Safe and efficient tree removal from a team of professional arborists with more than 30 years of combined experience.
Removing trees in Central North Carolina involves a lot of considerations that don’t apply in some other areas of the country. For example, arborists working in our region must think about:
The dense red clay that’s common to our region often retains moisture and drains slowly, which can cause tree stability problems during rainy weather. We specialize in the removal of these unstable trees and can respond quickly to keep your home, family, and property safe.
From ice storms to hurricane-force winds, severe weather is common in North Carolina and often inflicts significant damage to our local canopy. We provide expert removal services for storm-damaged trees, whether they’ve suffered crown damage, trunk cracks, or snapped roots.
From the strict tree-protection rules in Chapel Hill to the specific permitting requirements in Raleigh’s historic districts, navigating the red tape surrounding removals can be a headache. We know the local permit requirements well and will help you obtain any that are needed.
Because we’re locally owned and operated, we are familiar with the kinds of challenges North Carolina trees face and have the experience needed to overcome them.
Lubbers & Sons Tree Care takes a different approach than many of the other tree-service companies operating in Central North Carolina. We measure success by the number of clients we help and trees we save rather than the number we remove.
In fact, when you trust the Lubbers & Sons Tree Care team, you’ll immediately notice our commitment to:
“To ensure your tree is removed safely and without causing damage to your property, you really need to work with a team of expert arborists you can trust.”
- Tommy Lubbers
Owner of Lubbers & Sons Tree Care
Homeowners and property managers often think of tree removal as a one-size-fits-all project. But in reality, there are a number of different approaches professional arborists can use to dismantle a tree safely.
We’ll outline some of the various methods we use below, but that doesn’t mean you need to choose between them. Simply schedule an estimate, and our tree-removal experts will identify the best approach based on the species, location, and size of the tree.
When felling a tree, an arborist will make strategic cuts near ground level. These cuts are designed to make the tree fall in a specific direction, often with the assistance of wedges and ropes that provide more control of the tree while it falls. Felling is the simplest tree removal approach, but it is only appropriate in relatively wide-open spaces.
When trees grow near or overhanging homes, landscaping features, or high-traffic areas, we’ll often have a climber ascend the tree. The climbing arborist will then begin cutting the tree into small, manageable pieces, which a ground crew will carefully lower to the ground using ropes and advanced rigging systems.
In some cases, we will use aerial lifts or bucket trucks to access and remove the upper portions of a tree. This approach is typically best suited for trees located near streets or driveways, as well as situations involving trees that are too dangerous to climb. As with all other removal techniques, the cut pieces are gently lowered to the ground with ropes.
Cranes are sometimes helpful for removing trees that are exceptionally large, dead, or brittle, as well as those that lean over homes or present other hazards. This removal method is considerably more complex than other approaches, but it helps keep your home, your family, and our crew safe during dangerous or complicated removal jobs.
You contact our team to schedule an arborist assessment or request a free estimate.
One of our arborists will visit your property, evaluate your trees, and discuss your goals.
We’ll outline your options, develop a customized plan, and provide you with an itemized estimate.
We’ll show up at the scheduled time, conduct a safety briefing, and get to work.
Once finished, we’ll review the work with you and ensure your property looks spotless.
It’s certainly important to have hazardous trees removed in a timely fashion, but it’s also important that you choose the right tree-removal team to handle the job. Tree removal is complicated and dangerous work that should never be carried out by inexperienced or underqualified outfits.
Trusting the wrong tree-removal team can lead to a number of problems, including:
Fortunately, avoiding these kinds of problems is relatively easy: You simply need to select a team of expert arborists who not only have the skill, equipment, and expertise to carry out the work but also an unwavering commitment to safety. That’s exactly what you get when you rely on the Lubbers & Sons Tree Care Team.
Contact us today to ensure your tree-removal project goes smoothly.
It’s important to note that we always view removal as a last resort. We love identifying potential mitigation options that’ll eliminate the need to remove a tree.
But with that said, some trees are simply too hazardous to leave standing. Only an ISA-certified arborist can determine whether or not removal is warranted, but there are a few clues you’ll want to watch for, which may indicate your tree is hazardous and requires removal, including:
Trees that develop a moderate lean over the course of many years are often able to produce “reaction wood” that keeps them stable. However, those that start leaning suddenly or begin leaning more than usual are often at imminent risk of collapse and require removal.
Mounding soil near the base — something that often accompanies leaning trees — often signals that the root system, the soil, or both have lost their structural integrity. These trees should be considered extremely hazardous and prompt you to contact an arborist immediately.
Fungal fruiting bodies that are connected to a tree’s woody tissue (including the root system) often indicate the presence of dead wood or internal decay. Some fungi are more aggressive than others, so you’ll want to have an ISA-certified arborist examine your tree promptly.
Though beneficial to wildlife and charming to look at, hollows and cavities are typically associated with decay. In some cases, the tree may be able to remain stable despite the missing wood, but in other cases, the tree may not be strong enough to survive the next strong wind.
Cracks indicate that the wood fibers in a tree are already failing and presenting a significant safety hazard. Arborists are generally most concerned by transverse cracks (those that are perpendicular to the trunk or affected limb), though vertical cracks can also be hazardous.
Unfortunately, trees that have dropped branches in the past are often more likely to shed branches in the future. This tendency is more common in some species — such as sweetgums, Bradford pears, and some oaks — than others, but it is always wise to have an assessment performed following limb drop.
The cost of tree removal in Central North Carolina varies, but most jobs fall in the $500 to $3,500 range, though complicated, crane-assisted removals may cost even more.
A few of the factors that play a role in determining the exact costs you’ll face include:
It’s also important to note that the price you’ll pay to remove a dead, dying, or hazardous tree will often climb over time, as the project becomes more difficult to carry out safely. This is especially true if the tree ultimately ends up falling on your home in the middle of a rainy night, necessitating an emergency removal (likely with the assistance of a crane).
This provides yet another reason that proactive tree care is always advisable.
If you are concerned about a tree on your property, contact the Lubbers & Sons Tree Care team today to have it assessed as soon as possible.
Lubbers & Sons Tree Care is proud to offer expert tree-care services across Central North Carolina, including the following cities:
Deciding to have a tree removed from your property is often difficult — potentially even heartbreaking. It only gets harder when you’re not sure whether your tree truly requires removal or you’re simply getting advice from an unscrupulous contractor who’s trying to scare you into cutting a check.
That’s not how we operate.
Not only are we honest and transparent with our clients, but we also look for every possible way to support and retain trees before we even consider removal. This helps us save trees that other outfits may have condemned and build trusting relationships with the local residents we have the chance to serve.
Contact our team today to see what the options are for your tree.
Still have questions about tree removal in Central North Carolina? We’ve rounded up a few of the most common ones we hear from our clients and answered them below.
It usually costs between $500 and $3,500 to have a tree removed in North Carolina, though complicated removals may exceed this rate. No matter the situation, it will always cost less to have a tree removed when it is still healthy and stable, rather than once it is dead and too hazardous to climb.
The late winter is generally the cheapest time of year to have a tree removed, as this is when tree-service companies are not as busy as they are during the spring, summer, and fall.
Tree removal permit requirements are established at the local level, but many cities and towns in North Carolina do require removal permits for large, native species. Lubbers & Sons Tree Care will be happy to provide the guidance you need to comply with local laws, and we’ll even help you obtain the permits, if you’re required to do so.
Every insurance policy is different, but few will cover the costs associated with the removal of a standing tree. This is typically considered normal property maintenance. However, insurance companies often do cover some of the costs associated with emergency removals involving trees that fall on houses or other structures.
Absolutely not; skilled arborists can usually avoid damaging your lawn or any surrounding structures.
There are a number of tree species that can make good privacy screens in North Carolina, including American hollies, southern magnolias, arborvitae, and Leyland cypresses, among others. But in all cases, you’ll want to consult with an ISA-certified arborist to select the best species for your specific property.
In some locations, local utility companies may offer to remove hazardous trees for free, but this is becoming increasingly rare.
There’s no doubt about it: Tree removal is a big deal that presents safety risks and entails significant costs. That’s why it is so important to find a team of arborists you can trust to treat you fairly and handle the job capably.
That’s exactly what you get when you rely on the Lubbers & Sons Tree Care team.
Contact us today to discuss your needs, ask a few questions, or request a complimentary tree removal estimate. We’ve been serving homeowners, municipalities, and commercial property owners across Central North Carolina since 2020, and we’d love to help with your tree-removal needs too.
Feel free to leave your contact information on our online form. A consultation is always free, and it’s the first step towards finding a tree care solution!