Oak removal advice

[Mark Bolam]

Looked at an oak today that the customers would like removed.

It was apparently reduced by around 30% a couple of years ago.

Probably 3' dbh, almost touching outhouse and 12' from main property wall.

I have recommended that they involve a structural engineer before making a decision. The soil is clay.

 

I would imagine a staged fell might be on the cards, and wondered if anyone has dealt with similar.

 

Also, can anyone recommend a firm of structural engineers in Kent, preferably reasonably close to Tenterden?

 

Crap pics, sorry.

 

Your input is appreciated (apart from Mike Hill).

[testcricket01]

Looked at an oak today that the customers would like removed.

It was apparently reduced by around 30% a couple of years ago.

Probably 3' dbh, almost touching outhouse and 12' from main property wall.

I have recommended that they involve a structural engineer before making a decision. The soil is clay.

 

I would imagine a staged fell might be on the cards, and wondered if anyone has dealt with similar.

 

Also, can anyone recommend a firm of structural engineers in Kent, preferably reasonably close to Tenterden?

 

Crap pics, sorry.

 

Your input is appreciated (apart from Mike Hill).[ATTACH]128898[/ATTACH][ATTACH]128899[/ATTACH]

 

Pollard to the height of your ladders mark

[Peter]

Staged removal is a waste of time IMO, if its coming out then bosh it over and cash the cheque.

[Gary Prentice]

Removing in stages makes no odds, any volumetric change in the soil only takes longer. Once the tree is finally gone, the soil reaches it's maximum field capacity (water holding potential) and any heave/soil expansion reaches it's maximum.

 

Staged removal isn't really recommended any more, it only delays or slows any potential expansion and costs the owner more in the long run. What may be more importent is to take soil samples and get the plasticity index tested, not all clays will change in volume to a large degree.

[Stubby]

Staged removal is a waste of time IMO, if its coming out then bosh it over and cash the cheque.

 

I would tend to agree . We did a staged fell on 2x limes for the same reason , well it was supposed to be but we finished it off a few months later coz the property concerned belonged to my partner ( work partner ) It is a small block of flats . 3 years on no problems .....

[Peter]

I have down staged fells, advised the client it was pointless and time wasting and would cost more in the long run.

 

They went for it anyway.

[Mark Bolam]

Removing in stages makes no odds, any volumetric change in the soil only takes longer. Once the tree is finally gone, the soil reaches it's maximum field capacity (water holding potential) and any heave/soil expansion reaches it's maximum.

 

Staged removal isn't really recommended any more, it only delays or slows any potential expansion and costs the owner more in the long run. What may be more importent is to take soil samples and get the plasticity index tested, not all clays will change in volume to a large degree.

 

I've always had doubts about the effectiveness of staged removals myself, and I think the idea was touted by the lads that did the rather brutal initial reduction.

 

I'd rather wait for a structural engineers report, but could do with one from a firm that has experience in tree related issues and a decent grasp of tree biology.

[Gary Prentice]

I've always had doubts about the effectiveness of staged removals myself, and I think the idea was touted by the lads that did the rather brutal initial reduction.

 

I'd rather wait for a structural engineers report, but could do with one from a firm that has experience in tree related issues and a decent grasp of tree biology.

 

I think that the engineers would have to commission the geological report anyway. There's huge degrees of variance in the ability to change volume in clays. O'Callahan has written a couple of papers, which are well worth reading. Good luck.

[Treeworld]

I know a chartered Surveyor very well been a family friend for years, if this is of any help pm me and I'll pass on his details. If not I also have a friend in sussex who has recently arranged a full enviromental and subsidence report for a site I am now working on in Kent. Happily pass on contacts if you like by pm.

 

Cheers Dave