There are many jobs around that house and yard that you can do yourself. But here and there, there are certain jobs around that house that are too big for one to accomplish. Tree care and cutting is one of those jobs. Taking care of trees requires one to work at a height that requires training and proper protection. Little Rock Tree service companies understand how to deal with the risky variables that go into tree care. However, hiring a tree service company does have its risks and you are going to want to protect yourself. The following is a list of eight questions that you will want to ask your tree service company before hiring them.
1. Will they provide a certificate insurance and a copy of their work contract that is up-to-date? In case of any problems, damage, accidents, or injuries, you will want to make sure that they are properly insured and you will not be on the hook for any damages.
2. What are their credentials? Companies will want to have a International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborist like Schmitt Tree Service does. You will also want to make sure the company employs a Certified Tree Care Safety Professional.
3. Can they provide a list of references? Ask for recent customer reviews, as any respectable company should be happy to share a list of satisfied customers they have worked with.
4. Will they give you a detailed estimate? Ask for an estimate from three companies so that you can compare the job and prices of each company.
5. How long will the project take? This ties into the previous question as one company will give you the same price as another company, but their job will take three days compared to three hours of the other company.
6. Do they use spikes to climb the trees while pruning? If the company is taking care of the tree to preserve it for the future, ask that they not use spikes as this causes unhealthy wounds in the tree.
7. Do they advertise “topping” (removing live sections from the top of the tree)? This severely damages and wounds the tree and is a very poor practice. If a company does this practice it is usually a sign that you should continue your search.
8. Will the crew be using hardhats and other personal protective equipment while on your property? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that companies wear protective equipment when undergoing any tree care operation.