LANCASTER, N.Y. — In the wake of the strong, gusty winds Tuesday and then overnight, some people may be wondering how to deal with tree damage in their yards.
2 On Your Side spoke with a tree removal expert for some advice.
Pines and some older rotting trees were especially vulnerable with shallow roots, and of course the unusual wind direction of the Tuesday storm, as the gusts came from the southeast instead of the traditional southwest and they hit trees harder.
Tree removal can cost hundreds of dollars. It might run even over a thousand dollars for an 80-foot tree or taller.
There are some things to consider in the future when it comes to your older trees, and perhaps maybe now assess them if they have some damage from this storm.
Greg Sojka of Greg's Tree Service told 2 On Your Side: "People call up and go my tree is moving. Trees are supposed to move. They're going to give and take like a sail on a sailboat. What you really wanna watch for is the ground root structure around the tree trunk. It will start lifting and heaving almost like a steamed clam, opening and closing, rising and settling, and that tells me that the roots are compromised."
Sojka says rotting trees really should be taken down before they cause damage to a home or other property.
"I consider it like going to the dentist," he said. "Nobody likes to go to the dentist or spend money in removing trees, but at some point the issue must be addressed or you're going to bite down one day, and your tooth is going to hurt, and you're going to holler.
"Same thing with the trees. The dead ash trees, the rotted tress, they can be left go for some time, but at some point you're either going to take them down or they are coming down on their own at their choice."
He has seen the damage for a fallen tree to a home close up.
"Through the attic. Having to bring a crane to pull chunks of the tree out of a living room," Sojka said.
So when it comes to actual removal, Sojka suggests extreme caution for anyone considering doing it with a chain saw on their own.
"The old saying: measure twice, cut once," Sojka said. "Make sure you have the proper clearance, the proper safety equipment on and really think about it. Is it worth saving a couple hundred dollars rather than hire a professional? We get calls every year from guys getting hurt, taking a tree down to save the money, and they're in the hospital for a long time."
He added: "The risk factor, the liability, the amount of debris that you have to get rid of the branches, the logs. Getting rid of the wood chips. There's certain places that will not accept logs that are over a certain size because they can't process them, so then you have extended costs of dumping fees for getting rid of trunks of trees that are this big around."
Also, again, some people may get hurt trying to use chain saws, which can kick back and cause dangerous movement on very heavy trees soaked with moisture.
If you do go with a tree service, Sojka said you should check for references and reviews and with the Better Business Bureau because there are some "shady" outfits out there that may not do this at times very expensive work properly.