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What a load of crap.

D

Damn Dirty Ape

Diamond Member
A few weeks ago here in Southern Illinois we had a pretty bad windstorm (106+ straightline winds). Neighbors 100-125y/o oak tree blown over at the roots. From their yard, across ours and into a 3rd yard as well, also out into the alley behind our house.

Since it didn't fall on any covered structure of ours, there is no insurance coverage to help remove this 25-30 ton tree (by a tree company estimate), most of which is in our yard. Cheapest estimate is 2,000 since it's going to take some delicate trimming since some branches are holding the trunk up, some are pointing straight up several are driven into the ground 4-6 feet and 10 inches across. The circumference of this tree at the biggest part is a little over 12 feet.

Neighbor's insurance says 'it's your tree now, not his, sorry about that.' My insurance says 'yup, yours but nothing damaged (house, garage, etc), we can't help'.

sunuvabitch, what a steaming hot crock of shit. Neighbor from where tree came says 'can't help you with $$, sorry'.

:|

Update 2:
Struck a deal with the city where it cost $500 to remove totally from our property. Since it was a lot on their side they picked up a good deal of the price. Neighbor is negotiating separately to get the trunk from the west line and root ball removed now.

Lots of turf damage, but was warned of how the bobcat would do a number and I really had to OK it. They did a pretty good job, I'm going to point out some ruts left but at least its over now.

UPDATE 1:

Keep in mind this goes into the neighbors yard to the left and about half the branches are out of sight into the utility easement / alley area. Wish I had an 'above' picture.

Pics:

Oh yea, this became ours too apparently.

This is a view of what it did on the *other* side.

Before any cutting on it by neighbors to help.

One view of this damned thing after 6 hrs of 4 guys working on it.

Note the normal-sized burn barrel beside it.


 
Been there, done that.

...never considered ever calling an insurance company. You just got free firewood.



The tree in that picture was a live oak taken down by an ant nest. It fell and took out a white oak. It's hard to tell the size by the picture, but it was about 3 feet around and the one it took out was a foot around. Behind me there was a stump from a slightly larger tree that fell turning a storm, but was the other way and took out two fences and a second two foot diameter tree. Getting oak firewood was never a problem for my family.
 
I'd start phoning forestry companies that harvest trees. Maybe even call a couple lumber sawmills that deal in high-quality wood, not just 2x4's, who can point you to their small private suppliers. Find a firm that professionally cuts and sells oak to the sawmills. They might be willing to take the tree at minimal or low cost to you because they'll get paid for it. But don't tackle it yourself and then ask them to take the result. They would prefer to do the whole job properly themselves.
 
If I let him on the property to cut, he hurts himself bad or worse it's my problem from what I understand though from my insurance adjuster that came and looked at it the other day.

To further compound things, there are large branches that are over utility lines on one side, forgot to mention that. Yesterday a few city government officials came out to look at the problem since part of it is over their alley and utility access easement area and the power co is on them to clear out their area.

To give an idea of size, two tree cutting companies in the area both with about 5 guys said 3 days to completely remove 100% of it from all yards and areas. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: JJ650
Some matches and Kerosene should help out a lot.
Click to expand...

inside city limits where there is a specific burn ban on material other than leaves and dry grass clippings. For a few days there was a smoky haze around town from people doing so and they 86'd it for now.
 
Originally posted by: Demon-Xanth
Been there, done that.

...never considered ever calling an insurance company. You just got free firewood.



The tree in that picture was a live oak taken down by an ant nest. It fell and took out a white oak. It's hard to tell the size by the picture, but it was about 3 feet around and the one it took out was a foot around. Behind me there was a stump from a slightly larger tree that fell turning a storm, but was the other way and took out two fences and a second two foot diameter tree. Getting oak firewood was never a problem for my family.
Click to expand...

saw your pic - some of the branches of this tree are honestly as big as what shows in the pic. I"ll have to see if I can get a few links up, but none of us have a fireplace, I guess we could cut up and sell some? I'm sure there is a city regulation about that too somewhere.
 
Originally posted by: Paperdoc
I'd start phoning forestry companies that harvest trees. Maybe even call a couple lumber sawmills that deal in high-quality wood, not just 2x4's, who can point you to their small private suppliers. Find a firm that professionally cuts and sells oak to the sawmills. They might be willing to take the tree at minimal or low cost to you because they'll get paid for it. But don't tackle it yourself and then ask them to take the result. They would prefer to do the whole job properly themselves.
Click to expand...

Given the size, this might be a winner of an option. If the trunk really is that big around they can get enough wood out of it to cover the cost of removal while still making a good profit.
 
Originally posted by: Paperdoc
I'd start phoning forestry companies that harvest trees. Maybe even call a couple lumber sawmills that deal in high-quality wood, not just 2x4's, who can point you to their small private suppliers. Find a firm that professionally cuts and sells oak to the sawmills. They might be willing to take the tree at minimal or low cost to you because they'll get paid for it. But don't tackle it yourself and then ask them to take the result. They would prefer to do the whole job properly themselves.
Click to expand...

Good idea, tried that route, it's 14' from the base to first branch and was told 'if it wasn't a city tree, we'd give you 1750-2000 for that trunk. since it's in town it could have nails, wire, etc in it and we'd ruin a very expensive blade. The second lumber guy that came to look at it found what he said was evidence that a wire had at one point been grown over or broke as the tree grew but he'd have no way of knowing.

I thought of that to help offset the removal, but thanks for replying though 🙂
 
Just got a call from the city code officer, they are going forward with clearing their alley/utility easement area with a contracted company and told me if I am interested I can share 1/3 of the cost and they will involve my neighbor (without choice apparently) to be responsible for the other 1/3 for total removal from all 3 areas.

Someone is supposed to call me back about how much '1/3' would be, I just don't feel that I really should be out anything though, but damn it has been several weeks and I want our backyard back.

I'll try to post some pics afterwhile of it.

 
Originally posted by: rivan
Originally posted by: JLee
Buy a chainsaw. Free firewood FTW. Oak is good stuff.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There were more injuries in our area from people using chainsaws than from the storm itself. It sucks that it's taking up your whole backyard...in a couple months that $2000 quote will turn into a $1000 quote.
 
Originally posted by: JLee
Buy a chainsaw. Free firewood FTW. Oak is good stuff.
Click to expand...

Indeed! And Bob Evans Firewood, and Mulch INC. in St. Charles, Ill. will sell ya a cord of it for only $420, taxes, delivery, and stacking is extra.
 
post an ad for free fire wood for anyone that wants to cut it. Draft a liability waiver and receive $1 in compensation from those who want to cut it up absolving you of any responsibility for damage or injury.
 
Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz
Originally posted by: JLee
Buy a chainsaw. Free firewood FTW. Oak is good stuff.
Click to expand...

Indeed! And Bob Evans Firewood, and Mulch INC. in St. Charles, Ill. will sell ya a cord of it for only $420, taxes, delivery, and stacking is extra.
Click to expand...

$420 a cord? That's a ripoff :^S
 
Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
post an ad for free fire wood for anyone that wants to cut it. Draft a liability waiver and receive $1 in compensation from those who want to cut it up absolving you of any responsibility for damage or injury.
Click to expand...

Interesting. short-list entry. thanks
 
Originally posted by: runzwithsizorz
Originally posted by: JLee
Buy a chainsaw. Free firewood FTW. Oak is good stuff.
Click to expand...

Indeed! And Bob Evans Firewood, and Mulch INC. in St. Charles, Ill. will sell ya a cord of it for only $420, taxes, delivery, and stacking is extra.
Click to expand...

Must be up around Chicago I presume? We're down by Carbondale.
 
I guess it was "fortunate" that this decided to fall from the neighbor's house and across here. They charged something like $5000 for removal.
 
2k is a joke... I paid 3600 for a much smaller tree. But then I am in rip off city known as Toronto.
 
Originally posted by: milehigh
Originally posted by: rivan
Originally posted by: JLee
Buy a chainsaw. Free firewood FTW. Oak is good stuff.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...

There were more injuries in our area from people using chainsaws than from the storm itself. It sucks that it's taking up your whole backyard...in a couple months that $2000 quote will turn into a $1000 quote.
Click to expand...

Oh I'm sure once the panic 'omg gotta get this outta my yard' phase passes and business slows down prices will drop. Problem is 30 days from today the city starts issuing warnings for unresolved downed trees, giving you 14 days to get something going. Sucks.
 
Originally posted by: Jeeebus
I guess it was "fortunate" that this decided to fall from the neighbor's house and across here. They charged something like $5000 for removal.
Click to expand...

I think the hanging can lighting and exposed beams really add a touch to the room.
 
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