Hazardous trees
Dead, dying, damaged or compromised trees that threaten homes, outbuildings, fences, roads, animals or active areas.
Rural properties · acreages · farms · difficult access
Hazardous and technical tree removal.
Danger trees are our kind of work: climbing, rigging and skilled felling for dead, unstable, oversized, storm-damaged or fire-affected trees around rural homes, outbuildings, livestock areas and access routes.
- WTA Level 3 Faller
- WCB 11119443
- $5M liability insurance
- Bronwyn Taylor · Owner
The right plan for the tree
Removal is simple. Control is the work.
A tree does not need to be enormous to create a high-consequence job.
Decay, lean, storm damage, overhead utilities, fences, septic systems, buildings, livestock areas and limited access can all change how a tree should come down. We assess the tree and its surroundings first, then select the safest practical method—direct felling when the drop zone allows it, or climbing and sectional dismantling where it does not.
Climbing & rigging
Rope-access removal and controlled lowering when branches or trunk sections cannot safely be allowed to fall freely.
Precision felling
Skilled ground-based felling for trees with an appropriate drop zone, planned around lean, defects, wind and targets.
Constrained access
Low-impact methods for acreages, backyards and sites where bucket trucks or heavy machinery cannot reasonably reach.
Storm & fire damage
Assessment and removal of storm-damaged, burnt or newly unstable trees, scheduled according to urgency, conditions and crew safety.
Multi-tree projects
Planned removal for acreages, commercial property, farm sites and larger stands, with day-rate felling available where the site and drop zones allow it.
How the work is planned
The method follows the hazards.
We do not force every project into the same equipment package. A sound plan accounts for the tree, targets, access, weather, work zone and what the property should look like when the crew leaves.
- In-person assessmentTree condition, targets, access and cleanup needs are reviewed on site. Estimates are free within our regular 250 km service area.
- Defined written quoteThe proposed work and material-handling scope are written down before scheduling.
- Site-specific executionThe crew establishes the work zone and uses the method selected for the conditions.
- Orderly handoffThe agreed cleanup is completed and the invoice follows the work.
Cleanup options
Decide what stays and what goes.
Material handling is scoped to the property, your budget and what you want to keep.
Depending on access and the quote, logs can be bucked and stacked, branches and other material can be staged on site, or the material can be removed. Raise any preferred firewood lengths or staging areas during the assessment so the final scope is clear.
Large-area day rates
Where suitable properties have safe drop zones for efficient ground-based work, larger felling projects may be quoted by crew day rate rather than pricing every tree individually. Site conditions and safety determine whether that model fits.
Clear service boundaries
Selective trimming and deadwood removal are available as an add-on to removal work; we do not offer standalone trimming. Stump grinding and forestry mulching can be coordinated through trusted subcontractors when the project requires them. ISA Certified Arborists are engaged when formal arboricultural assessment or documentation is required.
Tree owner education
Do you need an ISA Certified Arborist?
Match the expertise to the work.
Tree-health advice, formal risk assessment and hands-on removal are different services. Qualifications can overlap: an ISA Certified Arborist may also be an experienced faller or climber. What matters is the knowledge, practical skills and equipment your particular job requires.
When arboricultural expertise matters
An ISA Certified Arborist is a useful starting point when you want to preserve a tree, investigate poor health or plan its long-term care. Look for experience relevant to your concern.
- Diagnosing disease, pests, decline or root problems.
- Planning pruning, structural support or care for a tree you want to retain.
- Protecting retained trees around construction or excavation.
- Deciding whether an uncertain tree should be retained or removed.
- Providing an arborist report or credential specified by a municipality, insurer or project.
For a formal tree-risk assessment, ask about relevant risk-assessment training, such as ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ). TRAQ is a separate qualification.
When a qualified faller may be enough
Where removal is appropriate, the site allows ground-based felling and no specialist report or particular credential is required, a trained, experienced faller may be the right professional for the job.
- Rural removals with a suitable drop zone and manageable site hazards.
- Approved multi-tree removal scopes on acreages or farms.
- Ground-based work where the operator's training and experience match the trees and conditions.
Every removal still needs a site-specific hazard assessment and work plan. Decay, storm damage, buildings, utilities or limited space can call for additional assessment, specialist equipment or a crew with verified climbing and rigging skills.
Certification is not hands-on training
ISA Certified Arborist certification is not a hands-on chainsaw, felling, climbing or rigging course. Earning this credential does not itself provide practical instruction in those skills. Hands-on training and field experience must be assessed separately.
Candidates need relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience, and must pass a knowledge exam. That exam includes questions about chainsaw safety, cutting techniques and felling strategy, but it does not include a practical chainsaw or felling test. Ask who will carry out your removal, what practical training they have and what comparable work they have completed. ISA's separate Certified Tree Climber credential includes a skills component; it is a different credential.
Where you may save money
A suitable removal may not need a separate tree-health consultation or formal written report. Keeping the scope to the services actually required can avoid an extra professional-service fee.
ISA certification alone does not determine the price. Access, hazards, removal method, equipment and cleanup affect the quote. Compare the same scope, and keep any assessment or specialist involvement the job needs.
How Rafter Seven approaches it
Our field work is led by a WTA Level 3 Faller with former BC Wildfire danger-tree experience. WTA chainsaw training includes hands-on work in saw handling, limbing, bucking and felling. We engage ISA Certified Arborists when formal arboricultural assessment or documentation is required.
Tell us whether you want to retain a tree, understand a concern or arrange removal. We can discuss the appropriate scope during your on-site estimate. Request a free local estimate →
Read the credential and training requirements directly:
“Using pulleys and careful planning, he threaded the needle without damage to anything.”
Lauren Corscadden · Facebook recommendation
Common questions
Before you book.
Do you remove trees during winter?
Yes. Reduced winter rates are available for eligible felling projects when the work can be completed safely from the ground. We do not perform climbing work when trees are frozen. Weather, access, tree condition and crew safety always determine whether work proceeds.
Are estimates free?
Yes. On-site estimates are free within our regular service area, approximately 250 km from Spruce Grove. Larger projects outside that area are considered case by case.
Can you quote a tree from a photo?
No. Photos and the property location help us understand the request, but a dependable quote follows an in-person assessment of the tree, access, targets and material-handling scope.
Do you work near homes and outbuildings?
Yes. Constrained sites are a core part of our work. The assessment determines whether the tree can be felled directly or should be climbed and dismantled in sections.
Do you grind stumps?
Stump grinding is available through trusted subcontractors and can be coordinated within a larger removal project.
How far do you travel?
Our regular service area includes communities, counties and rural properties within approximately 250 km of Spruce Grove. Larger, specialized or multi-day projects may be considered elsewhere in Alberta.
Tell us what concerns you
Request a tree removal estimate.
Send the property location, a short description and photos if you have them. On-site estimates are free within our regular 250 km service area.