Safe Tree Removal Next to a House, Sectional Felling Step by Step

Safe Tree Removal Next to a House

The most common call we get concerns trees standing "too close to the house". Two metres from the facade, canopy over the roof, branches in the gutters. The question is always the same: can it be felled safely? The answer is almost always yes, but the way it is done is decisive.

It is almost never about ground felling. It is about sectional felling, a method where the tree is taken down in pieces from above, each section controlled with rope and lowered to the ground without hitting anything.

Here is exactly how it works and what to ask before booking.

Ground felling vs sectional felling

Ground felling (when possible)

The tree is felled whole in a determined direction through a controlled hinge cut. Fastest, cheapest, requires free fall area at least 1.5 times tree height in the fell direction.

Works when:

• There is ample open space
• No houses, lines or other valuables in the fall area
• The tree is healthy with clear fell direction

Does not work when:

• The tree stands within tree height of house or property
• There are lines in the area
• The tree is partly hollow or has weak branching

Sectional felling (when ground felling is not possible)

The tree is taken down in sections from above. Climber goes up, cuts branches and trunk parts in pieces, each piece is lowered under control on rope. Safest and necessary in densely built areas.

Works when:

• Ground felling is not possible
• The tree is healthy enough to climb
• There is room for ground crew to handle lowered sections

Sectional felling step by step

Here is how we take down a tree by a house, the example is a 14 metre lime two metres from the facade:

1. Safety walk-through and planning (15-30 minutes)

Before the chainsaw starts:

• Assess the tree's structure, lean tendency, dead wood
• Identify which buildings and areas must be protected
• Plan climbing route up the tree
• Set up cordoning and mark work zone
• Check wind direction and possible line de-energising
• Communicate plan with ground crew and customer

2. Climbing up (15-30 minutes)

The climber uses SS-EN 1891 climbing rope and always has dual anchor points:

• Main harness with climbing rope to an anchor in the crown
• Backup rope to another anchor point
• Fall-arrest harness if something should go wrong

Standard is never to be tied to only one point. If a branch breaks, the other must hold.

3. Rigging of sections (ongoing)

For each section to come down:

• Rope-lowering system is attached to the section
• Ground crew checks that rope is clear and blocks function
• Climber gives a signal before cutting begins
• Cut is made from above (opposite to ground felling where cut is from below)
• The section is lowered under control, never in free fall

4. Ground handling (ongoing)

Ground crew works outside the fall zone:

• Receives lowered sections
• Bucks to handleable size
• Chips branches or stacks as firewood
• Monitors safety zone

5. Trunk felling (last step)

When the entire crown is down, the trunk remains. The last part is usually felled:

• In sections if space is still limited
• As ground felling if the crown is gone and there is now free fall

6. Stump and cleanup

• Stump is bucked to suitable height
• Stump grinding as needed, 15-25 cm below grade
• The lot is fully cleaned, no chips or shavings left

Safety rules we follow

Climbing standard

All climbing follows SS-EN 1891 standard for climbing rope and SS-EN 813 for the harness. Ropes are visually checked at every workday, replaced annually regardless of condition.

Dual anchor points

The climber is always tied to two independent points. If one fails, the other must hold. No exceptions, not even for "a quick cut".

Two people minimum

We never do sectional felling without ground crew. The climber cannot personally handle lowered sections and maintain crown safety at the same time. Two is minimum, three for large trees.

Cordoning

The work area is cordoned with plastic tape and signs. Ground crew stops traffic and passers-by as needed.

Notification to grid operator

When working within 4 metres of a power line, we always notify the grid operator first. E.ON and Kraftringen offer free safety service in Skåne, often the line can be temporarily de-energised.

Plan B

For each section: what do we do if it behaves unexpectedly? The climber prepares reactions to broken branches, twisting limbs, rope slack. Never "we will see".

Insurance and liability

What happens if something is damaged despite all caution?

• Our liability insurance covers damage to your property (house, windows, gutters, paving)
• Our liability insurance also covers damage to neighbour property if we caused it
• Our staff insurance covers our employees if injured at work
• F-tax means we are fully self-employed, you are in no role toward Skatteverket

You as customer bear no risk if we have the right insurance and F-tax.

Six questions to ask before booking

Before accepting a quote, ask the company:

1. Do you have F-tax and valid liability insurance? (Ask for a copy)
2. Which climbing standard do you follow? (Should be SS-EN 1891)
3. How many people on site? (Minimum two)
4. What is plan B if a section behaves unexpectedly? (Specific answer, not "we will see")
5. Is the quote fixed-price with RUT included? (Both should be yes)
6. Do you handle haul-away, chipping and cleanup? (Should be included)

Vague or doubtful answers, hire someone else. Tree work next to a house is not a place for cheap shortcuts.

When we refer to specialist arborists

Some cases are beyond what we take on ourselves. Then we partner with ETW-certified arborists (European Tree Worker, international standard):

• Trees above 25 metres
• Trees with high dead-wood proportion (climbing risky)
• Protected species with specific work-method requirements
• Complex rigging situations (over large lines, viaducts, etc)

We are honest about what we take and what we recommend specialists for. It is a quality marker, not a weakness.

Book inspection for safe felling

Call +46 73 949 06 24 or write via the contact page. We come out, assess safety, plan rigging, and provide a fixed-price quote promptly. Read more about our full tree removal service, what tree removal costs in 2026 or storm tree removal.