removal of tree blow down

[Deere Dude]

It may not be the cheapest route bit I would wrap a chain around the tree as far up as you can get toward the tree top and hook two 75'=100' minimum cables to the chain. The other end I would cable to a sturdy trees base near the butt end of the tree with two come-a-longs, one on each cable. Tighten one com-a-long up until is very tight, then the other. Back and forth until the tree starts standing up, and hopefully pull back over the other direction.

I pulled some leaners over our house and pole shed and it works, but I used 100 foot cables just to be on the safe side. You can bend a 12" straight tree into a nice arc with with enough pressure.

 

[Jstpssng]

Is the building insured? If so this should be covered under your policy. You have gotten some good suggestions here, the most sensible are those who suggest hiring a pro. Trees do funky things when under that kind of strain, it isn't worth getting injured or worse just to save a few bucks.

 

[Dutch445]

i went over again last night and did some rough measuring
the tree is 13-14 inches at the base, most of it is around 12,
i believe white pine, so around 2000 lbs total give or take..
the top is hanging free with only a few scrub trees below it, and
no good trees near it to hang from or tie to, and the top is
approx 18-20' off the ground. it's more than 40' from the road,
not sure a boom truck can reach that far sideways.
i'm leaning towards Coby's thoughts, but i would try to tie off
each butt end to stop any wild swings.
thinking of cutting near the peak, let the top split/swing down to the ground
to get the pressure off, then see if the trunk half can be winched back upright,
and deal with the top half from ground.
worst case damage wise would be railings, they are just 2x4, and maybe
a few 5/4 floor boards but that deck is 2x10 joists on 6x6 posts, it isn't going
anywhere with a few hundred pounds landing on it.

some better pictures:

 

[CobyRupert]

If you try to hinge the tree in the middle above the roof peak to lower the top end to the ground, I'd suggest putting a little notch on the underside first, as much as you can without pinching the saw. (it would be very difficult to get it out).
I think that way when you (slowly) saw down from above, the hinge will be in a wider spot across more of the trunk's cross section, and perhaps less likely to snap off. (i.e. you want to keep it connected to the trunk so it doesn't bang on roof or deck)
It's a balancing act of cutting slowly through just enough so it hinges, but not so much it breaks off. Others may know how "hingy" vs. "brittle" pine is when trying to get a hinge to bend versus snapping.

Hopefully the top of the tree is free and clear to lower down with this method. It's surprising how the smallest branch can hang up a tree.

 

[coldsteelva]

I would use a pole saw to start to weaken the top just above the root ball. As you make some cuts, the tree should show what it wants to do. I think enough of that tree is over the peak that once cut free of its base, it will just teeter up over the roof as the canopy drops down the slope to the ground.

 

[Dutch445]

i have 2 contractors coming tomorrow for estimates. they're not willing
to estimate until they see the site and all involved..

 

[CobyRupert]

i have 2 contractors coming tomorrow for estimates. they're not willing
to estimate until they see the site and all involved..

Boo! Boo!
On TBN looking for advice, and the answer you wanted was “Hire somebody”?
What a waste of time and bandwidth.

 

[ericm979]

Only the OP knows his level of skill and experience. And of course he can't evaluate cost of hiring it out without getting estimates.

We wouldn't want someone to get hurt doing something beyond their skill because some guys on the internet said to.

 

[Deere Dude]

Only the OP knows his level of skill and experience. And of course he can't evaluate cost of hiring it out without getting estimates.

We wouldn't want someone to get hurt doing something beyond their skill because some guys on the internet said to.

That's right. I will try almost anything but this one would give me pause.

 

[95XL883]

Okay, realize what follows is totally facetious. Well heck, just pack about 20 lbs of tannerite under that root ball and get rid of it with a 30-06. Be sure to have video going for uploading to youtube. Oh, and make sure you have somebody holding your beer.

On a serious note, whoever suggested checking with insurance first is probably the right answer. My house policy covers a live healthy tree falling on my or neighbor's house. But I wouldn't want to risk more damage only to learn the insurance won't pay because they didn't get to approve. And my guess is insurance is going to require this one be done by a pro.

 

[JamesHW]

If you’re going to use explosives, why not just use a throw bag to position a line near the top of the tree and haul up a small explosive charge just enough to blast the top off. Rinse and repeat every six foot or so until most of the weight has been removed from the tree leaning on the structure.

That or a high caliber weapon.

 

[Dutch445]

one of the 2 contractors showed up, $2k not including removal.
tomorrow i'll contact my insurance agent, as this property is supposedly
covered as an additional location on my main homeowners policy,
like a rider i think.
and yes, it is technically the neighbors tree, and i haven't contacted him
yet, am waiting to get my insurance all sorted out first.

and yea, i was all for Coby's plan, it was what i thought of doing originally, but i have had
many other people other than TBN tell me not to be on a roof anywhere near that
tree while attempting to saw thru it with all the unknowns involved, what's going
to go where etc.

the property is located with a lot of good neighbors around, many who contacted me
about the tree, and i'm in pretty good graces with them.. unlike some other people
that don't know or understand lake front properties and the neighbors that watch
what you do all the time! so i am always cautious of what i do that would cause
the neighbors to talk, they can be very influential when applying for permits and
variances etc in the future.

stay tuned...

 

[Oldoak]

Good thinking and decision on your part. Getting advice is fine, but it's your decision to make. :thumbsup:

 

[CobyRupert]

Good thinking and decision on your part. Getting advice is fine, but it's your decision to make. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Ignore my previous jest.

 

[dmccarty]

Sorry for being so slow to get back to this thread. Saw it when it opened, had a thought but been too busy to respond.

Anywho,

The only way I would try to cut that tree would be with a rope saw. With pine it will be sorta easy compared to a hardwood. Never used a rope saw but I don't see how else I could cut the tree leaning past the porch/deck. No way am I going into the air with a chainsaw. Nope. Nope. Nope. I have cut down a big tree limb on a tree that was killed by lightning. I used a ladder and a hand saw. Took a couple of days since the branch was about 12 inches in diameter and oak. Just did as much cutting as I could until my arm gave out. :laughing:

Hopefully, when the main part of the tree trunk is cut the tree will fall back up, and if it does not, maybe it can be pulled off the structure with a come along.

Otherwise I would be hiring the tree monkeys to take care of this mess. I saw a crew take down a dozen or more pine trees, on a small city lot with multiple houses under the fall line of the trees, without a problem. How they cut down those trees was amazing. Real skill that I don't have and do not want to have. Sometimes it pays to pay someone. :laughing::laughing::laughing:

Good Luck,
Dan

 

[ultrarunner]

Something similar happened at Lake Tahoe neighboring cabin with a Ponderosa Pine...

One call to the insurance and later that day a tree crew with crane arrived... it was a precision surgical operation... no damage, even the pine needles removed... word was the bill came to just under $3,000...

Amazing a 8 am call resulted in the tree gone before dark...

I hired the same crew later to remove some large trees... they were 100% professional and have the largest crane in the area... we were credited back so much a board foot for mill timber... the crane plucked the large lengths right over the house and laid them on the waiting timber dolly... they got exactly a full load...

 

[EddieWalker]

I like the idea of using a crane. I'm not sure how you could do it any other way and not risk damaging the building, or somebody getting hurt. If there was more room to maneuver, I'd rent a lift and start at the end and work my way in, but I just don't see how a lift would fit in there between all those trees.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

That is one where I'm glad i can sit back, grab some popcorn, and watch...

 

[Dutch445]

hoping to sit back and watch also, but, i have submitted the estimate for a crew with bucket truck to
my insurance, spoke with an adjuster last wednesday, called my agent friday, and still no answer
on how the insurance company is going to handle this,, i'm getting worried another storm could
push it down off the roof onto my new decks.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Good luck. Friend of mine has a huge tree near and above his house to take down. Got prices from 2K to 4k. His is easy access, but will have to come down in chunks. Also has power lines running thru to the house.

Never saw one bent over a house like yours, and your lack of good access makes it worse.