Stumps can be a hazard and an eyesore, and they're not something that most people want to leave cluttering up their yards. Unfortunately, they're a natural byproduct of tree removal and not something every tree service will handle once they complete the job. Of course, the reason is that grinding a stump can be complex, and it's a much different job from felling a tree.
However, it's often not easy to call up a few local grinders and ask for quotes with basic information, such as the diameter of the stump. While it might seem that every stump grinding job is the same, numerous factors can impact the difficulty and cost. If you need to remove one or more stumps from your yard, here are three reasons a contractor will likely want to evaluate them in person.
1. Embedded Objects
If you're hiring a stump grinder, you might expect stump grinding to be the majority of the process. While your contractor can get to work immediately with a clean stump, many stumps require extra consideration. In most cases, stump grinding equipment can only handle the stump itself, and metal or other objects embedded in the tree can damage equipment or pose a safety hazard.
Even if the stump looks good to you, most stump grinding companies will still want to look at the tree for themselves. This inspection is necessary to rule out any hazards a typical homeowner may not notice, ensuring they can remove the stump from your yard cleanly and safely. The presence of embedded material will usually mean paying a little more for preparation work.
2. Equipment Access
Stump grinding equipment ranges from relatively small handheld gear to skid-steer mounted equipment and larger. It takes a professional to understand the type of equipment necessary to remove a stump, with factors such as the wood's hardness playing an important role alongside the diameter of the remaining trunk.
Using smaller equipment for a difficult job can take more time and effort and cost more money. Your contractor will want to evaluate the position of the stump to ensure they can reach it with the appropriate gear. If there's poor access to a large stump, they may be unable to reach it with larger equipment, forcing them to spend more time grinding with less capable tools.
3. Stump Condition
Evaluating the condition of a stump is one of the most challenging aspects for anyone working as a stump grinder. Older, rotten stumps will grind more quickly and easily, but appearances can be deceiving. In many cases, a stump that's old and wearing away may still be relatively healthy below its outer layers.
Most grinders will provide an estimate based on how long they expect a job to take, which requires seeing (and testing) the condition of the stump for themselves. This step is necessary to provide you with an accurate estimate, and it usually requires an in-person evaluation.
For more information, contact a local company like Coen & Sons Services Inc.