Stump-And-Grind Before You Hire A Grinder
Tips and questions before you hire any grinder or tree service.
1. Are they insured and can they prove it?
2. Have you seen any of their prior work?
3. How did you hear about them, or locate the company?
4. NEVER pay for the job before it is complete. (you would be surprised on how many fly by night crooks will take your money and run, we have been called many times to come finish a job, or correct it)
5. If your stump is more than 10-12 inches high for the final cut then you were taken by the tree company. (few grinders can grind over 12" high in this area. We certainly can as you can see in the before and afters. It does increase the cost some and makes a huge pile of grindings left behind)
6. One thing to know is that different companies charge for this service based on different criteria. For example:
•By the Diameter of the Stump – The average price per diameter is $3 per inch, and most companies charge a minimum of $100. If you have multiple stumps to grind, you should figure out the average diameter of the bunch, multiply it by the number of stumps and then multiply that by the amount that is charged per inch. For example, if you have 50 stumps to grind and the average diameter is 10 inches, you have 500 inches to grind. If the company charges $3 per inch, your total bill will be $1,500.
•By the Hour – Companies only charge for stump grinding by the hour if they are clearing large expanses of land that have dozens or hundreds of stumps. The average price per hour for this type of service, which is handled by a huge, heavy-duty stump grinder, is about $150. Very few homeowners ever need to avail themselves of this type of stump grinding service.
•By the Stump – This is probably the most common way in which companies charge for stump grinding services. To arrive at the total stump grinding cost, you just need to know how many stumps need to be handled. In most cases, the company will charge around $100-$200 for the first stump and a discounted rate for each additional stump. They might also charge a flat rate of $500 for 10 stumps and $25 to $30 for each additional stump. (we charge by the inch but give multi-stump, contractor, realtor, friends & family, senior, military discounts)
7. Can I do it myself? Absolutely, there are lots of rental places that rent grinders. (If you like taking matters into your own hands, you might want to rent a stump grinder and remove that stump yourself. Before attempting to do so though, keep a few things in mind. For one, the stump grinder you rent probably won’t be powerful enough to handle one that’s too large. Rental stump grinders work best for old, very rotted stumps and stumps that are extremely small, because they are not maintained daily. They don’t grind very far below grade either, so the end result may not be quite what you’d expected. You will realize hiring a professional would of been much easier and less dangerous as these machines have no mercy.
As far as stump grinder rental cost goes, you can expect to pay between $75 and $150 to rent it for half a day. If you need it for a whole day, you’ll pay between $250 and $400. Is it worth it? That depends on how much the professional stump grinding companies in your area typically charge. Sunbelt Rentals allows you to enter in your zip code to see stump grinder equipment rates at one of their 450 locations nearest to you)
8. Just give me a basic pricing break down.
Average cost for hiring = $100-$600+
Average price range for diy/renting = $75 to $400+
9. What's the number one most annoying question you can ask a stump grinder? (How much do you charge for grinding a stump over the phone. It is equivalent to someone asking how much to paint your entire house inside and out but without seeing your house, or the condition it is in. This is why we advertise FREE estimates, and have a place on our website form for consent to enter the property)
10. The cheapest is not always your best option. (we strive to have competitive rates, and work with you the best we can. However we are best and most experienced in the trade of percision grinding. So you might get a cheaper bid. You might hire them and end up with chipped a sidewalk. We only negotiate against other insured companies pricing that can be proven. Uninsured grinders or fly by nights; You can call us afterwards to come finish or correct their grind.)
