How to Cut Down a Dangerous Tree | Ask This Old House
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- čas přidán 5. 09. 2024
- Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook cuts down a tree that’s leaning dangerously towards a house.
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Time: 4 hours
Cost: $1,000 and up
Skill Level: Expert
Tools List for Cutting Down a Dangerous Tree:
Bucket truck
Chainsaw
Hard hat
Safety Glasses
Gloves
Ear protection
Harness
Chaps
Wood chipper
Shopping List:
Rope
Steps:
1. Removing a large tree with a dangerous lean is only recommended for a certified arborist with the correct tools and safety equipment.
2. Put on all safety gear and use a bucket truck to reach the highest point in the tree.
3. Use the chainsaw to cut off the smaller branches.
4. Put the smaller branches into a wood chipper.
5. Once the small branches are out of the way, wrap a rope around the tree, and then tie off sections of the large branches one at a time. Cut the large branches and use the rope to safely guide them towards the ground.
6. Once all the branches have been removed, cut the trunk in small sections and push them safely to the ground. Towards the top of the tree, the sections can be 3’-4’, but as you get closer to the ground, cut the sections about 16”-18”.
7. Once the tree has been cut down to a manageable size, tie the rope from the top of the tree to the base of something else in the direction the tree should fall.
8. Cut a wedge section out of about _ of the base of the tree in the direction the tree should fall.
9. Cut straight back into the tree from the other side of the wedge and the tree should fall.
10. Buck the trunk into 16”-18” pieces that can be used for firewood. Only cut about _” down, then rotate the trunk and cut from the other side to avoid damaging the chainsaw.
Resources:
For a tree this large that’s leaning, hiring a certified arborist to remove it is recommended.
Expert assistance for this segment was provided by Peter F. McBride Tree Service (www.mcbridetree...)
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Cut Down a Dangerous Tree | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse
When you have to get a boom truck, there's gonna be a comma in the removal price.
We lucked out, we had to have the power line to the house dropped and the junction was on the other side of the road. When the guys for the city came to drop the line they used a cherry picker to drop the line. Then when they saw what we were trying to do they just drove it up onto our lawn grab the saw and went up and dropped it for us. Then they left for lunch and came back three hours later and hooked the power back up. Fair deal
Alot of tree services have these trucks now and several use cranes nowadays.
Dmac 740 how was he a negative Nancy
@@MrSheckstr you got lucky. The power company sent a tree crew and bucket truck to trim back the trees near the power lines on the other side of the street. I asked them to trim up a tree on my side that was dead and leaning toward the line. Of course they said no, but they could come back out later that weekend and charge me for the bucket truck rental, etc. Well I recently found out (through a survey) that tree belongs to VDOT so maybe I lucked out too.
So true🤣🤣🤣🤣
"We'll feed these smaller ones into the chipa"
*smalla
Whatsat?
Come for the instructions, stay for the accent.
Adam Costa and you get a love from this old shite
I’m the “it’s good to see Roger’s doing better” guy in this video.
1:36 "I brought the f*cking truck"
I know he says bucket truck... but yeah...
Hahahaha
I thought the saame thing lmao
😂😂😂 I did not catch it the first time.
I've been watching This Old House for decades, I love this show! You guys are awesome!
Homeowner: Thank you so much, now we can live without any hazards to our nursery.
Arborist: You're very welcome. That'll be $3,500 please. We only accept cash.
Yeah no kidding
@@allegory7638 -- Why? You can't deduct the cost of cutting a tree away from your residence to protect a baby's bedroom. It's not a business expense.
@@mojoman2001 exactly
Yeah right the way to go is a outfit with a crane, flatbed truck with a pick, and a chipper. Had 8 trees cut down and all were 100' plus pines and Oaks. They all communicated with radios and were done before lunchtime. Cost $4200 for the lot. You get a outfit with a bucket truck/chipper vs a crane^ the BT take 4 times to get the job done plus they make a mess. Plus they have to come back to pick up piles of debris and usually forget in my experience! And I live South of Boston.
Like that lady had to pay for that. Not! It was on tv. Only poor people like myself and others have to pay.
How to cut down a tree
1. email Ask This Old House
2. have Roger come out
3. have Roger call tree cutters
4. you, Roger, and tree cutters film scripted lines
5. review video with Kevin
6. have Kevin make obvious remark
Al Legory Then don’t watch the video...this has been the show’s format for decades.
Wow, you have a lot of salt! If you don't like the video or the program, just don't watch it. Simple.
You are spot on! And the guy broke OSHA and ANSI rules and regulations on a national show. His insurance company better not see this one.
Lol this comment was so funny.
Roger is 10x the worker you'll ever be idiot
This show must have a GoPro budget through the roof.
We used a different strategy: We waited til the tree fell on the house, then called the insurance Company...we even made some money on the deal.....and YOU paid for it with higher premiums! Thanks!
Excellent diy video 🙄
Buckin' Billy Ray Smith could have dropped the whole tree without hitting the house, making the show more exciting. LOL
He also would have cleaned up that disgusting dutchman. I swear TOH used to be a respectable show, but that may be due to the 'rose coloured glasses of childhood' effect.
Bucking’ or Cotontop3 both could have took it down in one go.
Always nice to have a chippah but I prefer a chipper myself.
I'm glad I keep a cherry picker in my shed.
1:37
He brought the fucking truck.
I thought this was family friendly
I'm not the only one who heard that lol
I think he said Bucket truck
Bucket-truck....lol
Bucket truck
I was literally about to saw that 😂
cut at an angle, and make sure to yell timber as you run for cover!
timbah!
"I never saw a Norway Maple I didn't want to cut down." - Roger Cook
😄
I apologize if I got a little crazy right there but I just love these guys are so they're the bomb bay
Roger is the one I trust on TOH...Mainer here who does the same thing - guy is spot on, tho I criticize many of the other ppl on the show, LOL.
just make sure your chainsaw is shaap
How to cut down a dangerous tree?
Answer: hire a pro
Or even this guy. It's down anyway.
Yep. Definitely NOT a DIY job
cardo and that’s how, any problem with that?
Amen! This is NOT a DIY job. No way.
I recently hired an arborist to remove a leaning tree in my back yard. The cost was reasonable and it was some of the best money I ever spent. 👍
Exactly leave it to professional's
Pleasure to watch professionals work.
My fault spoke to soon I wrote my comment b4 I watched the whole video...I would have done it that way too great job that's y u guys r experts...
Get a minimum 3 bids before an arborist with a bucket truck comes out. Manny from Craigslist will climb up there, fell it, buck it, and chip the brush for $500
"How to Cut Down a Dangerous Tree..." Have someone else do it.
Sometimes the correct way to do something is to hire a professional. Not everything is made for DIY.
Totally agree. Due to Irma, I recently helped my family take down a palm tree that was leaning. I did use some things I learned from TOH to do it, but was still something we probably should have called someone for.
Then I'd recommend renaming the video "How professionals cut down old trees."
i usually just set the tree on fire, its much safer than cutting it down and saves time and $$$
We have trees like that and due to the local ordinances we are not allowed to cut them down even if we could. 75 foot trees cost about 3k-5k dollars EACH to have cut down here. We are awaiting for them to fall on the house and kill me.
GREAT VIDEO
The future firewood showed no decay in the tree trunk. It’s definitely a leaner and I’d take it down too.
Anybody notice the Radon Mitigation system installed on the side of their house next to the AC unit ?
eagle eye...thanks for pointing that out...looks like she's got more to worry about than a leaning tree over the nursery
@@ShakespeareCafe What's the problem, though? The outside AC condenser doesn't suck air into the house. It's just blowing heat off the coils.
I find it funny that they chipped up the best part of the firewood
Nothing good about a silver maple. Raised roots to hit with the lawn mower, constantly dropping sticks, large "helicopters" in the spring, and even when you cut it down it's terrible to split.
There is really nothing good about grass. It only looks somewhat nice, requires quite bit of upkeep and does not feed people.
Supposed to cut it when it's small enough to deal with, LOL. These Massholes don't know jack about that.
I have a good size silver maple that has twin sprouts, one on each side and they are a good 20 ft tall. The other day I looked out at the yard and one of the "sprouts" had just flopped over. Base still intact and in ground, top was touching the ground! But not broken off and no obvious size of disease or rot. What the heck....I have never seen this happen before.
Tree looks healthy
How to Cut Down a Dangerous Tree: Call your arborist friend.
Kidding. This was cool.
to me the whole tree is usable firewood.
Of course. I don't waste anything, even branches! Throwing branches into a chipper is just a waste.
Depends on what you do with those chips though.
Well yeah, you can make gasoline from wood chips but I don't have that technology unfortunatley.
Firewood!!!
@@aperson4933 hahahahhahahahaha
Thank you, so how do you cut some tall tree brunches *on a ladder * , with a reciprocating saw ? I need to climb on the ladder to take the tops off? The tree tops, of course.
I had a tree taken down that had a small hole next to the ground it was about 60% hollow, tree looked fine from outside it had no exterior rot
Charlie I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
1:37 love his way. Just “ got the fuc$&!g truck” and let’s go 💀😂💀😂💀
He said "bucket truck". Clean your ears out, son.
@@oldcountryman2795 relax Boy. Was meant to pass time. Read it right, Boy
Great video!
we are expecting a baby I dont want this murderous tree out here stalking my child.
you mean like the one in Poltergeist?
took down leaning oak
walters climber cut no joke
muck on hill well soaked
That tree shoh was a leanah
A tree faller on steroids = professional.
A tree faller on a diet = a little leaner. 😭
Cool but not really a DIY project. Unless its a small tree leave it to the professionals a lot of things can go wrong fast.
DarkRaptor99 you don't have your own bucket truck?
Have a bunch of tools, but a bucket truck isn't one of them. I really don't like to use chain saws anymore seen way too many videos of things going wrong.
DarkRaptor99 agreed, I was a timber cutter for 10 years and saw plenty of accidents, the one that made me finally change my work was a rookie mistake by by partner of 7 of those years. 49" white oak barberchaired on him and killed a good man.
I don't think they made it clear enough in the video that tree removal is best left to the professionals. Just search on YT tree removal fails so many close calls with a persons life or property damage.
Cherry picker rental is $250 to $400.
Chainsaws are not super expensive unless you get the logger ones for huge trees.
This is a medium size tree.
You of course watch pros before doing so and do the safety measures.
My ex boss has had a huge dangerous tree in his yard for over 10 years.
Most Americans move even 7 yrs anyways.
Thats the 3rd option do nothing.
I love my maasdam.
Thanks 4 the video. Informative regardless of who is doing it. Great job arborist. I also liked that he explained not to cut all the way through while using the chainsaw...sectioning the tree. This will save our chains in the future.
Awesome technique! But why did he cut just the top part of the tree down piece by piece, why didn't he do that until he hit the bottom?
Probably because the thicker heavier trunk is hard to cut sideways as the wood wants to push down and trap the blade. Easier to put it down and cut on the ground.
@@kerberos623
I see. Thank you very much! :)
I thought he said “we brought the fucking truck” when he brought the truck
Step 1: wait till you get a bad storm
Step 2: push the tree over on your house
Step 3: get insurance to pay for the cleanup and your newly refinished house
crushed baby
Maybe I am looking at the lean wrong, but I am sure I have seen professionals (both online and real life) tie a rope and pull it slightly to the right to avoid the house. If not, the tree service guys around here usually would climb that as renting a bucket truck would double the price lol
I've had the so-called "professional arborists" cut a couple of my trees down, and they shure didn't do it like that. Those guys are a bunch of cowboys; if you know what I mean. They had those suckers carved up in no time.
But then, they weren't doing a TOH show for all the dilettantes. And their "dialogue" was considerably more interesting.
As the saying goes: time is $.
Hate to tell that owner those large pines especially the one behind the "maple" on that upward slope can uproot so easily and also can break in half like a match stick. Happens all the time in NE. Pines are the worst here.
who notches that high up? good way to loose your head
Too bad my backyard is super muddy all the time. It's kinda like a swamp back there with the creek and all.
Amazing how many pregnant women there are on these TOH programs
They are a powerful driving force in the home repair and remodel industry. TOH bends the knee to their power.
That's why the women always seem to be calling professionals to get chores done around the house. Their men are pursuing other "hobbies."
A lot of the guys who make big money ( doctors , dentists , lawyers , investment managers ) are NOT " handy guys ". However , in this case there are few DIY guys who could do this anyway . This was a job for a crew with a crane and bucket . Either that , or a climber who would take branches off as he went up , then cut small pieces off , as he came down .
@@billeddy4357 I'm handy but when it comes to a tree potentially falling on my house, I'll leave it to the professionals.
@@paulreid7370 - Meaning most are not. Class dismissed.
When I wss in the 8th grade we took a career finding test.
1 guy's #1 result was "Tree Surgeon".
People think that cutting a tree is an easy task, wrong. This is one of the most dangerous things to do. Hire professionals that have good equipment.
How to cut down tree
Step 1 become an arborist
Step 2 cut dowm tree
she seems pretty nervous still after it was cut down
future shock Maybe they had just given her the bill.
still not sure who da baby daddy is?
If this were my tree, I would of done the old okie dokie. I would tie a rope to the tree go around another tree for an off set then pull it over with my pick up while someone cut it with a saw. Doing it this way, I only had to replace about a half dozen roof shingles to date. Cheaper than a $3,000 professional.
how come you cant sell that maple are lumber... it had to be firewood??
How to DIY this job on 2 trees the same size ? But short money to pay any logger that will keep the wood ?
Have a 40' oak 15' from my house, removal service wants $3K for the job. Renting a diesel or propane lift will cost $1500 for the week and me and my neighbor can do it..
if the rental company lets me rent the lift for that purpose.
Did you do it?
My neighbor had a tree removed last year. It was about 60 years old and overhung the house, but was healthy and posed no danger. She just didn't want to deal with the leaves and the squirrels on the roof anymore. She hired a pro, and it took 2 hours start to finish. Cost $5,500.
I cut down a similar sized, unhealthy tree on my property a year earlier. Took me 4 days, and I left a stump, flush to the ground. Cost nothing.
Great ROGER. Also I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Roger!
"Wait...what?...your fee doesn't include stump removal?"
You have to leave something for the landscapers to do when that stump grows all those suckers out
Oh prob 20 years ago my mom hired a guy to take a large oak tree down in our backyard that was hanging over the roof and into the property behind us. Ok here’s where it gets interesting.. the guy climbing up the ladder has one arm with the chain saw tied to his waist. He got the job done and safely but it makes you wonder how he lost his arm. We never asked
Crazy I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Boring! There are all sorts of tree cutting disasters on youtube that are hysterical.
I suggest drinking heavily then cut down big trees close to cars or houses but only if you record it and post it.
Thank you in advance.
Pinchy green akula
The awkward horrible small talk and introductions are classic
Any decent tree crew could take that down without a boom truck. That's a solid small tree, easy to climb. I had a MUCH bigger tree taken down for $600.
Wonder how much this job cost. Just pruning some landscaping trees goes for several hundred. They had a whole crew there with full safety equipment. Must have been a 10k job.
2.5-3k, not for everyone.
Don't let the tree hurt the baby!
1:50 he looks like he's about to tip ova
Had tree work done the other day. Think they had "We don't need no steenkin' bucket!' stenciled on the truck. They were up and down the trees like spider monkeys (meant respectfully).
Haha. Mike I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
I know thats a good way to do it but I would have just worked my way down the tree cutting it into small sections more cutting but avoids any mistakes if it would to fall into the house...but that way works too...great job guys
That's exactly how I've cut them down. I mean, felling a tree isn't exactly rocket science. 😁
Good vid. Also beevahs wuldda chahpped it down for their dam-work
Yah but only aftah the flaw hawkey tawnament
This was a genuinely hilarious comment! It should be pinned to the top 😂
You call those trees lol I remember my first beer too!!
If someone was thinking ahead they could have cut the tree down BEFORE it got that tall! Of course that would have been 3 or 4 owners ago. IOW, not my problem!
Just yank it as it falls and you can direct where it falls.
I cut a tree down behind my house yesterday. It was leaning toward the house. I used several ratchet straps to pull it towards a bigger tree away from the house.
It's better to use chains and binder ratchets for heavy things
Jerald I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
I down trees like this all the time with a 3 ton red devil and a few chains. I pull “not fell” the trees down after the notch/hinge are cut.
Pbs I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Why did he hire an arborist to cut firewood for them?
It is a shame they do not show you how to drop a tree like that. With out the the having the bucket truck. this method reduces the risk of some other thing happening. This is the open face bore cut method. To fall a tree like that. there are some limits to this. You will need two large plastic felling wedges and a thing to drive them. Most people know the stander notch for felling witch is fine for the easy stuff but is no good for this.
The tree removal biz is a feast to famine business. I think anyone who knows how to keep it safe can do it for a couple hundred bucks.
Samsng I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Not to be critical but didn’t you notice how all the firewood was eaten up with rot.
Well not really. Looked like the tree had compartmentalized pretty well.
Not claiming to be a fan of silver maples, weak brittle trees. But it was not rotten to the point of being a danger (yet) but every tree can fall solid wood or rotten.
People claim to be “certified” arborists. If it doesn’t say ISA Certified Arborist they could have just certified themselves.
HARDCORE MAN BASKET ACTION
You could actually wrap a rope around it and tie it to your car and apply a good amount of tension. While someone cuts the other keeps tension on it till it falls.
Good idea. Also I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe. Link in my about tab.
Haha the white lady with the beer belly
What?
This show would be so great if it were not scripted so badly.
White Farms vvo
At least until 2005 they had said none of it was scripted but made up on the spot after a brief talk through.
Some stuff aren't met to DIY and cutting a tree down is definitely one.
Huh? I've cut down multiple trees on my property myself. Rent a boom lift to get high up, and cut bit by bit from the top until you reach the bottom.
A ladder and or a set of spurs and a harness ... cut it half way up, then the rest. A whole lot less expensive. It's 50 feet tall and 40 feet away from the house. Do the math.
3:00 why is the wood closer to the trunk "more usable firewood?"
Well, I must say I wAs kinda disappointed in all of the safety rules that guy was breaking.
Derek Willis one handing and chipping while wearing chaps. Lol
YES!!!! Gauntlet gloves and chaps, a half dumped truck because they don't have a chip truck, one hand on a chainsaw!?!?!?! On national TV? This guy is NOT an arborist.
Hotdog Nonesky no he's an aborist but the longer someone is in a certain field the more they ignore basic safety precautions. Some of the worst gun safety people I know are former infantry vets. Since they are the "pros" they bypass all the basic safety precautions.
@@justinitsthatguyme010
That just makes him an amateur. I've got over 20 years in and I never do this. Ever.
Hotdog Nonesky cause youre smart. You can still be an expert and not be smart. It's his hand to cut off not mine, so I ain't gonna stress to hard over it lol
I don’t know Don’t trees have feelings,who are you to decide which ones live did you at least leave its roots
Certainly beats just a ladder and a chainsaw
I would say that tree is a little older than 40... it looks to be more like in the 60-70 year old range.
Who asked you, Jake? Jk. Idc.
You don’t need an arborist to fell a tree - do you? I hired an experienced tree guy who pruned a 50 ft sycamore for just a few hundred. He did it all by himself and did a great job too. When I got home all the branches he cut off were gone and the yard was clean. You would never know that he was there.
Just hire some Mexicans
Cleaning the job site is old time pro move
not judging as i do the same but one handed cuts on national television... idk about that lol
If you're doing this also, both of you guys need to further your education and become actual arborists. A snap cut takes no more time and is completely safe. Please learn the trade before partaking in it. There is a requirement of education credits every year for holding an arborist certification for a reason. Be safe
@OldPossum
You are completely WRONG. It is against ANSI and OSHA rules to EVER one hand a saw.
OldPossum “one handing” a “topping saw”. Lol. Nothing wrong with not wearing a seatbelt, either, huh.
I don't think a bucket truck was required at all for this job. A chain fall and a couple of ropes would have been a hell of a lot cheaper and would have accomplished the same thing.
I think they were purposely trying to destroy the camera
Cutting down the things that provide oxygen
Homeowner: thank you so much now I can sleep better knowing my family is safe.
Arborist: great to hear, that'll be $15,000. Plus $1000 to get the truck to your property, $285 to work the bucket,$ 550 for chainsaw gas, $ 380 for wear and tear on my chain, $800 for use of the come along, $890 for my other worker.
Damn for that price I'll just poison the damn tree then set it on fire after it dries out a bit