While routine pruning or a quick trim might cost a few hundred dollars, a large-scale commercial removal can easily climb into the thousands. These gigantic projects are the most expensive services in the industry. This is because they require a significant amount of heavy machinery and highly skilled labor to finish without a catastrophe occurring.
The Machinery Required for the Job
The big reason these services cost so much is the specialized equipment that crews must bring to the site to handle the weight of all that wood. For a standard backyard tree, a crew might use some ropes and a chainsaw. However, a commercial job usually requires a gigantic crane to lift sections of the tree over buildings or power lines. Renting a crane and hiring a certified operator costs a considerable amount of money per hour. The company has to pay for the fuel and transport of these giant machines. If a tree is tucked behind a parking garage or a shopping center, the crew might even need to use a specialized aerial lift that can reach heights of over 100 feet.
The Cost of Specialized Safety and Insurance
Working on giant trees near commercial buildings is extremely dangerous. That risk is reflected in the final price of the service. Tree companies have to pay for very expensive insurance policies that protect the property owner in case a heavy branch accidentally falls on a roof or a car. The workers also require years of training to learn how to rig ropes and use saws while hanging high in the air. So, they earn much higher wages than a typical landscaper. A commercial crew often includes several people on the ground who are dedicated solely to directing traffic and keeping pedestrians away from the work zone. This level of organization ensures that nobody gets hurt. However, it also means the business has to cover the salaries of an entire team of experts for several days.
The Difficulty of Disposal and Stump Grinding
Once a massive tree is finally on the ground, the work is actually only halfway finished. Now there are tons of wood to remove. A single large trunk can weigh as much as several elephants. It takes specialized log loaders and dump trucks to haul that material away to a recycling center. Many commercial clients also want the stump completely removed so that they can replant or pave over the area. This requires a heavy-duty stump grinder. These machines use a spinning wheel of teeth to chew through solid wood and roots deep into the dirt. Paying for the disposal fees at a landfill or a wood-processing facility is another hidden expense that makes these large removals the most expensive task a tree service can perform. When you need commercial tree services in Lancaster, SC, contact CBC Lawn & Tree.