How do I get rid of a lot of trees?
March 7, 2010 4:46 PM Subscribe
How do I clear trees off of a parcel of land?
My family has about 3 acres that they're willing to give me to build a house on. The only problem is that it's covered in very tall trees. I'm really not sure where to even start.
There are power lines and other houses nearby so I don't want to just head over there with a chainsaw unless I have to (not to mention stump removal). Is it legal to use the lumber to build a house or would it need to be inspected? Help me mefi!
My family has about 3 acres that they're willing to give me to build a house on. The only problem is that it's covered in very tall trees. I'm really not sure where to even start.
There are power lines and other houses nearby so I don't want to just head over there with a chainsaw unless I have to (not to mention stump removal). Is it legal to use the lumber to build a house or would it need to be inspected? Help me mefi!
Best answer: Call around. My folks just had some of their land cleared, and were PAID FOR IT by the people doing the clearing. Get two or three estimates. That lumber is worth it, most likely.
If you want to keep the lumber, what you want is someone with a portable sawmill. (My dad used to have one, and indeed used his own lumber to build his very nice freestanding two story garage/workshop.)
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:07 PM on March 7, 2010
If you want to keep the lumber, what you want is someone with a portable sawmill. (My dad used to have one, and indeed used his own lumber to build his very nice freestanding two story garage/workshop.)
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:07 PM on March 7, 2010
PS when I said estimates, I want to make sure you understand THEY pay YOU. WELL.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:08 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 5:08 PM on March 7, 2010
My Quaker meetinghouse incorporates lumber from land owned by one of the families in the meeting. We rented a portable sawmill to take down the trees and rough-cut boards, which were dried by the man who owned the land, and then finished for trim in the completed building (when I say "we" I mean, "other people who know about these things."). I'm the treasurer; the sawmill rental was about $800. I don't know about having the wood inspected, I'm afraid, but I don't think so. Of course, we used it for trim, not for structure, so that could be different.
A forester can help you evaluate your woods.
posted by not that girl at 5:47 PM on March 7, 2010
A forester can help you evaluate your woods.
posted by not that girl at 5:47 PM on March 7, 2010
There are so many variables to your situation, that you will not get any meaningful answers until you can let us know more about where your property is, what kinds of trees are involved, how many trees there are, whether you plan to strip the entire property or just the area where the house goes, the type of soil they are growing in (where we live the stumps almost pull themselves, while elsewhere they are attached to forty foot long tap roots), etc.
Help us help you.
posted by Old Geezer at 5:50 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Help us help you.
posted by Old Geezer at 5:50 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yeah this is unanswerable without significantly more info. For example, depending on location and types of trees you might need to get permission from the state or county to cut them down. And so forth.
posted by Justinian at 5:53 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by Justinian at 5:53 PM on March 7, 2010
Cutting and finishing the wood for us on a real house (not a cabin) is going to be very tough if you don't know what you're doing.
I'd recommend talking to your local forestry extension/ state agency and seeing if a) you need a permit to log on your property (answer: yes, most likely) and b) what kind of trees you have and if they're worth anything. If they are worth anything you can sell them and use the money to pay someone to come clear the stumps and fill the holes/ regrade. Do not skimp on this last part unless you want giant sinkholes appearing on your property for decades to come. If you really luck out and have rare old hardwood trees you'll make money but most likely you'll just break even, especially at only 3 acres.
posted by fshgrl at 5:55 PM on March 7, 2010
I'd recommend talking to your local forestry extension/ state agency and seeing if a) you need a permit to log on your property (answer: yes, most likely) and b) what kind of trees you have and if they're worth anything. If they are worth anything you can sell them and use the money to pay someone to come clear the stumps and fill the holes/ regrade. Do not skimp on this last part unless you want giant sinkholes appearing on your property for decades to come. If you really luck out and have rare old hardwood trees you'll make money but most likely you'll just break even, especially at only 3 acres.
posted by fshgrl at 5:55 PM on March 7, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for the answers so far.
I'm not sure what kind of trees they are, but the land is in northern georgia very close to lookout mountain. The land is densely wooded. The trees are very tall (30+ feet) and deciduous, if that helps at all (I don't know much about trees). I just asked a friend who hunts a lot about them and described them to him and he says that oaks and poplar are pretty common in this area.
I plan on clearing most of the land if I can.
posted by asa at 6:31 PM on March 7, 2010
I'm not sure what kind of trees they are, but the land is in northern georgia very close to lookout mountain. The land is densely wooded. The trees are very tall (30+ feet) and deciduous, if that helps at all (I don't know much about trees). I just asked a friend who hunts a lot about them and described them to him and he says that oaks and poplar are pretty common in this area.
I plan on clearing most of the land if I can.
posted by asa at 6:31 PM on March 7, 2010
Response by poster: They look much more like poplar if google images isn't lying to me.
posted by asa at 6:36 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by asa at 6:36 PM on March 7, 2010
I have seen a number of parcels that were cleared of trees except for a row on a border. These trees fall during wind storms because the wind loading on them is not what it was when the trees were growing. If you are going to leave some of the trees, you may want to consult with an arborist.
posted by llc at 6:59 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by llc at 6:59 PM on March 7, 2010
poplar will be useless for building, and not much good for firewood.... I would call around to some tree service companies, see what they want to charge/offer...
posted by HuronBob at 7:06 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by HuronBob at 7:06 PM on March 7, 2010
Best answer: Start by contacting your local agricultural extension agent. You can probably find a listing in your local phone book or contact the closest University of Georgia offices for a referral. S/he will likely be willing to visit your site, identify the species of trees, advise as to whether they have value for construction lumber, issues regarding harvesting, soil conservation, etc. You might also visit your local Farmer's Co-op. They might be able to hook you up with a tree harvester and might be able to give you some idea whether anybody in your area wants the trees.
A word of warning: Tree harvesters want to get as much wood as possible, so they will cut just above the surface of the ground. You want to be sure that they cut at least one foot or more above ground to facilitate stump removal. Stump grinding will not do the job for you because you want the roots out of there too. The guy that comes in to level a pad for the house can push stumps up out of the ground if he has a little leverage.
Check with your local Fire Marshall as to what the burning restrictions are. You will have a lot of trash left over from limbing off the trees. The harvesters will not be taking that stuff with them. Under the best of circumstances, you can stack it on the middle of the building pad and burn it, but only if you take wind, proximity and local laws into account.
Since you are in northern Georgia (we're in East Tennessee) you might consider the fact that the wind blows. A lot. On our little country road, we just clear the trees that are where the house goes and out the distance equal to the fall zone of the tallest trees. (If the tallest trees are 40 feet high, clear about 45 feet away from the house.) This will leave you with a weather break around the house and, if you care, a bit of wildlife habitat.
posted by Old Geezer at 7:58 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
A word of warning: Tree harvesters want to get as much wood as possible, so they will cut just above the surface of the ground. You want to be sure that they cut at least one foot or more above ground to facilitate stump removal. Stump grinding will not do the job for you because you want the roots out of there too. The guy that comes in to level a pad for the house can push stumps up out of the ground if he has a little leverage.
Check with your local Fire Marshall as to what the burning restrictions are. You will have a lot of trash left over from limbing off the trees. The harvesters will not be taking that stuff with them. Under the best of circumstances, you can stack it on the middle of the building pad and burn it, but only if you take wind, proximity and local laws into account.
Since you are in northern Georgia (we're in East Tennessee) you might consider the fact that the wind blows. A lot. On our little country road, we just clear the trees that are where the house goes and out the distance equal to the fall zone of the tallest trees. (If the tallest trees are 40 feet high, clear about 45 feet away from the house.) This will leave you with a weather break around the house and, if you care, a bit of wildlife habitat.
posted by Old Geezer at 7:58 PM on March 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Best answer: A note on selling the timber...you're hitting one of the worst times in decades for prices. You may get some money, but it won't be as much as you could get in 2-5 years. I work for a forestry company (in Canada and the US) and we're just beginning a slow road to full recovery.
posted by swimming naked when the tide goes out at 8:28 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by swimming naked when the tide goes out at 8:28 PM on March 7, 2010
Poplar, okay;
Oak, slow down and think about it. Oak wood is more valuable. Do you see any acorns on the ground?
(note: years ago met some guys who were paid to cut down and remove an oak tree. Yuks all around. Do not pay for this). Read the passage about clearing forests in Barry Lyndon by Thackery.
posted by ovvl at 9:54 PM on March 7, 2010
Oak, slow down and think about it. Oak wood is more valuable. Do you see any acorns on the ground?
(note: years ago met some guys who were paid to cut down and remove an oak tree. Yuks all around. Do not pay for this). Read the passage about clearing forests in Barry Lyndon by Thackery.
posted by ovvl at 9:54 PM on March 7, 2010
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posted by Mr. Yuck at 5:07 PM on March 7, 2010