Cuttin' Down Trees
We have a tree in our yard, and it has chosen to be inconvenient in three ways. First and foremost, it has chosen to die. Second, it has, before dying, chosen to grow to such a size and in such a location that there is no direction it can be dropped where it will not land on or in somebody's house. And third, it has chosen to grow where useful equipment (such as a truck with a cherry picker) cannot reach it.
Quoted price for removal: $2100. Oh, and even though they are insured, they are disclaiming any responsibility for damage to our house. Or our neighbors. They gave us this big flyer, saying, only hire insured people! What's the point of hiring somebody who is insured if the responsibility for damage still falls on me? Screw this, we're gonna look at taking that puppy down ourselves. Of course, this means me weilding a chainsaw. I will miss my appendages... Anyway, we figure we can take off some branches with a rope saw, then climb up and take it down in sections.
Anybody ever done any of this stuff before? I know that I need to notch before cutting to make sure the tree falls in the direction I expect it to, and that I can use ropes to control how things fall. But it's all theory; I could use some help or advice from anyone that's done it in practice.