When a tree comes down on a house, it’s hard to think straight. Here’s the order to do things in, so the important parts happen first.
The first ten minutes
- Get people out from under it. Hung-up limbs fall without warning, and a damaged roof can move.
- Keep away from power lines. If the tree or a limb is touching one, keep everyone back and call the power company first. The line has to be de-energized before anyone works near it.
- Don’t try to cut it yourself. Storm-damaged wood is loaded like a spring.
- Take photos if it’s safe to. Your insurer will want them, and they’re easier to get before we start than after.
Stay out from under it. Hung-up limbs fall without warning.
Call us, any hour
Our emergency line is answered at two in the morning the same as two in the afternoon. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a tonight job or a tomorrow job, and you’ll know the cost before we start.
For a genuine emergency we come as fast as we can safely travel. After a widespread storm everyone in the county calls at once, so we work by danger, and we’ll be straight with you about timing rather than promising something we can’t do. If the tree is on a power line, call us as well and we’ll coordinate with the power company.
Tree on the house right now?24/7 emergency line. Night, weekend or storm.
Call 540-871-8338Insurance
Will your homeowner’s insurance cover it? Often, when a tree has hit a structure. Coverage for a tree that simply fell in the yard varies a lot between policies.
- Call your insurer.
- Take photos.
- Keep the invoice.
Tell us it’s an insurance claim and we’ll give you whatever documentation you need. We can’t tell you what your policy covers, though. That’s a question for your insurer.
Make it safe tonight, clean up in daylight
Often the right call is to get the tree off the roof tonight and finish later. Making it safe and stopping further damage is the urgent part. The cleanup can happen in daylight.
Night, weekend and storm work is harder and more dangerous, and it’s priced accordingly. You’ll be told the cost before we start, the same as any other job. More on how it works on our emergency tree service page.
Before the next storm
Most of the trees that come down on houses gave some warning: dead limbs over the roof, a split fork, a lean that got worse. Ice season runs December through February around here, and it’s the time to deal with them. Here’s what to check before ice season.
Frequently asked questions
Does emergency work cost more?
Night, weekend and storm work is harder and more dangerous, and it’s priced accordingly. You’ll be told the cost before we start, the same as any other job.
Will my homeowner’s insurance cover it?
Often, when a tree has hit a structure. Coverage for a tree that simply fell in the yard varies a lot between policies. Call your insurer, take photos, and keep the invoice. We’ll give you whatever documentation you need, but we can’t tell you what your policy covers.
The tree is on the power line. What do I do?
Call the power company first and keep everyone away. The utility has to de-energize the line before anyone works near it. Call us as well and we’ll coordinate.
Can you just get it off my roof tonight and finish later?
Yes, and that’s often the right call. Making it safe and stopping further damage is the urgent part. The cleanup can happen in daylight.
Do you cover Lynchburg?
Yes. Lynchburg, Lynch Station, Forest and the rest of Campbell, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties.
