A crane doesn't replace a climber — it gives the climber a hook. Our climber goes up, cuts a section, and the crane lifts it straight up and over the house to the landing zone in the street or driveway, where the ground crew bucks and chips it. No pieces swinging over the roof on ropes, no drag marks across the lawn, no stacking brush in the neighbor's yard.
In Concord that's the right call for old water oaks and willow oaks in the historic district streets where houses sit close, for the tall pines behind Highland Creek and Skybrook homes with no rear access, and for anything already on a roof after a storm. Cranes cost more per hour than a bucket truck, but a job that would take three days of rigging often finishes in one, so the total is frequently about the same — and the roof never gets touched.
What's included
Crane sizing
A 30- to 60-ton crane matched to the reach — over a one-story ranch from the street, or over a two-story with a long pick.
Pick plan
Every section's weight estimated before the cut. Oak is heavy; a 12-foot trunk section can be two tons.
Street & driveway setup
Outrigger mats on your driveway or the street; we handle any temporary street-use paperwork with the city.
Certified climber
Sections cut and rigged to the hook by an experienced climber, not dropped free.
Ground crew
Pieces landed, bucked and chipped as they come down so the street is clear the same day.
Full cleanup
Trunk hauled on the log truck, chips gone, lawn raked, mats out, driveway blown.
Crane tree removal cost in Concord, NC
| Job | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crane-assisted removal, large tree over a one-story home | $2,800 – $5,000 | Half-day crane, ranch houses |
| Crane removal, two-story or long reach | $4,000 – $7,500 | Full-day crane |
| Storm-damaged tree lifted off a roof | $2,500 – $6,500 | Insurance documentation included |
| Multiple trees, one crane setup | Ask | Cheapest per tree — share the crane day with a neighbor |
| Stump grinding after crane removal | $3 – $5 per inch | Diameter at the ground |
These are 2026 Cabarrus County ranges so you can budget. Your written price is itemized — removal, rigging or crane, hauling, stump grinding, any paperwork — and good for 30 days.
Recent work
Questions we get about crane tree removal
Is a crane more expensive than a regular removal?
Per hour, yes. Per job, often not. A big oak over the house that would take a climber three days to rig down in small pieces comes down with a crane in a morning, so the total labor is lower and the risk to the roof is close to zero. We'll price it both ways when it's close.
Will the crane damage my driveway or the street?
We set the outriggers on timber or composite mats to spread the load, and we avoid setting up over septic tanks, water meters and storm drains. Concrete driveways are fine with mats; we'll tell you if a paver drive is a concern.
Can a crane reach my back yard?
Usually. A 40-ton crane has around 100 feet of reach, which covers most Concord lots from the street. Deep lots with a two-story house in the way sometimes need a larger crane or a knuckle-boom from the side yard — we measure on the estimate visit.
Do you need a permit to put a crane in the street?
Sometimes. If the crane blocks a lane on a city street we coordinate temporary street use with the city; on a private cul-de-sac in an HOA it's usually a courtesy notice to neighbors. We handle it either way.