Take a GOOD look at your trees

[ratdoggy]

These are some shots of a friends garage that was destroyed last weekend during the storm that hit the east coast. He's on Long Island. He was in there an hour or so before. If you have any trees that are questionable have them taken down. This one looked like it had some rot where it broke

 

[mad57]

i had a 4inch limb pierce my shed/garage with a 62 vette in it, lucky it only went in 5 in, but neighbor behind me had full tree crush ihs tent garage. in nj.

 

[Jazz]

I'm increasing the size of my attached garage. First on the list was to remove a few trees near the house, which is already done. I definitely think its something to consider in any new construction or even preventing damage to existing.

 

[Full Size 66]

15 yrs. in the Tree service industry and I will say it over and over you never can tell which tree will fail. Usualy it is the one you would least expect. My recomendation is to take them out unless you absolutely can not do it for what ever reason. Hazard tree evaluation is very critical, the only problem is the guy will try to sell you on preservation. I say start over with more appropriate size planting.

 

[Aberdale]

Having a tree trimming expert come out and thin your trees will help alot. It will reduce the weight the tree has to hold up, and it will reduce the "sail effect" that catches high winds. We thin our large trees every 5 years to take out unnecessary branches. It makes the tree much nicer (and healthier) too! This might be a better alternative to cutting them down if they add character and much needed shade.

Dale

 

[jkeyser14]

The sad thing is that a lot of people can't afford what it costs to take down trees as a preventative measure, and insurance won't pay for removal until they fall onto the house.

 

[PassnThru]

Having a tree trimming expert come out and thin your trees will help alot. It will reduce the weight the tree has to hold up, and it will reduce the "sail effect" that catches high winds. We thin our large trees every 5 years to take out unnecessary branches. It makes the tree much nicer (and healthier) too! This might be a better alternative to cutting them down if they add character and much needed shade.

Dale

Key word here is thin - not top. Since the OP referenced a tree trimming expert rather than a few guys with chain saws and a pickup truck (ok - and usually a trailer or two) I believe we are on the same page.

 

[BoydS]

If you have a healthy tree, trimming or thinning is preferred (to me that is). If the tree is diseased, rotting, etc (or just plain dead) have it removed. Living on the gulf coast with potential hurricanes, I have seen many structures with fallen trees on them. Just 3 years ago, I had 8 hackberries removed because of a fungus growing at the base of the trees. Good thing I did, as hurricane Ike would have easily taken them down.

 

[tstang90]

thats horrible i live on LI it was a pretty nasty storm I cleared out every tree on my property this past fall. I am so glad I did I know I would have lost atleast one and the damage and grief it would have caused made it all worth it.

 

[gearbuilder]

There was a large oak tree in the neighbor’s yard that was hollow. I talked to him about removing it but he didn’t want to spend the money. I called my insurance company about it and they said to call back when something happened. It finally fell, took out my shed, and the power to the next street for almost two days. Allstate was good about paying for the shed but wouldn’t pay for the cleanup. Luckily my wife’s uncle wanted the wood and cleaned up a lot of the mess.

Jamie

 

[bmwpower]

So if a neighbor's tree falls on your house, your neighbor pays, right?

I took several big limbs off a tree near the house, maybe 8" diameter. Mostly to reduce the squirrels from getting on the roof, but probably helps the "sail" effect you mention. Would this be detrimental to the life of the tree?

 

[PassnThru]

So if a neighbor's tree falls on your house, your neighbor pays, right?

I took several big limbs off a tree near the house, maybe 8" diameter. Mostly to reduce the squirrels from getting on the roof, but probably helps the "sail" effect you mention. Would this be detrimental to the life of the tree?

You might want to take a look at this.
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Who_is_responsible_for_damage_from_a_tree_blown_over_in_a_storm
I have heard this for years - if your neighbor's tree causes damage to your property then it will likely be on your insurance. Unless you are liable in some way - but a storm blowing a tree over doesn't make you liable.
Check this out also:
http://www.insurance.com/home-and-renters-insurance/natural-disasters/my-tree-fell-on-my-neighbors-porch-whose-home-insurance-covers-the-damage.aspx
Lots of hits searching for tree damage insurance.

 

[gearbuilder]

So if a neighbor's tree falls on your house, your neighbor pays, right?

My insurance paid.

Jamie

 

[JackOfAllTradesRuss]

Here in Maryland,if your neighbor's tree falls on your property, your homeowners insurance pays for any damage to your property. If a tree falls from your property onto your neighbor's property, his/her homeowners insurance pays for for any damage to his/hers. I know this sounds backwards, but that is my understanding with homeowners insurance. RUSS

 

[ratdoggy]

The insurance might work out like no-fault auto insurance. Your company pays you and then they go after the neighbors' company....just my guess

 

[ersatzs2]

I was working in my garage here in NJ last weekend after huge amounts of rain, we had 75mph gusts. I looked out the window and saw the 150 year old elm by my driveway swaying wildly. I phoned my neighbor, and began to leave a voicemail saying the tree looked dangerous. While I was speaking, the tree fell, fortunately missing the house but lying straight across their car. Like the man says, you can't predict what will fall. This one stood there a century and a half.

 

[Mark-in-NH]

I have a client in the Greenwich Ct area and I hear from the that the storm did alot of damage. Their electric power just got restored on Saturday. Here in NH, at least in my area, we escaped the wrath.
When I bought the house, I had a tree company come out and remove a huge double pine that was right next to the back deck. This cost me $800 and it was special price to me as I had sent this company alot of business over the years. No way could I afford this kind of money to deal with the rest of the trees I wanted to get rid of around my house.
A year later I spoke with a friend of mine who operates a small residential logging operation and he offered to take down the rest of my pine trees around the house for the lumber. There turned out to be one double pine that I had to have topped which cost me $400. When it was all complete I had 34 pine trees removed for $400 and I had to clean up alot of brush. Thank god for the tractor and pallet forks. I kept a huge brushpile burning for almost 2 days. I had all the brush prepiled around the property. Drive up to a pile, scoop it up, drive to the fire and dump it on. It was alot of work but also very rewarding and fun.
It is comforting now to look out the window and not see those big double pines swaying in the wind, watching the split in the trees open and close, just waiting for one to fall. Not having to deal with all the pine needles sure is an added bonus.

 

[69CHARGERMD]

I had a total of 22 trees taken out of my backyard,,,Some were very close to the garage,,,and several near the house......
Was not cheap,,,but glad i did it.... no more concerns of having the garage pancaked if a tree comes down,,,,and the house is now safe.....