Fun Facts on Tree Removal with a Crane
One can only look at a great dead tree overhanging the roof and be left to wonder how it is done in any safe manner. Or perhaps you have put the question to yourself as to why a crane is called for on some tree removals and not on others. Then there is the fact that with a crane in the picture, the more perilous of the large trees are frequently the ones most safely put down.
We of Gray’s Tree Service have been putting such jobs to rest in Birmingham, AL and environs for 25 years and more. Should your property have a tree or two that is difficult to deal with, (205) 308-9920 is the number to put us on the phone with. But first, we will share a few things about crane-assisted tree removal that may come as something of a surprise.
What Cranes Brought to the Table
There was a time when you had a hazardous tree of some size and a climber would make his way up into the canopy to cut and lower it by rope bit by bit. A workable method if slow and risky; try climbing a tree that is diseased or has a lean and the danger is compounded.
Cranes put an end to that sort of thing. A worker no longer has to put his weight on a trunk that is rotting. The crane does the supporting and lifting. After the climber has made his cut, the section is hoisted clear of whatever house or garden lies below. You could call it a very deliberate game of pick-up sticks on a grand scale, played at a couple hundred feet.
A Matter of Precise Physics
It is a job with its share of mathematics, and one does not see that coming. A pro crew will have run the numbers on the load balance, the crane’s reach and the weight of every piece before they make a cut.
In their planning they take into account:
- Moisture and species and what they mean for the wood’s weight
- How far and at what angle the arm of the crane has to go
- What the lift capacity is at that range
- Where the wood is to be put down on the ground
- The arc a section will make in its descent
Do the arithmetic and the operation will seem to proceed without effort. It is smooth because it was prepared for, not by chance.
The Safety of a Big Tree
Homeowners are often taken aback by this. A towering oak might seem like the worst kind of removal, yet a crane can make it safer than a smaller tree handled by hand. The reason is control. The crane will have the weight in hand from start to finish so nothing comes crashing down. Sections are lifted out and up, away from anything of value. When the tree is in a tangle with power lines or a rooftop, or is simply dead and cracked, having that controlled lift is a distinct advantage.
More Than a Residential Concern
You will find schools, golf courses and municipalities making use of cranes to get large trees out of the way of buildings and walkways. Commercial clients are fond of them for working in high-traffic or confined areas. There is also the matter of speed; a crane on site can do in a fraction of the time what would be a days’ work by hand, sparing the property the disruption and the overhead hazard.
When Storms Strike
Put the fun facts to one side and a crane is hard to beat in the wake of a storm. If a big tree has put in an appearance on a home or road, a crane will lift the debris off instead of dragging it and making matters worse. At Gray’s Tree Service we do not close up shop when the weather turns bad; our 24/7 service is available should a tree present a problem. Call (205) 308-9920.
It is work best in the hands of a professional who is licensed and insured. We have been witness to what happens when an untrained crew or the wrong equipment is brought to bear on the job. For one of this magnitude credentials are important.
Any Questions?
Curious as to how we go about these larger undertakings or in need of a hazardous tree removed, we are at your service. An A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 25 years in the Birmingham area speak for the locally owned Gray’s Tree Service. We give free estimates so there is no need to be left wondering. Make a call to (205) 308-9920 and we can discuss your property.
