Why Does The Species of Tree Affect the Cost of Tree Removal?

 At Chesapeake Tree Guys, we get this one quite a bit. We just quoted the customer $2,500 for full tree removal and stump grinding of their 40 foot Bradford pear. And since we did such an OUTSTANDING job at such a great price, they discover they have room in the budget for a few more items needing attention. "So how much to take down that one over there?" our beloved and curious customer inquires. "Same price, right? It's the same size after all, maybe even a bit smaller." Well, unfortunately, that slightly smaller tree is a Shagbark Hickory, and comes with an all new set of dangers and risk factors. So it's of no surprise that the customer goes into hyperdrive scoffing mode when we explain it will be almost double the price of the pear tree. But why?! 

For starters, Shagbarks are notorious for their incredibly resilient bark structure. The bark acts as armor plating for the trunk itself, making unbearably difficult to "spike" and tie in to. In addition, it likes to sheer off without warning which, if not properly addressed in the early stages of preparation, can lead to some serious hazards and potential injuries. Further still, the deadwood on Shagbarks can often still look live, so it's not able to bear a load whatsoever. So one wrong foot placement can startle a climber pretty fast. Cottonwoods and locust trees are also going to run you a bit more for tree service and removal.  

So as you can see, it's not always the mere size of the tree that drives the price point. The tree removal services  business is an incredibly dangerous one already. So tree companies have to consider the extra liabilities that come with certain tree jobs. The hardness of the wood is a factor, sure. But so is the tree's location o the property. Is it grazing a power line? Is it on an aggressive incline or along a ditch? How much property do we have to relocate? How easy is it to relocate those items? Are we removing fence panels for a bucket truck to get there? 

All of that said, a good and reputable tree service company should take the time to explain these pricing factors to their customers when giving the estimate. It's been our experience that most folks actually appreciate you taking the time to educate them on the ins and outs of their project. And once you've really addressed all of the concerns, they usually see that the price is actually quite reasonable for the risk the tree company is assuming.