South Hill, Spokane · Ponderosa pine

Ponderosa Pine Removed Piece-by-Piece Over a South Hill Roofline

Climber ascending a tall ponderosa pine over a Spokane roofline — Climbing past the roofline to set rigging

Climber rigging a limb above a house on Spokane's South Hill — Every limb over the roof was tied in first

The hazard: Heavy one-sided crown loaded directly over the house, with deadwood in the upper third that had already dropped limbs onto the roof.
What was at risk: Main roof, gutters, and a fenced side yard — no drop zone on the house side.
Access constraints: Narrow side yard, fence on one property line, no crane access to the back of the lot. Everything had to come out through a gate by hand.
How we did it: Climbed and dismantled from the top down. Every limb over the roof was tied in and let down on a rope under tension rather than dropped, then the stem was taken in short blocks with a lowering device at the base.
Result: Tree removed with no contact on the roof, no fence damage, and the lawn raked out the same day. Wood cut to rounds and hauled.

What this means if you have the same problem

If there is no drop zone on the house side, the job is a rigging job, not a felling job. Any quote that assumes limbs can simply be dropped is quoting a different job than the one your property needs.