If you need to remove a tree your first thought might be – how much is it going to cost? Tree removal costs can range from the hundreds to the thousands, and while there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer, there are a number of factors that are taken into account that will dictate the price, so you can get an idea of what you might be looking at. Basically, the longer it takes to remove a tree and the greater the degree of difficulty, the more expensive the removal will be. Here we take a look at what exactly is involved when you remove a tree, and what factors determine how much it’s going to cost.
What’s Involved When Removing A Tree?
Once your Arborist has done a full assessment of your tree and your site, and you’ve approved the job to go ahead, work can start. Your tree, your site and what is surrounding your tree will determine how your Arborist removes the tree.
Your Arborist will clear the surrounding area, identify any hazards and determine the method they will use to safely remove the tree. Once this is done, they will start dismantling the tree. Very generally speaking, for a tree that is healthy, has no major structural issues, is easily accessible with no hazards surrounding, the Arborist will gradually and methodically cut pieces of the limbs and safely get them on the ground. The crew on the ground will drag these often very large limb pieces and feed them into the woodchipper. The tree is taken down, piece by piece until they are left with the trunk which is then cut into pieces and chipped. Note that you will be left with a stump once the tree has been removed which you will more than likely want to have removed also. To do this, your Arborist will use a specialist piece of equipment called a stump grinder to basically shred the remaining stump below ground level. Once completed the Arborist and their crew will clean up any remaining debris and clear the site.
What Factors Determine The Cost?
There are several main factors that will determine how much your tree removal will cost. These factors are:
1. The size of the tree
Basically, the bigger the tree, the longer it will take to remove and the more expensive the job will be. Whilst there are a number of other factors at play that will determine the cost – as a very rough guide here is what you can expect to pay by size:
- Small trees (up to 5 metres) – $300 – $1500
- Medium trees (up to 10 metres) – $500 – $3000
- Large trees (up to 15 metres) – $750 – $5000
- Very large trees (over 15 metres) – $1000 – $20,000 – note that trees of this size can require specialty equipment such as cranes to access them safely and may also need traffic management for road safety.
2. The condition of your tree
The health of your tree is a big factor. If your tree is sick or dying for example, the Arborist may not be able to safely climb it so will need to remove the tree by other means. The Arborist may require specialist equipment such as a cherry picker to safely bring the tree down.
3. The species of your tree
They type of tree absolutely comes into play for the Arborist. The species of tree informs how difficult the tree is to climb, cut down and chip which affects how long the job will take, and in turn the cost. For example, some trees have fewer branches than others. Some are covered in sharp thorns, some have incredibly hard wood where others have soft wood. All of these things will be taken into account by the Arborist.
4. Accessibility to the site and your tree
As you might imagine, the easier your tree is to access, the easier it is to remove. The closer the Arborist can get their truck, chipper and other required equipment to your tree, the better. For example, if your tree can only be accessed via a super narrow pathway and is sitting between your house and the neighbour’s garage with a powerline overhead, it’s a highly difficult, dangerous job that may require specialist equipment to be done safely.
5. Site conditions
If you have a challenging site, it will make the job more difficult for your Arborist and their team. Some examples could be – you have an extremely steep driveway, your backyard is essentially a hill or you have very uneven ground – all of this makes the job more difficult and will more than likely increase the cost.
6. What’s around your tree?
If there are hazards, buildings or structures, pools, power lines or anything else that wouldn’t like having a tree on top of it – this will increase the degree of difficulty for the Arborist which will more than likely make the job more expensive.
7. Other considerations
Some other factors which will be taken into consideration by your Arborist are if permits are required by council, whether stump grinding is being done and the amount of tree debris that will need to be removed and disposed of.
Professionals vs DIY
When it comes to tree removals, it’s almost always best left to the professionals. You may think doing it yourself is going to save you some dollars, but it could cost you – big. Tree work of any kind can be highly dangerous, and tree removals in particular are very dangerous, especially if you’re taking down a large tree. An Arborist has the requisite skill, knowledge and experience to safely remove a tree as well as all of the tools, equipment and safety gear. People have lost their lives trying to do their own tree work. Not to mention the countless stories of trees through houses and on top of cars. Don’t become a statistic – hire your local trusted Arborist to take care of it for you – too easy!
Work With The Pros At Aussie Tree Solutions
Here at Aussie Tree Solutions, we’ve been safely removing Brisbane trees for over forty years. Our team of highly skilled Arborists come fully insured, qualified and experienced for the job, for your total peace of mind. Call Aussie Tree Solutions anytime 24/7 to ask for a free quote and discuss how we can help remove a tree from your property.