Is this quote reasonable for tree felling ?

[friend of stouby]

Hello

 

Have just received a devis of 865 euros including TVA for the following :

 

One large Walnut tree (about 10 - 12m high) overhanging a public road by about 5% of it's width. We have a 2.5m verge between our garden and the road. The road side main trunk (it splits in two low down) leans towards the road and sits on our phone line in three places. We like trees a lot, but can see that at some time half of this tree will end up across the road and maybe injure someone, plus one day will damage the phone line too. The edge of the garden (where the tree is) is about 3m above the road which adds to the height it is necessary to work at.

 

We have asked for a quotation for the road side half of the tree to be removed and hope it survives the major surgery. The tree surgeon will have to hire a platform to work from too. We have agreed to dispose of all timber and waste to keep the quote down but this is no hardship.

 

Is this quote fair and reasonable ?

 

Thanks

[Pierre ZFP]

Only an opinion you understand but I would say that is not too bad from a professional tree surgeon.  I knew a tree surgeon in the UK and I was stunned when he told me how much his insurance costs were, especially when doing anything near a public road.  When you think that this might take 3 guys a whole day to set up/clear away and the specialist knowledge involved I would say it's pretty fair.  The true test I suppose is to get another quote, if no-one else will/can quote then you also have your answer.

[Spicy]

I'm still in the UK but we had a massive sycamore taken down (trunk width over a metre, very high) as it was becoming a danger to the house. The phone line also ran through the branches. The tree surgeon used a rope system instead of any platforms and it was significantly less than that price but we knew who to ask.

[RogerW]

It might be worth asking for a quotation WITHOUT offering to remove all the wood!

When we were building our house, the architect told us that the groundwork contractor would remove as many trees as we wanted for no extra cost providing they could take (and presumably sell) the timber.

Roger.

[Deimos]

Winter before the one just finished I needed to have a load of Leyllandii cut back as they were overhanging the road (DDE told me to have it done). To make it harder they had mostly "swallowed" a telephone line (i.e. the telephone line and telegraph poles were well embedded in the trees. Line was about 40m long. First quote (from a company the DDE said could do it) was 1400€. I thought it was too much so got somebody else who did it on time and materials for less than half that amount - which included burning everything cut down (and the phone line survived as around the cable he cut it all by hand !!)

Similarly had a couple of willows (no phone line) that the top 10m plus were dead. Same guy cut that (two of them actually) tidied-up and burnt the wood (that was not worth saving for time wood burner), total cost 160€.

In neither case did the guy use a platform. Just ladders and for the willows the special boots with side spikes and a big loop strap round the tree (to climb the tree and cut stuff safely). They then dismantled the tree top down in 1m or so sections.

When the trees overhanging the road were cut the DDE actually came along to check and put out signs - and the "manager" then told the DDE "worker" to stay and help (no charge).

Cannot comment on your quote as so much would depend on the detail. The guy I use does not tend to quote but rather charges by the hour 25€ per hour and always seems cheaper than quotes. And before everybody starts he is French, properly registered, properly insured and I get a receipt that shows TVA paid.

Ian

Edited by Russethouse to increase font size[:)]

[cooperlola]

Interestingly, we have a large Ash tree which is very close to the electricity cable and is actually in our garden.  Last year a couple of guys from EDF turned up and asked for our permission to remove the bits which were getting too close for comfort.  We of course said yes.  They removed the offending branches and departed, leaving them in the garden for us to chop up and dispose of.  Didn't cost us a penny.

[WJT]

EDF every three years come and cut back trees whether we like it or not. They do not ask permission they say it is their right because any trees that grow near the lines are basically their property. I happened to be here summer before last and was able to ask them to please take care of an old Lime tree behind our house which they did, but they did cut back quite a bit and left a mess. They keep a clearing cut in one of our fields following the electricity lines. They spend hours there cutting back all of the trees without a word to us. 

Our neighbours were out when they arrived and they were devastated because they came and just butchered many trees in the back garden and just left a big mess. By the way, their back garden is relatively small and enclosed.

[David_Janet]

Have you spoken to your Mairie?  If your tree is a possible public danger you may find they are willing to either do the job or at least contribute towards the cost or they may advise you to talk to France Telecom.  Worth asking! 

We also needed trees felling in our back garden so we got 3 quotes.  The difference between the dearest and the cheapest was a staggering 1,000 euro.  The cheapest quote was from a family-run local paysagiste and the work was carried out speedily and efficiently.  It included taking away all the rubbish so it was money very well spent.  I guess the moto is - shop around.

Bon continuation (as they say)

Janet

 

 

[tracteurtom]

Just had a similar experience with Leylandii (why the hell people plant these awful things beats me), approx 40 trees 15m++ tall and 10m ++ wide, eating the telephone and electricity cables.  Cut them down myself and had a lot of fun separating them from the cables.  When I mentioned this to a frenchman he replied: Attention!  EDF and France Telecom will charge you around 2000 euro if you break a cable. So, bear that in mind re the felling quotes you receive.  I hasten to add that the cables are very strong, and resist alot of tugging and supporting of hanging boughs!

[Bugsy]

Mature Walnut is a very valuable wood and there is a ready market for large pieces.

[tracteurtom]

[quote user="Bugbear"]Mature Walnut is a very valuable wood and there is a ready market for large pieces.[/quote]

I understand that because of its value, Walnut trees should be dug up and not felled in the normal manner.  I guess thats a JCB job!

[Hoddy]

Don't get too excited about the value of walnut wood. We had one fall in a gale a couple of winters ago. The man at the woodyard was keen to look at it, but he and we were disappointed to find that it was riddled with insect holes. His interest before that though shows that it is at least worth asking.

 

Hoddy

[friend of stouby]

Thanks everyone, as usual we learn from every post, it's just great that people are prepared to give the time and thought ....

We had phoned 4 tree surgeons listed in the Pages Jaunes, but only one returned our call. Our neighbour ( the local physio who knows everyone) also contacted a local woodsman, but he forgot to come and see us. We live opposite a very large oak forest and thought that people working with trees would be around every corner, but apparantley not?

So when a pleasant tree surgeon turned up and came across as very knowledgable, we thought that we had cracked it, but have to admit that the estimate was at least 200 euros above what I was expecting, and having re-calculated hours and hire costs etc still feel the same.

A few years ago in the UK we had 5 very tall poplar trees reduced in height by 50% , two men did this job by climbing and sending the sections of timber down on ropes. The job was difficult as there were buildings on either side of the line of poplars that could have been damaged, but they were fast, tidy and proffessional. That cost was 400 euros with perhaps double the work on this tree.

The idea to make sure we get other quotes is a good one. When we return to France in May we will go and have a chat with the local bar owner, he will know a few people I'm sure. Also the idea of talking to the Mairie is a good one, it doesn't hurt to ask advice.

We want to try to have only half of the tree cut down as the root system is largely responsibe for holding the 3m high bank down to the road in place, so that the half leaning inward away from the road remains. I guess the idea of the tree having a commercial value will not apply then.

Our first attempt was to France Telecom with the slant that the part of the tree that was above a public road and verge was damaging their line ( it comes into our garden further down the road), but their view was the tree started off in our garden so therefore our problem ! They did very kindly add that if the tree did damage the line that they would be very happy to come and repair it..... just to let them know.

Thanks once again to everybody, I'll let you know the outcome next winter.

 

Jamie

 

 

 

[Llwyncelyn]

Not sure but are the roots used in making stocks for guns?  We also had a larger walnut tree taken down and which was hit by lightning.  The costs were relatively similar but in my mind I credited the amount I would have had to pay for wood for the wood burner.  It was then next to nothing.

[Chris Head]

Tree suregons don't use platforms, we're generally well trained and well experienced climbers.

edit...and it's an art, a good climber can get half the job done by the time the crane crew have argued where the best place is to position the cherry picker...which in my humble opinion are far more dangerous than a good climber...rant over.

[sid]

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]....  When you think that this might take 3 guys a whole day....[/quote]

That'll be the "tree fellers" then, Paddy, Mick and Sean? [:D]

Sid 

[Jonzjob]

Friend of S you don't say where you are. Someone may be able to point you towards another devis?

Edit :- The three surgeons like our Chris could fly in, just like an eagle!!! Why don't you take some time out and have a look Chris?

[Dave&Olive]

hi ok

         I cannot see a problem burning  pine , if you let it season outside it burns ok ,the sap needs to be washed out of it by the rain , most of the wood pellets you get are poplar or pine anyway ,I know this because were we source ours from they have just started taking it .

Have you thought about putting your trees on the leboncoin web site  for 2/3rds 1/3rds some one local will bite your hand off

     Dave 

[Jonzjob]

One problem of burning pine is that even if you get rid of the sap you can get quite large pockets of resin in it and when the wood is burning these will boil within the wood and can spit out. Our neighbour in the U.K. had this happen to him when he was 17 years old. He showed me the scar on his leg, he was in his mid 70s then! In his panick he tried to get it off his leg and it stuck to and burned his hands too!

I suppose you will say that it's OK in a closed wood burner, but that resin forms as tar on the chimney and if it isn't removed properly will lead to the good possibility of a chimney fire.

You pays yer money and you takes yer choice! I don't burn it on our open fire!

[WJT]

This is a little off subject I know.[:$] But I have wondered about this for a while now and thought this was a good time to ask.[:)] I have heard everything you have said Jonzjob regarding the reasons not to burn pine and we don't anymore, we have only bought oak to burn here in France. But we have in the past used pine out of ignorance in the UK.

My question is; one of my favourite memories of visiting the Swiss Alps at Christmas was the wonderful smell coming from peoples homes of burning pine from chimneys. How do the Swiss get away with it? I know they are surrounded by mostly pines so perhaps they have adapted something to make it safer?

[Pierre ZFP]

[quote user="WJT"]

 I know they are surrounded by mostly pines so perhaps they have adapted something to make it safer?

[/quote]

Yeah they probably had a referendum then passed a law forbidding the chimneys to catch fire

[tracteurtom]

[quote user="WJT"]

My question is; one of my favourite memories of visiting the Swiss Alps at Christmas was the wonderful smell coming from peoples homes of burning pine from chimneys. How do the Swiss get away with it? I know they are surrounded by mostly pines so perhaps they have adapted something to make it safer?

[/quote]

I think you've just proved the point, its utter bunkum to say you should not burn pine.  Yeah, its not got the energy of oak per kilo, but who cares !  Only problem I see is it burns quickly, but in doing so its very hot, burning off those resinous residues we keep reading about.   If you read the sales brochures of say Jotul, no where does it say not to burn pine, it justs comments that its got a lower calorific value and that all wood should be dried.  If you've got it (and I've a forest full) burn it, I say.  In my caseits free apart from the cutting/stacking/moving/more cutting/more stacking/more moving eek !  Its true what they say, wood warms you many times before you even set fire to it !

[Phil & Pat]

[quote user="tracteurtom"]

... If you read the sales brochures of say Jotul, no where does it say not to burn pine...

[/quote]

But Tom, if the manufacturer of the particular stove in use writes "Do

not use resinous woods (pine, fir, spruce, etc.) which involve more

frequent maintenance of the stove and the flue." then that's good

enough for me.  Having seen a nearby house destroyed following a fire

in the flue it is not a risk I would take myself.

[Jonzjob]

As I have already said "You pays yer money and you takes yer choice" simple really and some know much more that others too?