What happens on the day of a crane tree removal?

This follows Battle Born Tree Service's own description of the process. Every site is different, so your estimate will say how your job would run.

Before the day: who looks at the tree?

A certified arborist assesses the tree, the target under it and the access before work begins, and that decides whether a crane is the right tool. Battle Born Tree Service has two ISA Certified Arborists on staff, including ISA Certified Arborist WE-11728A. The estimate is free. Permits are a separate step: a crane does not change who approves a removal. See the permits guide.

What are the steps on the day?

1. The team determines the set-up location for the crane, taking into account elevation, overhead obstacles and proximity to structures.
2. Outriggers and other equipment stabilize the crane.
3. The climber attaches the crane to the cut point on the tree, considering the weight, the direction the piece will go and the surrounding area.
4. The climber makes the cut while the crane operator holds the piece, with clear communication between them and the ground crew.
5. The operator maneuvers the piece to the drop zone, where it is cut up and removed from the property.

Why do crews use a crane?

In the company's words, traditional large tree removal needs complex rigging and lowering to avoid obstacles, and the crane process greatly reduces the time the job takes and decreases the impact on the surroundings. Battle Born describes it as a safe and efficient no-impact removal at a lower cost than traditional methods, and says traditional methods involve large trucks, an extensive crew and heavy machinery driven across your yard. Cranes can work near your home, wires and other obstacles. That is their description of their own method, and we pass it on as such.

Practically, the crane takes the weight of each piece, so limbs and trunk sections are not dropped onto roofs, fences or landscaping. Read more in how crane-assisted tree removal works.

What equipment shows up?

Battle Born's equipment list includes a crane, a 75-foot Altec GMC boom truck, a 2017 Ford F550 utility and chip truck, a chipper and dump trucks. The boom truck can serve jobs where a crane cannot get set up. The crane needs ground that will carry it and room for the boom. See crane vs climbing vs bucket truck and our equipment page.

What should you do on the day?

Move vehicles from the work area and the street side if asked, keep children and pets inside and stay out of the drop zone. Do not stand under the tree or near the crane to watch. If wires are near the tree, the plan starts with that conversation, and NV Energy handles its own primary lines. See trees and power lines.

When is a crane not the answer?

A back yard with no access from the street, a steep slope or ground that cannot hold a crane may need a boom truck or a climbing crew instead. We tell you which in the estimate. See crane-assisted tree removal. Call 775.232.8243 for a free estimate.

After the last piece is down, the crew cuts and hauls the wood. Battle Born's equipment includes a chipper and a chip truck, and for what happens to the wood and chips, see what happens to the wood and chips. Stump grinding is a separate service, and you should call 811 before grinding below grade. Ask at the estimate what is included so nothing is left to guess on the day.