Stump Removal Cost

If you have tree stumps in your home, they are probably an eyesore to you, your family, and visitors. Apart from being unattractive, tree stumps can be dangerous. The only ideal solution to tree stumps is removing them.

Not knowing the stump removal cost to expect has led many property owners to ignore tree stumps. In this article, we will take a deeper look at the stump removal cost. You will learn about the factors which may raise or lower the cost.

Orange County Stump Removal Cost

On average, you should have approximately $299 set aside if you intend to have stumps removed from your compound. The stump removal cost lies between $162 and $473.

The minimum amount of money you should expect to pay the stump removal service providers in Orange County is $100. Most Orange County-based stump removal professionals calculate the stump removal cost on a per diameter inch basis. Each inch will cost you approximately $2 to $5. Some of the factors affecting the stump removal cost include:

• Accessibility
• Size
• Location

Allowing professionals to remove stumps can help you avoid damaging the utilities buried in your compound.

The Per Diameter Inch or Per Stump Pricing

If you decide to work with Orange County stump removal service providers, you should expect them to estimate the stump removal cost on a per stump or per diameter inch basis. On average, a well-equipped service provider will take approximately an hour to get rid of a single stump. Irrespective of the number of stumps you want the professionals to get rid of, you should expect to pay a minimum of $100.

The per diameter inch cost usually stays between $2 and $5. Depending on how big the stump is and where it is located, the stump removal cost for each stump may range between $350 and $60. When measuring the stump diameter, you should measure close to the ground, at the widest point.

Stump removal cost varies depending on the stump location, the stump age, and the amount of time the project is expected to take. Orange County-based professionals offer property owners a price break if they have numerous stumps in their compound which need to be removed. The initial stump may cost anywhere between $150 and $100 while the remaining stumps may require you to pay $50 each.

Orange County Stump Grinding Rates

If you want the stump removal professionals to simply grind your stump, you may have to spend a $200 on this service. In most cases, you will have to spend $3 on each diameter inch. To clear large areas, property owners may have to pay $150 each hour.

Stump grinding takes 2 hours tops if the grinding company is equipped with a good commercial grinder. It is important to note that the speed may vary depending on the professional’s experience and the quality of the machine.

Factors Affecting Stump Grinding Cost in Orange County

• Size – Professionals use the tree diameter to determine the stump size. On average, you should be prepared to pay $3 for every inch.
• Time – How long the project takes is dependent on the location of the stump and the tree type. You may need to pay $150 each hour.
• Quantity – The initial stump may require you to pay $150. Additional stumps may cost you $30 – $50 each.
• Root System – For the stump roots to be removed, you may have to part with $150 each hour.
• Cleanup and Mulch Removal – This cost is not constant. It is largely dependent on the cost of disposing of the waste and the value of the sawdust. Most property owners have to spend $2 per inch.

Making Stump Grinding a DIY Project – Renting a Grinder

You should expect to spend approximately $190 if you intend to rent a stump grinder. When compared to hiring professionals, this is slightly more affordable.

If you have decided to grind the stump yourself, you should follow all the local codes. Also, obtain the required permits beforehand. If there is a potential for property or underground utility damage, working with professionals is a much better idea.

Below, we have average prices for renting grinders from different stores:

• Sunbelt – You will have to pay $365 each day to access a 25hp grinder. Each week, you will spend $1400 on average.
• Herc Rentals – You can get 20 – 29hp grinders. Each day, you will have to pay $250. Each week, the cost will be $750 on average.
• United Rentals – 11hp – 14hp grinders are available. Per day, you will have to spend $300. Each week, the grinder will add $925 to your budget.
• Home Depot – You can pay $150 each day to access a 13hp grinder. Each week, you will pay $610.

Lowe’s, Menards, and Ace Hardware do not offer rental services.

The Stump Removal Cost to Expect When Removing the Stumps Without Grinding Them

Stump grinders and hiring professionals can be way out of your budget. If you are in this situation, you can opt to use the following options:

• Burning
• Stump digging
• Using Chemicals

Below, we expound on these solutions:

Burning

You should set aside approximately $6 to $100 to implement this solution. You will need a power drill and potassium nitrate. You can opt to rent a power drill if you do not own one. To save money, you can burn the stump using fire. Consult the fire department before you build the fire. Also, ensure that all necessary precautions are followed.

Chemical Rotting

If you are looking to avoid a lot of labor, this solution is ideal for you. You will need potassium nitrate and a power drill. The potassium nitrate may take a number of weeks before it makes the stump soft enough for the removal to be possible.

Manual Removal

If you are prepared to do a lot of work, this is the solution you should opt to try. The solution involves cutting through the roots as you dig to remove the stump. You should expect to pay an average of $38/hour for labor. Some of the tools you may need to invest in include shovels and axes.

Factors Affecting Stump Removal Cost in Orange County

Factors which influence stump removal cost in Orange County include:

• Location
• Size
• Root System
• Type of tree
• Cleanup

Below, we explain the effect these factors have on the stump removal cost.

Size

If the tree stump is huge, it will have a huge diameter. Bigger stumps often have more complicated root systems. This indicates that the bigger stumps will require you to spend more money on the stump removal. For the roots to be removed, you may have to spend about $100 to $200.

Geographic Location

The stump location will affect the removal in 2 major ways. We have explained these ways below:

1.    Market Costs

People who reside in urban centers often have to spend more money on stump removal compared to people who live in rural areas. The stump removal cost is raised by:

• Overhead
• Permitting
• Accessibility
• Insurance

If your property is in a remote rural area, you should still expect to spend a minimum of $100 on the stump removal.

2.    Travel Time

If you reside in Orange County and you use professionals who are based in Orange County, you will spend a minimum of $100. If you hire professionals based outside of where you reside, you will have to add the federal travel rate of $0.55/mile to your budget.

Tree Type

A high-quality stump grinder should have the ability to grind almost all trees at the same rate. This means that the tree stump shouldn’t have a lot of effect on the stump removal cost. However, if the tree service provider finds it more difficult to remove a particular type of tree stump, you may have to spend more money. The trunk and the roots of hardwood trees take more time to grind. Examples of hardwood trees include oak, hickory, birch, elm, and aspen. Thin, softwood trees require less time to grind.

The Root System

The average amount of money you should expect to spend on the root removal is $100 – $200. Commercial grinders may need special attachments for them to have the ability to remove roots. This adds both time and effort to the whole stump removal project.

Soil Condition

Rocky soil is capable of damaging the grinder blades. If the soil condition is not great, professionals may have to spend a significant amount of time prepping the area. In such a case, you may have to spend approximately 50% more money.

Most service providers will offer a price that reflects the soil condition. If you live in a rocky area, the stump removal professionals will have taken the soil condition into consideration when estimating the stump removal cost.

Preparation and Cleanup

It is often necessary to cut the remaining trunk to the ground before grinding can begin. In most instances, this is free. However, you may have to pay for it. You may need to pay $2 per diameter inch for the sawdust to be gotten rid of after the grinding.

Whole Tree Removal

You should expect to spend approximately $650 on the tree removal. This cost can be as high as $1,500. Stump removal is not part of the tree removal cost. If a partial trunk remains, you may have to spend $150 to $600 on its removal.

Reasons to Remove the Tree Stump

• They often turn into hazards when they get covered by grass and shrubs.
• They lower the curb appeal.
• They attract pests and unpleasant insects, including ants, beetles, and termites.
• If the sucker roots close to the surface support the growth of new sprouts, the sprout roots could destroy underground utilities.

Hiring Professionals Versus DIY

If you make the stump removal a DIY project, you will end up saving a maximum of $200. If you cannot remove the stump but you want to save yourself some cash, you can prepare the stump removal area for the professionals. You can do this by removing the overgrowth. This will reduce the stump removal time and also make the diameter much easier to measure.