Crane-Assisted Oak Removal Over a Residential Roof

A homeowner in Buckhead, Atlanta contacted Pelfrey after noticing significant lean in a 60-foot Southern red oak in their backyard. The tree was approximately 30 inches in diameter and leaned directly toward their two-story home, with major limbs extending over the roofline.

Our ISA-certified arborist's assessment revealed advanced heart rot in the main stem, detectable through sounding and confirmed by a resistograph drill test. The tree had lost approximately 40% of its structural wood to decay, making it a high-probability failure risk. The combination of the lean, the proximity to the home (8 feet from the trunk to the foundation), and the internal decay made this tree unacceptably dangerous.

Standard rigging-based removal was evaluated and rejected due to the decay -- the trunk could not safely support the dynamic loads of traditional rigging. Crane-assisted removal was the only safe option.

A 90-ton mobile crane was staged on the driveway with plywood mats protecting the surface. The crew placed roofing protection panels on the nearest section of the home's roof as a precaution.

The ISA-certified arborist directed the operation from the ground, coordinating between the climber, crane operator, and ground crew via radio. Each section was cut, attached to the crane's rigging, and lifted vertically away from the home before being set in the designated drop zone.

The tree was removed in 14 sections over approximately 4 hours. At no point did any section contact or swing toward the home. Ground protection mats distributed the crane's weight across the driveway and lawn edge.

After removal, the stump was ground 8 inches below grade, the hole was backfilled with clean topsoil, and the entire work area was raked and blown clean. The roofing protection panels were removed and the roof was inspected for any pre-existing or new damage (none found).