Crane-Assisted Removal on the North Shore
Some trees can't be safely climbed or dropped - a massive oak hemmed in by the house and the neighbor's garage, a dead ash too brittle to rig, a split trunk leaning the wrong way. A crane lifts each cut section straight up and out over the roof to a drop zone, keeping weight off the structure and people out from under the load. It is the safest way to take down big, hazardous, or tightly-boxed trees, and while the crane adds cost, it often makes an otherwise impossible removal straightforward. These jobs are planned around the pick weights and the crane's setup and reach.
The number is driven far more by access and size than by the tree itself - how equipment reaches it, how close it stands to the house and power lines, and what has to be protected below. Every job is quoted in writing after a free on-site look.
When homeowners call us for this
- A dead, dying, or storm-damaged tree near the house
- Standing dead ash killed by the emerald ash borer
- A tree or heavy limb leaning over the roof, drive, or lines
- Cracked unions, hollow trunks, or heaving roots
- Limbs down after a storm off the lake
- Clearing a tree before a build, addition, or new bed
How the work goes
- 1Free on-site estimate
A crew lead walks the property, looks at each tree's size, lean, and condition, and checks how equipment can reach it - then gives an honest price in writing. No charge, no pressure.
- 2A plan before the first cut
Larger and hazardous trees are planned around the rigging, the reach, and what stands below. Where a tree is too big or too tight to drop, a crane lifts sections out over the house.
- 3Careful removal or trimming
Licensed, insured crews rig and lower limbs over structures, protect lawns and beds, and run bigger jobs under an experienced climber - not guesswork.
- 4Full cleanup & haul-away
Brush is chipped, wood is hauled or stacked for firewood, stumps ground on request, and the yard is raked down before the crew leaves.
Why choose us for this work
- · Every job walked and quoted in writing before a cut.
- · Careful rigging and crane work around houses and power lines.
- · Licensed, insured, COI on request for any HOA or property manager.
- · Honest assessments - if a tree just needs pruning, that's what you'll hear.
- · Full cleanup and haul-away, yard left clean.
Towns we serve
Frequently asked questions
How much does tree removal cost on the North Shore?
Most single-tree removals run about $1,500-$8,000, driven far more by access than by species. A large oak or elm over a house, tight to power lines, or reachable only from the front yard costs well more than the same tree in an open backyard. Very large or crane-assisted removals can reach $15,000-$20,000. Every job is quoted in writing after an on-site look - the size, lean, and how equipment can reach the tree are what set the number.
Do you handle emergency storm damage?
Yes. A 24/7 line covers trees or large limbs down on a house, a car, a driveway, or power lines after a storm off the lake. Hazards that threaten the home or block access are prioritized. When a limb is tangled in live utility lines, the power company is called first - that wire is theirs to clear.
What is going on with all the dead ash trees?
The emerald ash borer has killed a large share of Illinois ash trees over the past decade, and the North Shore's parkway and yard ash have been hit hard. A dead ash gets brittle fast and drops limbs without warning, so standing dead ash near a house or driveway is worth removing before it fails on its own. Dead ash removal is quoted the same way as any other tree - by size and access.
Will removal damage my lawn or garden beds?
The crew plans equipment paths to protect turf, beds, and hardscape, and uses plywood or mats under heavier machines on soft ground. On tight lots a crane can lift wood straight out over the house instead of dragging it across the yard. Any spot that does get disturbed is raked out before the crew leaves.
Do you grind the stump too?
Stump grinding is a separate line item, typically $150-$800 depending on the stump's diameter and how many you need done. It can be bundled with a removal or booked on its own. Grindings are raked back into the hole or hauled off, whichever you prefer.
What areas do you serve?
The Chicago North Shore and northwest suburbs across Cook and Lake counties - from Wilmette, Winnetka, and Highland Park to Northbrook, Glenview, Arlington Heights, and Des Plaines.
Crane-Assisted Removal - Service Areas
Evanston is the North Shore's largest and most tree-dense city, where mature canopy stands close to homes on t...
Winnetka is a lakefront village of estate lots and towering old oaks and maples. Large-tree removals, structur...
Wilmette is an established lakefront suburb with a heavy parkway and yard canopy close to the water. Removals ...
Kenilworth is a small, historic lakefront village of specimen trees on manicured estate lots. Nearly every job...
Glencoe is an affluent lakefront village of wooded lots and heavy mature canopy. Large-tree removals near subs...
Highland Park is a wooded lakefront city of ravines, bluffs, and heavy oak canopy. Access-driven removals, dea...