Frequently asked questions
Prices, permits, insurance, lake lots, power lines, wood, stumps — the questions Concord homeowners ask before they hire a tree company.
How quickly can you come out for an estimate?
Usually within a day anywhere in Cabarrus County, and often the same day in Concord, Kannapolis and Harrisburg. After a county-wide storm, estimates for non-emergency work are scheduled behind the make-safe calls.
Are estimates really free?
Yes. On-site estimates are free, in writing, and good for 30 days. A written arborist assessment with a report is $150 to $300, credited against any work you book.
Do you need a permit to remove a tree in Concord?
For a tree in the yard of an existing single-family home, in our experience, no — the city's rules cover development (Article 11) and public trees (Chapter 50). Right-of-way trees, plat-required buffer trees, HOA rules and the historic district are the exceptions, and we check all four before we cut.
Are you licensed?
North Carolina doesn't license tree services statewide. What matters is insurance: general liability and workers' compensation written for tree work. We send our certificate before we start, and you should demand the same from anyone else.
Do you have an arborist?
Yes — an ISA Certified Arborist assesses the hard calls, designs pruning and cabling, and writes the reports insurers and HOAs ask for.
What areas do you cover?
All of Cabarrus County — Concord, Kannapolis, Harrisburg, Mount Pleasant, Midland, Locust — plus Huntersville, Cornelius, Davidson, Mooresville and northeast Charlotte. See the service area.
Do you work on Lake Norman lots?
Yes, inside Duke Energy's shoreline buffer rules: tiered cutting limits within 50 feet of full pond, dead and hazard trees allowed, native replacement for removed trees over 3 inches. We won't cut what the rules don't allow — it's your dock permit at stake.
Will you trim near the power lines?
The service drop to your house, yes. The primary lines along the street are Concord Electric Systems' or Duke Energy's — no private crew should be inside ten feet of an energized conductor. We'll tell you who to call.
How much does tree removal cost?
$300 to $750 for small trees and Bradford pears, $700 to $1,600 for medium trees with room to drop, $1,700 to $4,200 for large oaks and poplars near the house, and $2,800 to $7,500 with a crane. Full breakdown in the cost guide.
Do you grind the stump?
On request, priced by the inch — usually $100 to $500 per stump. It's on the estimate as a separate line so you can decide.
What do you do with the wood and brush?
Brush is chipped on site and hauled; trunks go on the log truck. If you want firewood rounds or a pile of chips for the beds, say so and we'll leave them.
Do you offer financing?
Yes, for larger jobs — see insurance & financing. Most jobs are paid on completion by card, check or bank transfer; no deposit is due until the price is approved and the work scheduled.
Can you help with an insurance claim?
We photograph everything before we start, itemize the invoice the way adjusters want it, and provide an arborist's statement of the cause of failure when it helps. We don't take assignments of benefits.
Do you top trees?
No. Topping makes trees more dangerous within a few years, not less. We reduce crowns properly to lateral branches when a tree has outgrown its space, or we talk honestly about removal.
Do you work in the historic district?
Yes — a lot of the best oaks in Concord are there. We check with the city about Certificate of Appropriateness requirements before any major removal on a historic-district lot, and we're careful about equipment on those small lots.
Do you answer the phone at night?
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Emergency crews roll any hour for trees on structures, blocked driveways and hangers over walkways.