Not every hazardous tree is a straightforward cut-and-haul job. Some jobs require days of planning, coordination with utilities, and advanced rigging that most residential tree companies never need. At Wilcox Tree Service, these complex removals are a specialty.
Defining “Complex” Hazardous Work
A complex hazardous removal typically involves two or more of:
- Severe structural defects (hollowing, rot, cracks)
- Power line proximity requiring utility coordination
- Tight-access locations near buildings, pools, or septic systems
- Multiple trees in unstable configurations after storms
- Height over 80 feet with significant canopy weight
- Historical or high-value targets (historic structures, specimen plants)
- Steep terrain affecting rigging and equipment placement
Step 1: Multi-Stage Assessment
Simple hazardous jobs take 20 minutes to assess. Complex jobs can take hours across multiple visits:
- Initial walk-through with the foreman and lead climber
- Crane access analysis to determine equipment placement options
- Utility coordination if lines are involved
- Property owner meeting to confirm priorities and acceptable risk
- Written removal plan detailing each phase
Step 2: Pre-Work Coordination
Before a single cut is made, we coordinate:
- Utility disconnection if required
- Traffic control permits if the road is involved
- Crane logistics from our Wilcox Crane Service division
- Additional crew staging if the job exceeds one crew’s capacity
- Weather windows since some complex jobs require calm conditions
Step 3: Site Preparation
Complex jobs require extensive site prep:
- Heavy-duty mat protection across wide lawn areas
- Staging zones for equipment, crew, and debris
- Escape routes clearly identified for everyone
Step 4: The Removal Itself
For the most complex jobs, removal can span multiple days:
Day 1: Canopy Reduction. Deadwood and hazard limbs removed first. Weight reduction on the main leaders. Creates a more predictable tree for the main felling.
Day 2: Main Structural Work. Crane lifts major sections. Climber works from adjacent healthy tree or bucket truck. Sections controlled throughout descent.
Day 3: Final Sectioning and Cleanup. Remaining trunk sectioned. Stump grinding (if scheduled). Complete site restoration.
Case Example: Storm-Damaged Twin Leaders Over a Home
One Keene homeowner had a massive maple tree with twin leaders, one of which had cracked in a nor’easter and was threatening the roof. The cracked leader was partially suspended, holding significant stored energy, over a historic slate roof.
Our approach:
- Utility notified, no disconnection needed but emergency contact established
- Crane positioned in driveway
- Climber ascended the sound leader with rope anchored through adjacent oak
- Crane took the weight of the cracked leader before any cut
- Cracked leader lifted away from the home intact
- Remaining tree assessed — sound leader saved, reducing cost and preserving the tree
Total job time: 6 hours. Cost to homeowner: roughly a third of a full removal, and their roof was untouched.
When Multiple Trees Interact
In storm damage situations, trees often lean on each other or become interlocked. These jobs require:
- Sequential planning — which comes down first matters
- Stored-energy awareness — a tree under pressure can release violently
- Extra rigging — each tree is a variable
Why Most Residential Tree Companies Refer These Jobs Out
Complex hazardous work requires:
- A crane (most residential companies don’t own one)
- Experienced climbers comfortable with decayed wood
- Advanced rigging expertise
- Full insurance for high-risk operations
- The scheduling flexibility to wait for the right conditions
Wilcox is one of the few Monadnock Region companies with all of these in-house.
Getting a Complex Job Estimate
For a complex hazardous tree assessment, call 603-363-8197. Crane dispatch: 603-903-8624. Or submit an online estimate request.