Tree Removal That Could Have Saved Our Kids’ Bedroom – A Connecticut Dad’s Real-Life Lesson
Hey, it’s Steve from CT Home Repair and Tutoring LLC.
Last week we finally pulled the trigger on removing an 80-foot oak that had been worrying me for years. It wasn’t just any tree—it was rotting from the inside out, with a hole at the base so big my youngest could have fallen in. And the kicker? Its main branches were hanging directly over our kids’ bedroom. One storm, one gust of wind, and… well, you get the picture.
This wasn’t a “nice to have” project. It was a “do it now or regret it forever” situation. I documented the whole thing so you can see what a big tree removal looks like up close in Connecticut—and what red flags to watch for in your own yard.
We got quotes from a few different companies within the Litchfield county area. All agreed the tree was hazardous: dead limbs, and branches overhanging the roof by 20+ feet. We went with the company who specialized in crane work.
They brought a 100-foot boom crane (the only way to safely remove branches over the house without risking a collapse). Rigged cables to the trunk and major limbs. This was the “wow” moment—watching that thing swing a 1,000-lb branch like it was nothing.
Climbers went up with chainsaws, sectioning limbs from the top down. Each piece got attached to the crane line and lowered gently to the ground. The main trunk was cut in 10-foot sections and chipped on-site. No damage to the house, no near-misses.
We still have the stump sticking up. Trying to determine the best approach on this stump. If you have any advice, please leave a comment!.
What I learned: Rot signs like peeling bark, cavities at the base, or leaning more than 15 degrees. Our hole was a dead giveaway. Overhang risk: Any branch within 10 feet of your roof is trouble—especially over bedrooms. Pro vs. DIY: This was a pro job. If you’re tempted to rent a chainsaw and ladder, don’t—liability and safety are no joke.
If you have a tree giving you that pit-in-your-stomach feeling, get 3 quotes this week. Better safe than $20,000 in roof repairs.
What’s the sketchiest tree in your yard right now? Drop it in the comments.
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Happy (and safe) building,
Steve of
CT Home Repair and Tutoring LLC
