Unrealistic expectations

[cerviarborist]

It's not firewood until it's cut to stove length.
If you promise to remove the tree and leave part of it, you haven't finished the job
It's not wood chips if it has leaves in it.

These are all legitimate arguments, unless you write specifications to other effect in your proposal/contract. Specifying tasks, qualities and quantities takes those items off the table and assigns them to the various parties taking part in the project. Contractor and Client for example. Any tasks, qualities or quantities not specified in the contract remain on the table, and as the professional who is supposed to know how the work will proceed, a lot of the table belongs to you.

Here are some exclusions that can help everyone know what's going to happen in the contract:

1. State "branch and trunk sections greater than xxx inches in diameter will be left on the premises, per client request."

2. "Main trunk/stem will be cut as close to root flare as can be safely managed with a chainsaw. Root plate will NOT be removed and the stump will NOT be ground under this contract."

3. "Debris chips are comprised of all parts of the tree with the exception of trunk wood. Client acknowledges this and agrees that chipped material to be left on site is an amalgamation of various parts of the removed tree."

 

[Jehinten]

I spec my stumps at 6-12" above ground. I've never had a customer get upset with me cutting a little lower but it allows me some wiggle room and helps keep my saw out of the dirt that splashes up in the rain. I change the specs when they want it left a specific height.

I also try to avoid negatives in my quotes. Instead of saying "I will not grind the stump for this price " I word it "no stump grinding quoted at this time." Says the same thing, sounds a little more friendly.


I also specify lengths of fire wood in "about lengths" such as wood larger than 6" diameter will be left in about 18" lengths. Anything smaller than 6" diameter is considered brush and is chipped.

 

[southsoundtree]

Cut with your bar nose buried, using a pulling chain, will keep your stumping chain as sharp as possible.

No pulling of crud into the kerf.

Thanks @cory for the wisdom.

 

[RogerM]

my last firewood job.. split, stacked, debarked, detritus hauled away... ugh...

 

[Tom Dunlap]

My grass is so thin. Please trim my tree do that there is less shade

Said while standing in the shadow cast by neighbor to the south’s tree.

try and explain how beneficial it might be to the neighbors tree to get it pruned. Suggest to my client that if the turf is so valuable they might pay up to 100% of the cost

 

[Fivepoints]

29497.jpeg

• Fivepoints
• Sep 9, 2020
• 1

Stump cut

29075.jpeg

• Fivepoints
• Sep 9, 2020

Blown down Willow Oak

#2. That's not so unrealistic unless spelled out in your bid. We ground the stump in the above pictures after we cut it loose from the trunk. We have our own excavator which really helps with stumps this size as you really have to get the grindings out of the way to be able to see what you are doing. I'm 6'2" and 220 lbs for scale. As ATH said, why wouldn't the tree guys have a way to deal with the stump. No one wants to have a huge root plate and stump left in their yard. Most of the time the insurance is picking up the tab. To me, it's part of the 'problem' if you will of the storm damage.

 

[Treezybreez]

Here are a few examples of wording in my contracts:

Large Red Maple on the front right corner of the house (Prune out major dead wood 2" and larger, Prune back one side of co-dominate trunk back to a lateral branch, thin canopy and remove the debris).

Medium size White Oak on the front left corner of the drive way (Dismantle, cut trunk into 16" length pieces and remove the brush).

 

[Chaplain242]

I’m still learning but regarding stumps my quote says “stumps cut to within 2” of turf grade” I try to get closer but that’s not always possible. I also say “removal of all debris that was a result of our work”. I’m sure as I get more experience I’ll be able to get stumps closer to grade.

If the customer wants stumps inconveniently low or even below grade and doesn’t want to spring for stump grinding I ask them to dig a trench around the stump big enough for the powerhead and wash the stump free of dirt and gravel before I show up, and let them know there’s chain damage fees applicable.