Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Removal and Other Tree Services

The stump removal process is done with a Stump Grinder. A stump grinder is a machine with a series of cutting teeth on a cutting wheel. The wheel goes back and forth across the stump and down to a depth of between 4 inches and 2.5 feet. The depth is determined by how deep the stump goes below the ground.

Sometimes the stumps are on inclines or tight spaces that affect the depth we can grind. When indicated, roots are removed. We take the time to trace all VISIBLE surface roots within a reasonable distance to the stump. However, sometimes small roots slip by us, and we cannot be responsible for them. We can remove stumps and roots within about 2 inches of concrete, stones, and other obstacles. However, hitting these items could cause damage to them or the stump grinder. Therefore you may have some areas of the stump that we are unable to remove.

IMPORTANT: As a standard procedure, we backfill the stump hole with the chips manufactured in the grinding process. The bigger the stump, the bigger the pile of chips. The customer assumes all responsibility for their removal. The woodchips make excellent root mulch for landscape beds. We can remove the chips and replace the area with soil and seed for an extra fee. The customer is responsible for informing us of underground wiring, sprinklers, or drainage around the grinding zone. We will call utilities, and stump and or root removal may be ceased if the markings are too close.

Tree work is a highly skilled and dangerous profession. When working on your trees, we use the safest methods available for the tree, the property, and the worker. Trees can be hazardous, depending on factors such as the size of the tree in your yard or how close it is to other structures such as power lines. In those instances, we may need to use a crane to aid us in getting the pieces safely to the ground. We never use spikes or gaffs on a tree we are not removing. Instead, we may use ropes to help us lower large limbs or swing them away from objects to avoid damage.

Tree stump removal or grinding is a separate service; our tree service company can provide a quote if the service is requested.

We will try to inform you when the crew will arrive at the job site. If your job is scheduled and the weather prevents us from safely doing your job, then we may have to reschedule. Weather problems that occur between your acceptance of the job and the job itself may cause delays. Also, if a damaging storm has passed through the area, we may need to address emergency work, which can delay us from getting to you.

From time to time, the crew may arrive unannounced. This may be because your job is relatively small, and we try to squeeze it in when our staff is in the area. If a customer cancels or the team cannot do a job, they will call us for other work. Our company will try to send them to the site closest to where they are located. They may show up unannounced for this reason.

Stein Tree Service uses the most modern and safest equipment possible. Our trucks and equipment are inspected regularly. In addition, due to issues that heavy-duty equipment can have on a residential property, we will not bring heavy equipment into your yard without your permission. We are very skilled at tree climbing and are very capable of doing your trees by hand when the use of a bucket truck or a crane is prohibited.

We try to leave your yard in the same or better condition than we found. However, dragging the limbs to the chipper along with the back-and-forth foot traffic may mat down your lawn. The grass will spring back. Trees are heavy. Although we try not to damage properties, the weight of falling wood and debris removal can sometimes cause minor damage. We will not be responsible for damage caused by the normal safe course of our work.

Our rates are based on an hourly figure. So when you call us for an estimate, you get a firm quote. The estimating comes from our end. We look at a job, estimate how long it will take, and put a dollar figure on it based on the time we estimate it will take us to complete it.

The crew at Stein Tree are tree care specialists with decades of collective experience and knowledge. In addition, our company carries more insurance than most other tree removal companies due to the nature of some industries where we provide services. They require us to have more insurance due to the danger involved. Therefore, we are more than covered for residential work. When asked, we can have our insurance agent provide you with a current certificate of insurance.

Before our arrival, the customer is responsible for informing us of any hidden wiring, watering systems, drainage pipes, and septic systems. We need to know if you had anything buried on your lawn. We cannot be responsible for something we can’t see and didn’t know existed. Please move all lawn ornaments and furniture out of our working area if possible.

Our employees have gone through many hours of training to execute their jobs safely while on your property. We hold weekly safety meetings and constantly review safe working practices. All of our drivers are properly licensed to operate the size truck they are driving. We also require random drug testing.