Return-Path: Received: from BOSCH.SAGE.RI.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa17168; 23 Oct 96 18:24:52 EDT To: bovik@cs.cmu.edu Subject: Tree Trimmin Recommendations Date: Wed, 23 Oct 96 18:24:19 EDT From: mittal@bosch.sage.ri.cmu.edu Sender: mittal@bosch.sage.ri.cmu.edu Source-Info: Sender is really mittal@bosch.sage.ri.cmu.edu My original posting on 23rd Oct, 1996 asked for tree trimming recommendations: > Can people recommend tree trimming contractors/companies? Bovik has > only two mentions, one in 87 and the other in 93. We called Ackermann > Tree Service (the 93 recommendation). They seem very competent (good > references) but they quoted us $1600 to trim the single tree we have > in our backyard. This was rather more than I had expected tree > trimming to cost, so I'd appreciate remarks about what other companies > quoted you (our tree is not exceptional in any way). > > I'll summarize the responses and forward them to Bovik. Thanks. The responses that I received were: From: "Barry L. Brumitt" To: mittal@cs.cmu.edu (Vibhu O Mittal) Subject: Re: Tree Pruning Recommendations Date: 23 Oct 1996 10:33:52 -0400 mittal@cs.cmu.edu (Vibhu O Mittal) writes: > Can people recommend tree trimming contractors/companies? Bovik has > only two mentions, one in 87 and the other in 93. We called Ackermann > Tree Service (the 93 recommendation). They seem very competent (good > references) but they quoted us $1600 to trim the single tree we have > in our backyard. This was rather more than I had expected tree > trimming to cost, so I'd appreciate remarks about what other companies > quoted you (our tree is not exceptional in any way). > > I'll summarize the responses and forward them to Bovik. Thanks. We used ackerman tree service and were quite satisfied, though they were not particularly cheap. Keep in mind if your tree is very tall, there's a LOT fo extra work to be done. Ditto if your tree is "over" fragile things like houses, etc. Good luck! Barry ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Lynne M Reder To: Vibhu.O.Mittal@cs.cmu.edu (Vibhu O Mittal) Subject: Re: Tree Pruning Recommendations Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 15:35:53 -0400 (EDT) Plus I've had a bad recent experience with them. They pulled out a tree by mistake, promised to replace it and haven't. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sender: dredish+@gs151.sp.cs.cmu.edu Subject: Re: Tree Pruning Recommendations Date: Tue, 22 Oct 96 12:51:17 EDT We had a very small job to do (one limb to trim) and called Dave Baker, (825-0279). He came to look, did it that day for a reasonable price. adr ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Martha_Clarke@MARTHA.ADM.CS.CMU.EDU To: vibhu.mittal@cs.cmu.edu Subject: tree service Date: Tue, 22 Oct 96 13:21:06 -0400 I can recommend Emery Tree Service. They trimmed our maple tree for approximately $250 and completely removed my neighbor's pine tree for less than $600. The price you were quoted seems extraordinarily high. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Nigel H Goddard To: Vibhu.O.Mittal@cs.cmu.edu (Vibhu O Mittal) Subject: Re: Tree Pruning Recommendations Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 13:44:51 -0400 (EDT) The Post Gazette gardening correspondent (Lindsay Totten?) recommended Emery Tree Service to me. We used them, they seemed ok. The pruning job was fine but I thought they were a bit heavy handed (some gouges in bark). Nigel ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Cam Miller To: mittal@cs.cmu.edu Subject: tree Date: Tue, 22 Oct 1996 20:44:52 -0400 $1600 to have a tree trimmed sounds like a rip-off -- unless this is some kind of HUGE tree. I have not had direct experience with having a tree trimmed, but I have had one topped and one removed -- both large and one on a steep hillside. It cost $225 to have the one topped and $375 for the removal. The guy who did the topping is out of business, but the removal people are very much around -- in fact, they also removed trees on my neighbor's property this year. They are Daugherty Enterprises, Inc. in Export, PA 412/325-2211. The secret is to call small business people in the suburbs or surrounding towns. The larger companies in the city are much higher priced. You could also get an estimate from one other large company that's been around for a long time, like Carl's or Emery, just to see if they are anywhere close to the other guy's estimate. Another suggest would be Gallagher's Lawn & Garden on Old Wm. Penn Highway in Monroeville. The owner is a really nice guy -- hasn't done any tree work for me, but did do lawn service, etc. for a good price. He just recently bought the business from someone so he's looking to build a clientele Number is 856-0340. I realize that trimming a tree properly requires much more finesse and knowledge than just taking one down, but I still think that $1600 is ridiculous. Do NOT call North Suburban tree service. They wanted $600 to take down the tree that Daugherty did for $375. ------------------------------------------------------------------------