What Factors Contribute to the Price for Stump Grinding?
Many customers often ask me:
“How much do you charge for stump grinding?”
The honest answer is, it depends. No two jobs are alike. Several factors play into the cost of stump grinding (including, but not limited to):
1.) How big the stump is. Please see the post entitled “How to Measure a Stump” for more details.
2.) Where the job is located.
3.) Does the stump need to be cut down, or is it low to the ground? Cutting the stump close to the ground before your contractor comes to grind can save a customer money.
4.) If there is a mound of dirt around the stump, or if the surrounding area is on grade with the rest of the yard. Grinding out a mound takes extra time, and dirt dulls out teeth faster.
5.) What is the access like? Is it fenced in with limited access, or wide open?
6.) Are there unseen obstacles (such as underground utilities) near the grinding area which necessitate the need for locates? Your stump grinding professional should call in their own locates, not the customer.
7.) Are there any other visible hazards around the stump such as rocks, metal/fencing, or hardscapes? A customer can save themselves money if they remove these hazards before they have a stump removed.
While this list is not all encompassing, it is some of the factors that must be considered when receiving a quote for stump grinding services.
How to Measure a Stump
When it comes to measuring a stump, many people believe that you measure at the top of the cut. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. As stumps get closer to the ground, and even go into the ground, they flair out. When measuring your stump, you have to measure from the widest point at ground level. Remember, what you see at ground level isn’t as large as the proper grinding area of the stump, as the flair continues under the soil.
Why Should I Remove a Stump?
There are many reasons and benefits to removing a stump. Besides being an eyesore on your property, stumps can cause a variety of issues:
1.) Damage to lawn mower or other pieces of equipment.
2.) Safety concerns as stumps can provide tripping hazards for people and pets.
3.) Pests (including termites, ants, rodents, or other wildlife) like to make their homes in old stumps.
4.) Ecosystem health can be effected by unwanted stumps that absorb water and nutrients from other plants.
5.) Structural damage can occur to remaining stumps that are close to foundations, costing thousands of dollars in structural repairs.
6.) Diseases caused by fungi and mold on stumps could spread to other plants or wildlife.
Stump grinding is the number 1 way to safely and effectively remove unwanted stumps to prevent a whole host of issues (above). Stump grinding is less invasive than excavation. Removing stumps via grinding prevents regrowth. Finally, stump grinding provides a quick way to reshape your yard for either aesthetics or other projects.