How Much Does Crane Assisted Tree Removal Cost in Michigan

While professional tree-care providers can often conduct tree removals using conventional methods, such as climbers, bucket trucks, or a combination of the two, some tree removal tasks require the assistance of a crane. This can come as quite a shock to some homeowners, who may not even know that cranes are often involved in tree removals. 

This often causes homeowners to have a number of questions, including the most common: How much is crane-assisted tree removal going to cost? 

We’ll explain everything you need to know about crane-assisted removals and outline some of the typical costs associated with the task below. 

How Much Does Crane-Assisted Tree Removal Cost in Michigan?

The costs associated with crane-assisted tree removal vary pretty significantly, as there are a number of factors that influence the price. Nevertheless, the average cost of crane-assisted tree removal is generally in the $2,000 to $4,000 ballpark. 

However, some removal jobs do fall outside this range. Most crane-assisted removals will cost at least $1,500, and some jobs may cost more than $7,000 for complex removals. 

Factors Influencing the Cost of Crane-Assisted Tree Removal

When developing a plan and estimate for crane-assisted tree removal, an arborist will consider several factors. Some of the most important include:

• The Tree’s Size: Because they take longer to dismantle, require more equipment, and produce more debris that must be collected and removed, larger trees are more expensive to remove than smaller trees — whether a crane is involved or not.
• The Tree’s Species: Different tree species present different failure profiles and risk levels, which are reflected in the price of a removal. For example, willow trees typically have very weak wood, so extra care is taken during the tree removal process, while white oaks are remarkably tough trees with very strong wood. So, when all other things are equal, a willow tree may cost more to remove. 
• The Tree’s Condition: The healthier and more stable a tree is, the easier, safer, and more affordable it is to remove. Conversely, trees that have numerous defects or structural problems will cost more to remove. 
• The Tree’s Location: A tree that is situated in the middle of an open field and close to a road will be easier to access, and therefore less expensive to remove than one tucked in the back of an inaccessible portion of a property. This is the case for most tree removal projects, but it is especially important for removals that require the use of a crane. 
• The Number of Trees to Be Removed: Because it takes quite a bit of time and labor to deliver a crane to your property and set it up, most arborists will provide discounts for jobs involving the removal of several trees. This will reduce the per-tree costs and help homeowners save a bit of money. 
• Potential Targets: You’ll face higher removal costs for trees that are overhanging your home, driveway, or other high-value targets than you will when removing trees that aren’t positioned above anything noteworthy. 

While these are the primary factors influencing the cost of a crane-assisted removal project, there are other considerations, such as the season, the tree company’s current schedule and workload, and whether or not any special permits are required to perform the removal. 

When Are Cranes Necessary for Tree Removals?

There aren’t many hard-and-fast rules that determine when a crane is warranted versus removals that don’t require a crane. These types of decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, based on our experience and judgement. 

With that said, the following situations often require the assistance of a crane:

Large Trees

Exceptionally large trees (more than about 70 or 80 feet tall) are often too large to remove with climbers, bucket trucks, or aerial lifts. Accordingly, cranes are used to ensure the tree is removed safely and without damaging anything in the vicinity. 

Unstable or Hazardous Trees

Trees that have suffered damage, exhibit poor structure, or are in poor health are less stable than healthy, vibrant trees. This means it can be too dangerous for climbers to scale, and it can also present hazards for people and property in the surrounding area. Cranes help mitigate these risks. 

Trees Overhanging Targets

Trees that are growing over homes, driveways, roads, or high-traffic areas must often be removed with a crane to keep everyone and everything safe. Cranes can even be necessary when a single large branch grows over a target. 

Landscape Impacts Must Be Limited

Falling tree branches can cause a significant amount of damage to a property’s lawn, plants, hardscapes, and other trees. But when a crane is involved in the removal process, cut branches can be lowered slowly in a controlled fashion to prevent damage, resulting in a “zero-impact” tree removal. 

Trees That Have Fallen on a Home

If a tree has unfortunately already fallen on a home, a crane will generally be required to remove it. This helps to ensure that the tree does not shift and cause further damage as pieces are removed. 

The Benefits of Crane-Assisted Tree Removal

There are a variety of reasons that arborists will sometimes leverage cranes to perform tree removals, and this approach provides a number of benefits to all parties involved. A few of the key benefits cranes provide include:

Cranes make it safe to remove hazardous trees. 

Without a crane, it can be exceptionally dangerous to remove hazardous trees. But because cranes can support the tree (or sections of the tree) from above, the associated risks can be reduced significantly. 

Cranes facilitate the removal of very large trees. 

When trees grow too large for climbers or bucket trucks to safely remove, you’re only left with two options: Fell the tree from the ground or use a crane. Felling is an acceptable practice in some cases, but it isn’t feasible in many locations, given the targets located nearby. This leaves cranes as the only safe method for removal. 

Cranes allow us to offer zero-impact removal services.

Homeowners often spend a lot of time, effort, and money keeping their landscape in tip-top shape, and they’re not eager to see their property damaged by falling tree branches or trunk sections. Crane-assisted removal makes this easy and allows us to provide zero-impact removal services. 

Cranes help keep your home and family safer. 

While skilled arborists can often remove trees safely by climbing a tree and removing it in a piecemeal fashion, cranes make this even easier. Cranes support the weight of the tree (and any sections cut from it), thereby making the removal process much safer. 

Cranes help protect tree-care professionals. 

Aside from helping to protect your loved ones and home, cranes help keep our tree-removal professionals safe. This not only provides the obvious benefit of keeping our people safe, but it also helps to keep insurance rates low, which helps to keep the costs you’ll pay for the removal lower, too. 

Crane-assisted removal is much more efficient. 

Removing a very large tree may take two days or more to remove using bucket trucks or climbers, whereas the same job can often be completed in a few hours with the help of a crane. This not only helps to reduce the labor costs associated with the job but also makes scheduling easier. 

Cranes provide a way to lift and dispose of fallen trees. 

Trees that have fallen on houses must be removed very carefully to prevent further damage to the structure. When this must be done by hand, it can take days of work, as one small section after another is meticulously removed and hauled away. But a crane allows us to lift relatively large sections off a home at a time, greatly streamlining the process. 

Crane-Assisted Tree Removal: FAQ

Still have questions about the cost of crane-assisted tree removal? We’ve rounded up some of the most common questions our clients have and answered them below!

When are cranes required for tree removal?

There are a variety of situations in which cranes are necessary for tree removal. Some of the most common scenarios include trees that are very large, hazardous, or leaning over structures or high-traffic areas. Cranes may also be helpful in removal projects involving a large number of trees or when a homeowner wants to take every step possible to protect his or her property from damage. 

How much does crane-assisted tree removal cost in Michigan?

Crane-assisted tree removals in Michigan generally cost between $1,500 and $7,000. However, the average crane-assisted tree removal project costs between $2,000 and $4,000. 

Will insurance pay for tree removal?

Every homeowner’s insurance policy and provider are different, so it is important to review your policy information carefully. However, generally speaking, homeowners’ insurance policies will not pay to remove standing trees, but they will pay (some portion of) the costs associated with the removal of fallen trees.  

What is the cheapest time of year for tree removal?

Tree removal is generally most expensive while crews are busy in the spring and summer, and least expensive during the winter. However, it is important to secure the tree removal services you need promptly, before a tree dies or becomes more hazardous. This will only increase the price of removal — sometimes significantly so. 

Why is tree cutting so expensive? 

There are a variety of reasons that tree pruning and removal can be costly. For starters, tree removal requires a significant amount of equipment, ranging from chainsaws and ropes costing several hundred dollars each to bucket trucks and aerial lifts, which cost tens of thousands of dollars. This doesn’t even include cranes, which may cost 10 times as much. Additionally, the professionals conducting the tree removal need considerable training, and the insurance tree-removal services must maintain is exceptionally expensive. 

Ultimately, these costs must be incorporated into the service pricing for a tree care company.  

Trust Treemendous Tree Care for Your Crane-Assisted Tree Removal Needs!

Obviously, crane-assisted tree removals are not the kind of job you want to trust to just anybody – the stakes are simply too high. Fortunately for homeowners in southeast Michigan, there’s only one name you need to know: Treemendous Tree Care. In addition to the variety of other tree-care services we provide, from stump grinding to pruning to commercial tree care, we are experts at crane-assisted removals. We have the experience, expertise, and equipment needed to remove large or hazardous trees safely and leave your property in pristine condition. 

Head over to our contact page to book a free estimate. One of our arborists will visit your property, assess your trees, and provide a recommended course of action. He or she will also answer any questions you may have about the process. 

Resources

• HomeAdvisor. Tree Removal Cost Guide. HomeAdvisor. https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/lawn-and-garden/tree-removal/
• Angi. Tree Removal: What You Need to Know. Angi. https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-does-tree-removal-cost.htm
• Tree Buzz. Crane Best Practices in Tree Removal: Hoisting a Qualified Arborist. Tree Buzz. https://treebuzz.com/pdf/mar07-cb.pdf