Tree Removal in Ormond Beach

What tree removal costs

Every tree is priced on site, because the same tree can be a quick job in an open backyard and a full-day crane job next to a house. These are the things that move the price:

• Size. Height and trunk width are the biggest factors.
• What's underneath. A tree over a roof, pool, fence or power line has to be taken down in small pieces with ropes.
• Access. Whether a bucket truck or crane can reach the tree, or the crew has to climb and carry everything out by hand.
• Condition. Dead or storm-damaged wood is less predictable and slower to work.
• Extras. Stump grinding, hauling the logs and brush away, and raking up the debris are often priced separately.

Ask for a written quote that lists cleanup, haul-away and stump grinding, so you can compare companies on the same terms.

Trees we see removed most in Ormond Beach

• Laurel and water oaks. Common in older neighborhoods and shorter-lived than live oaks. As they age they often decay inside the trunk and drop large limbs.
• Live oaks that have outgrown the yard, are lifting a driveway, or were damaged in a storm.
• Pines killed by drought, lightning or bark beetles. Dead pines turn brittle fast and should come down before they fall.
• Palms that are dead, leaning, or planted too close to the house or pool. See palm trimming if the palm is healthy.

Signs a tree should come down

• Large dead branches or a crown with few leaves in the growing season
• Mushrooms or fungus growing at the base or on the trunk
• Deep cracks, cavities or a hollow trunk
• A lean that is new or getting worse, or soil heaving up on one side
• Roots cut or damaged by construction

Not every sick-looking tree needs removal. If you're unsure, ask the company whether trimming or a certified arborist's assessment makes more sense.

Permits in Ormond Beach

The City of Ormond Beach regulates tree removal, and some trees and sizes need city approval, so check with the city before cutting. Under Florida Statute 163.045, a homeowner doesn't need a local permit to remove a tree on residential property if a certified arborist or Florida-licensed landscape architect documents in writing that the tree poses an unacceptable risk to people or property.

Before you hire anyone

• Ask for proof of liability insurance and workers' compensation. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, you could be on the hook.
• Get the quote in writing, including cleanup and what happens to the stump.
• Be wary of anyone who knocks on your door, wants full payment up front, or offers to "top" the tree.