Why is Stump Grinding So Expensive?

Stump grinding can be an expensive process depending on factors such as type of tree and size of stump. Learn more about what influences costs for professional stump grinding services.

Why is Stump Grinding So Expensive?

Stump grinding can be an expensive process, depending on the type of tree and the size of the stump. Softwood trees such as palm trees, cedars, cypresses and pines are relatively easy to grind, while hardwood trees like oak, maple, birch and walnut are more difficult and require more time. If you hire a professional with a commercial grinder, it is usually the most expensive option. There are alternatives, such as using a chemical solution, burning it or digging it up.

Some professionals extract small stumps by hand, but larger stumps have roots too big to be a viable option. Often, when there is a large stump and several small stumps, professionals will only charge for grinding the large stump and grind the small stumps for free. If you clean the area around the stump of rocks and debris, you can help your contractor save time and money. The stump grinding service can remove debris with a fee, but you can reduce costs by doing the work yourself.

These national averages should help you estimate how much it will cost to grind your tree stump. If you are trying to grind or remove a tree stump by hand, you should contact your local government to understand what is needed. If your stumps are dense hardwoods and the hired professional charges by the hour, costs will increase if the difficult stump type increases working time. You can save some money by renting some of the equipment and buying the rest, or if you just need to remove some trees and don't foresee the need to remove stumps in the future, it's cheaper to hire a tree stump removal service. Do-it-yourself stump removal methods include manual digging, while professionals have special equipment for pulling the stump out of the ground.

Shredding stumps and generally everything that involves trees is risky, meaning damage can occur Professional stump removal services that offer tree removal may charge an additional fee for stump removal because the job requires different equipment and often needs to be performed by a subcontractor. To save on total costs, it is better to do the preparation work yourself so that experts are left alone with the grinding of stumps. With this information in mind, you should have a pretty good idea of how much it will cost to shred the stumps on your property, which will make it easier to find the best deal. A yard looks neglected and unkempt with stumps left in place, especially if those stumps grow shoots or harbor weeds and fungi.