Crane Tree Removal in Birmingham, AL

A crane lets us take down a big tree over a house, or in a backyard that equipment can’t reach, by lifting it out in sections instead of dropping them. We use crane removals across Birmingham – especially on the steep, tight lots of Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills and Homewood, where there is nowhere for a limb to land.

When we use a crane

The tree leans over the house, the garage or the pool.
The tree is dead or storm-damaged and not safe to climb.
The backyard is fenced in, behind the house, or down a slope, with no way to get a truck to the tree.
A tree has fallen onto the roof and has to be lifted off, not dragged.
The tree is so big that taking it down by hand would take days.

How a crane removal works

The crane sets up on the street or the driveway, on pads that spread its weight. A climber ties a section of the tree to the crane’s line, cuts it free, and the operator lifts it over the house to the front, where the crew cuts it up and loads it out. Then the next piece. A 70-foot oak that would take a crew two days to lower by rope can often be out in a few hours.

Because nothing is dropped or dragged, there are no ruts in the lawn, no broken shrubs and no dented gutters. On sloped lots this matters even more – the yard stays the way it was.

Is a crane more expensive?

The crane itself costs money by the hour, but it shortens the job a lot. On big trees near structures, a crane removal often costs about the same as a long rope job – and it is safer for the crew and for your house. We will tell you at the estimate whether your tree needs one.

Crane removal questions

Will the crane damage my driveway or lawn?

The crane sits on outrigger pads that spread its weight, usually on the street or the driveway. We look at the surface before we set up and pick the spot that won’t be harmed.

Do I need a permit to put a crane on the street?

For a short job on a residential street usually not, but some cities want to know if a lane is blocked. We check that before the job.

Can a crane reach my backyard?

Usually yes – that is what it is for. The crane reaches over the house; the tree can be well behind it.

Do you use a crane for every big tree?

No. When there is room to lower pieces by rope or drop them, we don’t need one. A crane is for trees where it is the safer or faster way.

Reviews

What customers say about the work

4.9 · 58 Google reviews

He was able to come out quickly to cut down a large rotten tree in my backyard. I had a few quotes before settling on RJ and he had the best price and was the most friendly person we had come by. He’s very friendly and professional and did a wonderful job. 10/10 recommend, if I ever have another tree issue I’ll definitely call RJ and his team.

Francesca Bryant on Google

Wesley with RJ did a great job on short notice. Quickly removed a large tree that had fallen in a storm. Highly recommend.

Daven Hassell on Google

We recently had RJ's Tree Service clear our large yard, which was overrun with privet and other nuisance brush, and we couldn't be happier with their service. From the very beginning, Wesley and his team were incredibly attentive, carefully listening to our specific needs and offering expert advice to ensure the best outcome for our property.

Matthew Sensintaffar on Google