Tree services
Crane tree removal lifts a tree out in large sections instead of dropping or lowering it piece by piece. It is the right method for big, dead or storm-damaged trees over houses, and Newcomb's owns a 45-ton and a 110-ton crane.
A crane changes how a tree comes apart. The operator sets up on firm ground, usually the driveway or the street, and extends the boom over the house or yard. A climber ties the crane's line to a section of the tree, moves below it and makes the cut. That section, sometimes a whole top or a long piece of trunk, lifts straight up and swings to a landing zone where the ground crew processes it. Nothing is dropped on the lawn. Nothing swings toward the roof. Fewer, bigger picks also mean less time aloft.
Many tree companies rent a crane and operator when a job calls for one. We own two, a 45-ton and a 110-ton, and keep them in Halifax. That matters in three ways. Scheduling is ours, so your job does not wait on a rental company's calendar. Our operator and climbers work together regularly and know each other's signals. And after a storm, when every tree company wants a rental crane at once, ours are already here. Crews follow ANSI Z133 safety requirements, with Certified Tree Care Safety Professional training on staff.
Crane work suits the South Shore. Mature eastern white pines stand well above the roofline, and they often grow close to the house. Red oaks killed by repeated moth defoliation go brittle and cannot be trusted to hold a climber. Ash killed by emerald ash borer is worse. Add small lots, backyard pools, septic fields that should not carry truck weight and trees that came down on a roof in a nor'easter, and a crane is frequently the safest tool. It also keeps heavy sections off wet or sandy lawns.
Before crane day we confirm where the crane will sit and what needs to move. You will need the driveway clear, and we may ask neighbors to move cars if the street is tight. Setup takes a little while as the outriggers go down. Once lifting starts, stay inside or well back. Large sections come out quickly, and the work usually goes faster than climbing and lowering alone. Afterward the crew chips brush, loads logs and rakes up. The crane leaves the way it came in, and the stump stays unless you add grinding.
How it works
From first call to clean yard
01
Site assessment
We measure the reach, check the ground and overhead wires, and decide which crane fits and where it will sit.
02
Scheduling and prep
We pick a date, tell you what to move out of the way, and plan the landing zone for brush and logs.
03
Lift and cut
The climber rigs each section to the crane and makes the cut. The operator lifts it clear of the house and sets it down.
04
Process and clean
Ground crew chips the brush, loads the logs, rakes the yard and checks the driveway before the trucks leave.
Pricing
What affects the price
Reach and tree weight
The farther the tree sits from where the crane can set up, and the heavier the wood, the larger the crane needed and the smaller each pick has to be.
Crane setup spot
A flat, solid driveway close to the tree keeps setup simple. Slopes, soft shoulders, overhead wires or a tight street take more planning and more time to rig.
Tree condition
Sound trees can be lifted in big sections. Dead, split or storm-damaged trees need more careful rigging and smaller picks, because the wood may not hold together under load.
Number of trees
Once the crane is set up, taking several trees from the same position is efficient. Grouping removals into one visit usually costs less per tree than separate trips.
Wood and stump handling
Hauling every log, leaving firewood lengths and grinding stumps are separate choices. Stump grinding is priced apart from removal, so ask for it on the estimate.
Reviews
What customers say
I had a great experience with Paul and his crew! I had twelve very large pine trees taken down in the front of my house. They were able to complete the job within a day, everything completed and cleaned up. Excellent work.
Two huge, elderly Norway Maples sadly had to be taken down before they came down on their own. They were in front of my home and street adjacent. Not an easy removal. Newcomb’s Tree Service was professional in every aspect and reasonably priced.
The crew was hard working, friendly and efficient. By far the fairest price of anyone on the South Shore.
Questions
Crane Tree Removal FAQ
A crane is needed when a tree cannot be safely climbed or has nowhere to come down. Common cases are dead or brittle trees, trees leaning over a house, large trees in fenced backyards with no drop zone, and trees that have already fallen onto a roof. In each case the crane lifts the wood up and away.
Not always. A crane adds equipment to the job, but it often cuts the hours needed, and on dead or hazardous trees it may be the only safe method. Because Newcomb's owns its cranes, there is no outside rental company involved in your job. A free estimate will tell you which method makes sense for your tree.
The crane usually sets up on the driveway or the street, not on the grass. We look at the surface during the estimate and tell you about any concern before the job is booked. Because sections are lifted and not dragged or dropped, lawns and gardens often see less wear than they would with a conventional removal.
Yes, and it is usually the best way. Cutting a fallen tree apart where it rests can shift the weight and cause more damage. A crane holds each section while it is cut, then lifts it straight off the roof. Newcomb's offers 24-hour emergency tree service and has its own cranes available for these calls.
It depends on the tree and the setup, so we give you an expected duration at the estimate. Setup and breakdown take part of the visit. Once lifting begins, large sections come out quickly, and crane removals generally move faster than taking the same tree down by climbing and lowering alone.
Related services
Crane Tree Removal near you
We cover every town within about 30 miles of Halifax.
Ready for a free estimate?
Call the office or send a photo of the tree. You get a written price before any work starts.