You might have an old tree in the backyard that has been causing you more hassle than benefits with its mere existence, and you badly need the space it occupies. Or perhaps the leaves and branches touch your roof, causing clogs in the gutter and slowly rotting the materials they come in contact with.

While tree removal might appear straightforward, it entails a lot of things that you should consider before you can remove it without causing additional worries. If you reside around the Brisbane area, there are many trusted companies that do this job, such as Brisbane Tree Removal. Other services it offers are tree and hedge pruning, land clearing, and stump grinding, among others.

However, one of the major concerns is the cost of tree removal in Brisbane.

Average Cost of Tree Removal in Brisbane

The starting cost to remove a tree in Brisbane is between $500 and $1,700, depending on its size. These figures also increase depending on some conditions that it might be in.

The price for small tree removal starts at around $500. For medium trees, the cost starts at $1,000. For large trees that measure over 18 metres, expect the price to start at $1,700. Obviously, larger trees usually require special equipment and a larger team, so they are more expensive.

You can indeed find cheaper options everywhere, especially in Brisbane. However, you need to consider whether you will be dealing with real arborists, whether the crew has undergone training and has extensive experience in the field, whether they will use proper equipment and safety gear in carrying out the job, and whether they are fully insured if something goes wrong. Brisbane Tree Removal is all that and more.

Factors Affecting the Cost of Tree Removal in Brisbane

Other than size, additional factors that influence the price of tree removal in Brisbane include the following:

Type of Tree

Trees are usually taken down piece by piece, so their species is one primary consideration in the pricing. Trees with more branches are more expensive since they will take more time, effort, and labour hours to remove.

Also, some species’ green wastes are not recyclable or suitable as mulch or compost because they are phytotoxic, which can do more harm than good to plants. With these types of trees, you automatically need to dispose of their waste, which entails additional costs unless you do it yourself.

Access

Access is a huge factor in the cost of tree removal. Every property owner’s tree situation and requirements differ, and passage to the site might be more challenging than others. Some of these hindrances include the tree’s proximity to the road, the type of block it is in, the presence of stairs, or whether the tree is at the rear or front of a property.

One of the most challenging accesses is for waterfront properties with steep slopes leading to the waterway. Carrying debris manually uphill can be very difficult, and additional equipment like a barge and woodchipper are usually needed to remove the waste more efficiently. The extra costs for special machines are added to your total bill.

Obstructions

One major issue with tree cutting and removal is obstruction. If your house or a neighbour’s is nearby, utmost care and caution should be observed to ensure no properties are affected. These might entail some more costs for site preparation.

There is a reason tree felling is seldom available these days: There is usually not enough space in the city for the tree to drop in one piece, especially if it’s a large one. This means the tree should be removed piece by piece through the use of ropes and pulleys, from trunk to branch, which entails a bigger team of climbers and ground crew. One large tree ideally requires at least three or four bodies to put it down safely.

Power lines are another obstruction or barrier, which also increases the cost as the contractor needs to work with electricians to clear and secure the area prior to executing the job. In addition to the additional professional fees, securing permits also adds to the cost.

Risks

The price quote will also depend on whether the tree is safe for climbing or whether the contractor will need additional safety gear and climbing equipment. Worse, machinery such as boiler lifts or scaffolding may be necessary, adding to the overall costs.

Timing

Tree removal services tend to be very busy after storms or other weather events contributing to tree damage. Moreover, you’ll be unlikely to get discounted rates, particularly for an emergency call. You should also avoid calling tree removal services during peak periods.

Winter is the ideal time to cut trees because they are dormant, making them more manageable and less messy to remove. There is also less demand for the service, so you are more likely to pay less.

Additional Costs

Besides the actual tree removal, some activities you might need to carry out have significant costs that you must consider or plan ahead. They are indeed not included in the basic tree removal cost.

Stump Grinding

Every tree removed will leave a stump that you might wish to eliminate to avoid accidents, or you might want it ground into mulch. Either way, you will spend extra on these, especially since a particular machine will be needed.

Dumping Costs

Confirming with the contractor the inclusions on the price quote sets your expectations regarding the other decisions you will eventually need to make. Reputable tree removal companies like Brisbane Tree Removal are more than willing to provide you with detailed quotes for free. For example, waste disposal isn’t usually included in the contract because some property owners will need these pieces of wood and the cuttings. 

However, if you need them dumped, you must pay extra, as disposal of large logs requires bigger machines and additional workers. Otherwise, you can save money by cutting them into smaller pieces and dumping the rubbish yourself.

Permits

You must secure council approval to remove a tree in Brisbane if it is deemed protected vegetation. Some considerations are based on its size, species, age, heritage value, or cultural significance, among others. Location is another factor, as well as whether it’s near a waterway corridor, the Brisbane River, or within a rural area or bushland.

Most property owners don’t want to deal with all the paperwork and would likely leave those to their trusted arborist, which you need to pay. The permit itself is free.

Remember that if the tree falls under protected vegetation, you can be charged up to $10,000 and even have legal action against you for failing to comply.