move it back, I tipped it towards me and one of the tiles (18"x33") fell out and broke in two. Talked to HO. He said they got it at Lowe's and was told the tile could not be replaced. I talked to Lowe's and distributor, and they confirmed tile could not be replaced. Table is out of stock everywhere within 200 miles of me in Ohio, Indiana, and MI. Won't know until Feb. if they will even carry it this coming season. No big deal, I'll just get a few samples of floor tiles, have the client pick which they like the best and buy 4 get them cut to size/shape and be done with it. Every look for 18x36" tiles? (don't waste your time)

Finally called Lowe's in North Carolina as I had some family traveling down that way. They said they'd have the table in stock by Nov. 29 (after family was leaving town). They shipped me a 110lb table (in a 80"x48" box) for FREE! (free shipping, I bought the $300 table). Kudos to Lowe's for helping me get that fixed! I left the other 3 tiles with the client so they have them on hand if they break another. Hopefully that will buy an extra measure of forgivness. This was one of my first clients, and they have me back every year...but he wasn't to torn up over it, so I think we are good to go.

 

[mikewhite85]

I believe one of those spanish tiles was from that pecan tree Joel and I did. I might be responsible for a brick or two, also:msp_sad:
I crushed and replaced a Bar-b-que. does that count?

One or two tiles and bricks of MANY we have broken. No worries Beast!

Not quite as bad as the powerlines that Joel and I took out... Maybe you can enlighten us as to what happened to all the power in the city of Claremont 10 years ago? :cool2:

 

[beastmaster]

One or two tiles and bricks of MANY we have broken. No worries Beast!

Not quite as bad as the powerlines that Joel and I took out... Maybe you can enlighten us as to what happened to all the power in the city of Claremont 10 years ago? :cool2:

:taped:Huh. I can not tell a lie........I don't recall

 

[ATH]

Tons and tons of sprinkler lines and heads, especially when stump grinding. I often keep a bucket of fittings in my truck. It's easier for me to fix them than to have to take the time to work around them. Everyone has irrigation systems around here since it's so dry. ......

Have not broken a sprinkler line or head (yet). I do put in my contract that the client is responsible to notify us of locations. Do you think that would fly in your area? Have not had somebody have a problem with that...but neither have I broken a line and pointed out that it is their fault for not knowing it was there. I usually put a cone over each head. I did find a line when digging a hole to plant a tree, but fortunately didn't hit it hard enough to break...just had to move the tree a little off center.

 

[mikewhite85]

Have not broken a sprinkler line or head (yet). I do put in my contract that the client is responsible to notify us of locations. Do you think that would fly in your area? Have not had somebody have a problem with that...but neither have I broken a line and pointed out that it is their fault for not knowing it was there. I usually put a cone over each head. I did find a line when digging a hole to plant a tree, but fortunately didn't hit it hard enough to break...just had to move the tree a little off center.

Once in a while I do specify with the client berforehand that we are not responsible if it's a really tricky situation or if their irrigation system is already old and decrepit.

90% of the time though it's such a simple fix that I don't care about the 2 bucks in parts and 5 minutes it takes me to fix it. UNLESS I don't have the parts with me which is a pain in the neck. I always go back and fix it though.

Everyone has irrigation here... When I lived in Connecticut I don't think we ever broke a sprinkler line but we do it on a weekly basis here in Socal. Lines are not buried deep and they are everywhere. You can't grow grass without them here. Worst is when it's some old galvanized line which are a nuisance to fix. Usually it's 1/2 schedule 40 pvc though. We most often break risers that get kicked while dragging brush. Many a line has been broken while stump grinding as well- sometimes we don't even realize it and I get a call the next day saying the water is gushing.

I have also broken old valves when testing to see if the lines are ok (DOH!). That's not fun and can be pricey too. I spent 200 bucks on valve parts a few weeks ago because the lady's valve was so old and corroded that I could not shut it off. I had to drive back there twice because I bought the wrong size valve. It also had this ridiculous bush hanging right over it so it was quite difficult to replace. I learned from that experience to always test with the electronic control, rather than manually!

I know a local guy who advertises stump grinding and irrigation repair! The two specialties go together quite nicely here in the San Fernando Valley. He was actually filmed on the show Dirty Jobs a couple seasons back with his sc 252

 

[ozzy42]

Like anyone else that has done this awhile[30 yrs for me] I have broken my share of fences,bird baths, lawn statues,lanai screens and sprinkler heads.

The only two things I broke and didn't fix myself ,but paid to have fixed was1 an aluminum awnining section[had saw on lanyard but I was so close to it it didn't catch when I fumbled the saw while trying to clip it to my hip] .Made a nice little slit with the tip of the bar.And 2 thought I could get away with just rolling a small pine limb off of a service line.It hit it a little harder than I thought it would.Didn't break the line ,but bent the stove pipe or whatever it's called that connects service to the house.Had to pay an electician for that one cost me over $400.00 on a $200.00 trim job. That was way back in 82 or 83 when I first started.Hate to know what that would cost these days.

The thing that makes me madder than all hell though ....Is when I rope a limb just to keep it off of some bushes and the groundies don't pay close enough attention and end up letting one of the ends lay down right on top of what I was rigging to avoid.

If plants are going to be murdered ,then by God I will be the one doing the killin.:msp_angry:

 

[imagineero]

The odd fence paling, and quite a few roof tiles. Surprised that nobody has mentioned roof tiles, do you guys have mostly metal roofing in the states? Here in aus, a lot of places have tiles and they crack real easy when they're old. If I'm working over a house the first thing I check is what the roof is made out of. If it's tile I ask them if they have spares. Quite often on a removal some or all of the tree is dead and no matter how careful you are and how gently you rope them down, bits break off. It doesnt take much at all to crack tiles. If they don't have spares, I price them in to the job. Metal roofs are a pleasure to work over. If it's slate I double the price then add a bit more.

No major damage yet knock on wood. I took out a phone line once, called the phone company out to get it repaired. The guy turned up, took one look at the line and just yanked the whole thing right off the pole! I was flabergasted. He rolled it up, and said 'done'. I lookd at him like he was out of his mind. Turns out the phone lines were the old kind, and the new ones come in from the ground. Hadn't been in use for years.

Had another near miss grinding a stump out for the city. It was on the street in front of a guys house, grinding away and went right through an armoured cable with a cluster of a few hundred phone lines in it! Hundreds of those tiny wires everywhere. Called the phone company and reported it, gave them my details, made the site safe then went home and got drunk thinking of the $$$$ I was looking at. Bills can be upwards of $5k for something like that.

Got a call the next morning, service guy says 'it's your lucky day mate, that line was made redundant only a month ago. We put new optical fibre in on the other side of the street. We're ust going to leave it as it is and bury it. No charge.'

Shaun

 

[ATH]

....do you guys have mostly metal roofing in the states? Here in aus, a lot of places have tiles.......


I took out a phone line once.......
Had another near miss grinding a stump out for the city. .......Hundreds of those tiny wires everywhere. ....Bills can be upwards of $5k for something like that.....We put new optical fibre in on the other side of the street. We're ust going to leave it as it is and bury it. No charge.'

Shaun

RE Tiles: depends on the part of the country...but tile are not real common over a widespread area - some in the SW a few in the SE. The vast majority of roofs are asphalt/fiberglass singles. A fair amount of metal. That was common in the past, and I have been seeing more new metal as well. There is some slate on high dollar old houses and really well maintained old barns.

RE phone lines: you were, indeed, lucky that neither of those were fiber optic. I have been told that could be hundreds of dollars per splice and a big bundle like that can have hundreds of stands.