Wow- nice woodpile! But I'm wondering what forest you cut in that grows such beautiful square wood? Most of the woodpiles I've seen have all that gnarly round stuff...
Regarding that tree, if it were mine, and I weren't worried about bringing the wrath of God down on me by cutting in the public right of way, I'd drop it myself. Probably your local government could care less. Around here, the county gets real uppity if you cut in their right-of-way. They want to do it themselves. Probably worried some Harry Homeowner type will cut one of their trees, get hurt, and then sue them.
It's not all that tall by my standards. I'd climb it and limb it, attacking the main fork towards the house first. I'd mainly use a hand saw at first, then section the big part of that fork down with my chainsaw. If you get enough of that branch topped, it could have a falling radius just short of the porch steps. Then cut it at the main crotch with the chainsaw and let the last 10-12 ft come down in one piece. I'd want to be sure that what then remains is leaning away from the house. Then, judging from that lean, I'd just drop what's left across the road and cut it up right away. Just so long as that street is not a busy one. On a quiet residential street you'd be OK, and get away with it if you worked reasonably fast. On a main thoroughfare, you'd might need flagmen, a permit, or whatever.
I'm going to agree with the others that you'd best hire that tree guy for 350, which isn't really that high these days. Sounds like you don't have enough experience yet to do it on your own. If I did it, I'd work real slow and deliberately. It would take me much longer than the pros to do this one. I still have all arms and legs, fingers and toes, and I aim to keep it that way! But I could handle this one. OTOH I had a big old dead Oak that needed to come down. I hired the pros. A really big one like that, I wouldn't touch until it was all on the ground.
I bet you can finagle it so that the city or county takes it down for you. Don't give up on that one too easy. You pay taxes for services, now you need their services. Hold their feet to the fire.
Regarding that tree, if it were mine, and I weren't worried about bringing the wrath of God down on me by cutting in the public right of way, I'd drop it myself. Probably your local government could care less. Around here, the county gets real uppity if you cut in their right-of-way. They want to do it themselves. Probably worried some Harry Homeowner type will cut one of their trees, get hurt, and then sue them.
It's not all that tall by my standards. I'd climb it and limb it, attacking the main fork towards the house first. I'd mainly use a hand saw at first, then section the big part of that fork down with my chainsaw. If you get enough of that branch topped, it could have a falling radius just short of the porch steps. Then cut it at the main crotch with the chainsaw and let the last 10-12 ft come down in one piece. I'd want to be sure that what then remains is leaning away from the house. Then, judging from that lean, I'd just drop what's left across the road and cut it up right away. Just so long as that street is not a busy one. On a quiet residential street you'd be OK, and get away with it if you worked reasonably fast. On a main thoroughfare, you'd might need flagmen, a permit, or whatever.
I'm going to agree with the others that you'd best hire that tree guy for 350, which isn't really that high these days. Sounds like you don't have enough experience yet to do it on your own. If I did it, I'd work real slow and deliberately. It would take me much longer than the pros to do this one. I still have all arms and legs, fingers and toes, and I aim to keep it that way! But I could handle this one. OTOH I had a big old dead Oak that needed to come down. I hired the pros. A really big one like that, I wouldn't touch until it was all on the ground.
I bet you can finagle it so that the city or county takes it down for you. Don't give up on that one too easy. You pay taxes for services, now you need their services. Hold their feet to the fire.
