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Storm Damaged Tree Removal
in Columbia, SC
After a storm passes through Columbia, a lot of trees look like they survived until you get close. Split trunks, hanging limbs, and half-uprooted trees are all still dangerous. A limb that is cracked but attached is called a widow-maker for a reason, and the weight of the next rain can be enough to drop it.
Quick Answer
Columbia gets hit with strong thunderstorms and the occasional hurricane remnant every year, and those storms snap limbs and split trunks. A hanging or partially fallen tree is unstable and can come down with no warning. The damaged sections need to come down in a controlled way before the next rain adds weight. Do not wait on this one.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Large limbs hanging at an angle but still attached to the tree
- The trunk is split partway down from the top
- The root ball has lifted on one side and you can see exposed roots
- The tree is leaning noticeably more than it was before the storm
- Bark is stripped away on one side from wind or a struck object
- Smaller broken branches caught in the canopy above waiting to fall
Root Causes
What Causes Storm Damaged Tree Removal?
High Wind Trunk Split
The straight-line winds that come ahead of Columbia's summer thunderstorms regularly hit 50 to 60 miles per hour. Trees with two or more main trunks growing close together are especially vulnerable because the wind forces the trunks apart and splits the wood at the joint.
The Fix
Emergency Tree Removal
A split trunk cannot be repaired with cables or bolts in most cases. We remove both sections from the top down to keep weight off the split while we work, then clear the debris.
Saturated Root Zone Failure
When Columbia gets several inches of rain in a short period, the clay soil turns to something close to mud. A tree that would stay upright in dry ground can topple because the wet clay no longer holds the roots in place, even if the tree itself is healthy.
The Fix
Uprooted Tree Removal and Root Zone Cleanup
A tipped tree has to come out completely, including the root ball, or the hole it leaves becomes a hazard. We cut the canopy down first to reduce the weight before pulling the root mass.
Pre-Existing Decay Exposed By Storm
A lot of trees in older Columbia neighborhoods like Shandon and Elmwood Park have internal decay that was not visible before a storm hit. The storm does not cause the damage so much as it reveals it, and the remaining wood structure is too weak to leave standing.
The Fix
Hazard Tree Assessment and Removal
We probe the wood and check the root flare to figure out how much sound wood is left. If less than a third of the cross-section is solid, the tree comes down.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | High Wind Trunk Split | Saturated Root Zone Failure | Pre-Existing Decay Exposed By Storm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean wood visible at a trunk split with no signs of rot or discoloration | |||
| Tree leaning with soil mounding up on the windward side | |||
| Hollow sound when the broken area is knocked on before the storm hit | |||
| Tree fell with the root ball intact and roots are white and healthy | |||
| Soft punky wood visible at the break point with dark staining |
Free Inspection
Get a Diagnosis in Columbia
An on-site inspection is the only way to confirm which cause applies to your property. Free, no obligation.
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Serving Columbia & surrounding areas
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