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Started By
Message
Anyone have a house nestled around trees that might one day crush you?
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:42 pm
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:42 pm
I love my home here in the ‘Ham. We have a lovely one story mid century ranch that is in an old neighborhood covered in trees.
Problem is that there are seven trees (five tall pines and two water oaks) that will crush our house if they were ever to fall.
One of the pines sits on the edge of a drainage ditch. I’ve noticed the water erosion has worn away the back part of its root system. Nothing is exposed yet but I imagine at some point in the next five years, we could see some weakness in the stability of the tree. There is nothing between the tree and my house and it’s a good 20 feet from the outside wall. It’s going to hit at full speed if it fell.
I’ve got two quotes: $3500 and $3100, not including stump grinding.
If I cut down all seven trees, I’m looking at $20k worth of work.
Anyone else in that situation?
Problem is that there are seven trees (five tall pines and two water oaks) that will crush our house if they were ever to fall.
One of the pines sits on the edge of a drainage ditch. I’ve noticed the water erosion has worn away the back part of its root system. Nothing is exposed yet but I imagine at some point in the next five years, we could see some weakness in the stability of the tree. There is nothing between the tree and my house and it’s a good 20 feet from the outside wall. It’s going to hit at full speed if it fell.
I’ve got two quotes: $3500 and $3100, not including stump grinding.
If I cut down all seven trees, I’m looking at $20k worth of work.
Anyone else in that situation?
13
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:46 pm to StringedInstruments
I had 2 giant water oaks in my yard and was in a similar situation. Paid close to 13k to have them both cut down and stump grinded. I could not sleep at night without thinking about them falling on my house. These were also very old trees that were showing signs of end of life. Only thing I miss about them is the shade.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:47 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
Problem is that there are seven trees (five tall pines and two water oaks) that will crush our house if they were ever to fall.
Couldn't an arborist tell you the likelihood of them failing over the next several years?
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:49 pm to Thayes15
i just had 3 giant water oaks, of which two would hit structures taken out at my parents. plenty of open land there so the only one they had to take down mostly in pieces was the one closest to the house. the other was near a shed and they were able to drop the whole thing then cut it. the 3rd was the same way drop then cut. they also grinded two of the three stumps and it was 10k. not bad but still alot of money. surprisingly the two closest to the structure seemed pretty solid and probably wouldnt have fell on their own for quite a while.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 4:49 pm to MemphisGuy
quote:
Couldn't an arborist tell you the likelihood of them failing over the next several years?
That’s a good idea. I worry more about a severe storm blowing them over.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 5:39 pm to StringedInstruments
Going to be tough to get an honest/accurate reading from an arborist. 1. even if it looks healthy, the right wind velocity and direction can take it out. Then you might be the kind of customer thats upset at the arborist because he "said" it was healthy. So they are going to err heavily on the conservative side to take it out. 2, they make more money when they cut trees than give opinions.
I don't mind small trees that give shade and worst case if they fall it means a few holes poked in roof and some soffit/gutter repair. The big trees that will cut your house in half are terrifying in a storm.
I don't mind small trees that give shade and worst case if they fall it means a few holes poked in roof and some soffit/gutter repair. The big trees that will cut your house in half are terrifying in a storm.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 6:11 pm to StringedInstruments
I have a couple of water oaks I need cut. One will require a crane. Got a quote out of curiously when I guy was going door to door and it was 12k for one.
A few years ago half of a live oak came down and the main branch missed the house by about 6". Still had to get a new roof and it crushed the chair i would sit and drink beer in. This happened about 15 minutes before I would be sitting there. Made me want to get rid of most of the trees. We've had quite a few big limbs come down from the water oaks.
A few years ago half of a live oak came down and the main branch missed the house by about 6". Still had to get a new roof and it crushed the chair i would sit and drink beer in. This happened about 15 minutes before I would be sitting there. Made me want to get rid of most of the trees. We've had quite a few big limbs come down from the water oaks.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 7:21 pm to StringedInstruments
I did. And then 2 of my trees fell during a storm and crushed half my house.
I don't have to worry about trees anymore.
My 2 remaining trees will fall on my garage if/when they fall. So I don't lose sleep over them.
Probably all cheaper than your wind damage deductible. Just FYI.
I don't have to worry about trees anymore.
My 2 remaining trees will fall on my garage if/when they fall. So I don't lose sleep over them.
quote:
’ve got two quotes: $3500 and $3100, not including stump grinding.
If I cut down all seven trees, I’m looking at $20k worth of work.
Probably all cheaper than your wind damage deductible. Just FYI.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 7:59 pm to Salmon
Interesting thread...I'm in a similar situation.
5 year old home, two 90' oaks in front, red oak and pin oak.
I'm toast if they go down. If they don't fall toward the house they'll take out power lines.
I just had a friend from church in the business look at them. He said they're both healthy and would leave them alone
The words lend a little confidence but you never know what a storm brings.
5 year old home, two 90' oaks in front, red oak and pin oak.
I'm toast if they go down. If they don't fall toward the house they'll take out power lines.
I just had a friend from church in the business look at them. He said they're both healthy and would leave them alone
The words lend a little confidence but you never know what a storm brings.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 8:01 pm to StringedInstruments
I have 9 getting taken out in the next few weeks. 3 sycamores, a pecan, and 5 water oaks. Water oaks are 100’ tall or so (checked elevation with my drone) and all are within 100’ of my garage. Sub $15k, which I was shocked about and immediately booked. Stump grinding, haul off large trunks, and stack the rest in the burn piles.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 8:15 pm to StringedInstruments
Large water oaks are not good close to a house.They’re shallow rooted,I’ve seen many healthy looking water oaks on my property blow over in storms.
Have seen several fall on houses in my years.My neighbor had one total his house Hurricane Rita.
Actually have one in my yard I’m getting ready to have cut down.I hate to think what it’s going to cost but I’ll do the cutting up and hauling off myself.I’ve got a tractor with a grapple and plenty of woods to dump in.
Have seen several fall on houses in my years.My neighbor had one total his house Hurricane Rita.
Actually have one in my yard I’m getting ready to have cut down.I hate to think what it’s going to cost but I’ll do the cutting up and hauling off myself.I’ve got a tractor with a grapple and plenty of woods to dump in.
Posted on 5/6/26 at 9:20 pm to Bayou
quote:there are so many trees around my house I’d have to sell the house to pay for the removal. I have pines that are 48” plus in diameter and who knows how tall, plus oaks. That’s why I have insurance I guess. In the meantime I enjoy the shade and the wildlife
I'm toast if they go down
Posted on 5/6/26 at 11:35 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
have a lovely one story mid century ranch that is in an old neighborhood covered in trees
I have the same situation….6 large trees on a subdivision lot. Three of them are very large pines with no low limbs….the kind that fall through and hit the slab if they fall on a house.
The drought a few years ago was very hard on pines in my area. One of the pines got pine beetles and died about a year ago. I got some dude to cut and haul it off last summer before it got rotten. It had lost most of the bark and my neighbor lady was having a fit! He cut and hauled it for $2,500 with no stump grinding. The pine stump is rotting surprisingly fast.
I’m not cutting any more unless they die…the trees were there before the house was!
Posted on 5/7/26 at 9:38 am to StringedInstruments
I have more experience with falling and cutting trees than I like.
Costs - there is always somebody without license or insurance who will cut cheaper. When your home is involved get an established company that maintains most of its own equipment. Crane's are typically leased. Prices are seasonal and are lowest in the gaps between hurricanes and ice storms.
Arborist - Certification that your trees are healthy gives you some liability coverage but will not prevent falls. Best thing an arborist did for me was telling me how to spot termite infestations that are very common in BTR.
Stumps - Often when a tree is blown down the whole root system pops out and you are left with a crater. A few cubic yards of silt fixes that. Even when a tree is cut and the stump ground a few inches below grade, you will probably experience settling and poor growth problems for years.
Recommendations - I've been impressed by Louisiana Tree Services owned by arborist Scott Courtright LINK . They will not be the low bid.
Costs - there is always somebody without license or insurance who will cut cheaper. When your home is involved get an established company that maintains most of its own equipment. Crane's are typically leased. Prices are seasonal and are lowest in the gaps between hurricanes and ice storms.
Arborist - Certification that your trees are healthy gives you some liability coverage but will not prevent falls. Best thing an arborist did for me was telling me how to spot termite infestations that are very common in BTR.
Stumps - Often when a tree is blown down the whole root system pops out and you are left with a crater. A few cubic yards of silt fixes that. Even when a tree is cut and the stump ground a few inches below grade, you will probably experience settling and poor growth problems for years.
Recommendations - I've been impressed by Louisiana Tree Services owned by arborist Scott Courtright LINK . They will not be the low bid.
Posted on 5/7/26 at 9:51 am to Tree_Fall
I grew up in a house with 3-4 giant pines 30-40 ft from the house.
now live in a house with more but smaller pines that could do much damage.
tornados/high winds always make me nervous
now live in a house with more but smaller pines that could do much damage.
tornados/high winds always make me nervous
Posted on 5/7/26 at 9:56 am to StringedInstruments
quote:
We have a lovely one story mid century ranch that is in an old neighborhood covered in trees.
Not knowing anything else, good chance those water oaks are end of life anyway.
saw both water oaks and pines do a lot of damage in Houston couple of years ago.
Posted on 5/7/26 at 10:21 am to Dire Wolf
I think where you get the good deals is if you have a bunch of land/tree clearing that needs to be done.
Posted on 5/7/26 at 10:33 am to StringedInstruments
You can talk tree guys way down typically to below $1500/tree. I talked them down to $1600 for two trees and then balked. Both of those fell on my house during Beryl and cost a lot more than that $1600.
$20k is ridiculous but shop around and get a good price to get them cut before ‘cane season
$20k is ridiculous but shop around and get a good price to get them cut before ‘cane season
Posted on 5/7/26 at 11:39 am to PetroAg
quote:
You can talk tree guys way down typically to below $1500/tree. I talked them down to $1600 for two trees and then balked. Both of those fell on my house during Beryl and cost a lot more than that $1600.
$20k is ridiculous but shop around and get a good price to get them cut before ‘cane season
tree removal prices are as consistent as Aggie football.
i had six large pines removed a couple years ago, and i was out the door for about a grand a tree (i think less actually) - and i'm talking BIG pines, that all required the crane and one had to get done over my house.
i got a price quote on one more last year and it was like $3k for one, and this one was much smaller with easier access. same company. ended up using a different guy for the last one, and it was like 1200 or so.
i honestly think tree removal guys give quotes based on what bills they have coming up or if their wife is mad at them.
Posted on 5/9/26 at 2:40 pm to StringedInstruments
I did. Too many hurricanes, too much roof damage. Now I have 3 crepe Myrtle’s, that’s it.
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