Stump removal ... how far to go with roots?

[Rennie29]

Whats everyones opinion on how far you would stump grind roots? Done a job recently where the woman wanted a stump removed and got a call back to say i had missed part of a root... which was about 5 metres long ... went back and got it. Wheres the line?

[Paddy1000111]

5 minutes ago, Rennie29 said:

Whats everyones opinion on how far you would stump grind roots? Done a job recently where the woman wanted a stump removed and got a call back to say i had missed part of a root... which was about 5 metres long ... went back and got it. Wheres the line?

I don't do a huge amount of grinding but when I have I've only promised 8 inches of soil. Enough to grow grass on. had customers ask for every root to be removed for planting shrubs etc but there's no way unless you go in with a decent size digger or some sort of radar, map it all out.

[Mick Dempsey]

So many variables.

[Ty Korrigan]

When quoting, make it clear to clients that it is a stump grinder not a root finder.

   Stuart

 

[skyhuck]

I normally describe it like a spider, I will grind out the body, but not the legs. 

[Ty Korrigan]

6 minutes ago, skyhuck said:

I normally describe it like a spider, I will grind out the body, but not the legs. 

That description might give the more sensitive clients nightmares to think of giant spider legs under their lawn...

          Stuart

[maybelateron]

I learnt many years ago to describe tree removal as " dismantle and fell, cutting stump close to ground". This was after a particularly awkward old witch (sorry I meant woman) took issue with the stump having not been removed when we quoted to fell the tree. I have recently invested in a stump grinder and will specify "grinding out stump but excluding roots, unless agreed otherwise beforehand". Witches (and warlocks) beware.

[rarefish383]

I had a Vermeer model 630A tow behind, and a John Deere 265 garden tractor, I could tow the machine in yards and not tear up the lawn from the truck. I would give a price on the phone based on type of tree and distance across the widest point. I then made it clear, if they wanted to chase roots, measure from the ends of the two widest roots, and the price would be modified if their description was not accurate. I had very few discrepancies. I think what ever you do, just make it clear to the customer. In the 15 years I climbed for my Dad, we only had one "Witch" that never mentioned removing the stump. She said cut it close so the lawn man could mow over it. We dug out around it, still dulled a couple saws, and got it so a mower would clear. Then she said when she said cut it close, she meant, dig it out. Dad said, "we don't charge for what you mean, we charge for what you say". End of story.

[Dan Maynard]

I'll chase out buttress roots till they get down deeper or smaller, maybe to 3 inch diameter or so. I don't think you can leave roots above the surface, they are easy to knock out.

[aspenarb]

We offer three options, buff the top off just below ground level, bowl out the stump leaving the laterals or grub the whole thing out with an excavator.

 

Bob