Frequently Asked Questions1. Do you take everything away? Most customers these days require removal of arisings from site and this will normally be specified in the quotation. However woodchips make a useful garden mulch and we are increasingly finding clients requesting that the chips are left for their own use. Timber may also be useful for firewood. It is not normally left in sizes ‘ready for the fire’ unless specified. 2. What happens to the stump chippings? When a stump is removed using a grinder, the resultant chips will not be removed unless specified. This is because they become incorporated with the soil and begin to decompose quite rapidly. 3. Will my neighbours be affected? Sometimes it is necessary to have access to a neighbouring property – particularly when branches overhang. Please inform them of your intention to carry out work and the date on which it will take place. Our staff are polite and courteous. However, a neighbour returning from shopping or work will not be amused to find people on their property if not informed. 4. Do I need to protect my walls or lawns? Whilst our staff will operate with care and diligence often our work entails the carrying of large amount of material (brushwood/logs) over lawns and past the house. Please make sure that vulnerable surfaces (such as white walls) are adequately protected (builders polythene is a good method) also that fragile objects are moved (such as pots etc.) Our staff will be more than happy to move heavier objects for elderly or disabled clients. Lawns tend to recover rapidly but very wet weather can give rise to very muddy conditions. We are able to provide boards to protect the lawn. However, this is not a standard procedure and may incur additional cost. If in doubt please discuss with our office. 5. When do I pay? When the job is completed, the foreman will ask you to sign a job sheet to confirm your satisfaction. Please only sign this when you are satisfied that all items are completed. Please raise any queries with the foreman before signing the job off. The office will invoice ‘signed off’ jobs within 14 days. 6. What does 30% mean? Tree pruning is usually described in terms of a percentage amount. Therefore 30% reduction means approx one third of the branch length. The climber will aim to prune to the most ideal point, usually a smaller secondary branch. Thinning is different from reducing. Thinning involves removing a percentage of materials from the tree without actually reducing its size. 7. What time will the team arrive? Most jobs are completed efficiently and on time. However, occasionally a job will over-run or the weather will prevent us from working to time. We will usually arrive on the morning of the agreed start date unless another time in the day has been agreed. 8. Do I need permission? In almost all circumstances it is wise to establish whether permission is required. If you are living in a conservation area you do need to notify the local authority of your intention to carry out work. If there are Tree Preservation Orders (T.P.O’s) on your trees, then permission is required. The fines are high for breaches of these statute laws – please make sure that you are in possession of any necessary authority prior to booking work. If you would like us to arrange this for you we would be more than happy to deal with the matter on your behalf. Contact Down to Earth Tree Contracts Ltd by clicking
here or phone |