# The rotten tree fell on the house, **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 2, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582 "2010-06-02T01:03:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/1 "2010-06-02T01:03:56Z")
My wife just told me to go push it off. I know she hasn’t seen the actual tree laying there, but she does know which tree I am talking about. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJ5HodCxAA](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJ5HodCxAA) I asked her if she wanted me to call the rescue squad first or just wait under the tree until she got home. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/2 "2010-06-02T01:23:34Z")
Can you tell yet if there was damage to the porch or house? ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/3 "2010-06-02T01:43:10Z")
The gutter on the porch is bent down. Other than that I can’t see through the foliage. All the glass seems to be intact from the inside. I already called the landlord so he can call his insurance or whatever. I am so hoping he will get it taken care of. Then again, he was the one who looked at it and told me to wrap a chain around it. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/4 "2010-06-02T03:01:22Z")
Its hard to tell from that video, but that tree is IMO big enough that experts should be called in. When a tree is laying on a roof, how you get it off can make the difference between no more damage being done and much more damage being done. And for that matter, personally I don’t think I’ve seen many things scarier than people who dont respect the significant danger of a chainsaw or knowing how to use one properly using one with clueless abandon. Get some experts in there and get some estimates so you don’t get screwed over, but at the the very least dude, be really careful! ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/5 "2010-06-02T05:48:09Z")
I’m no expert, but I am not a clueless newbie. I know full well that the tree is even more dangerous now than when it was still standing. However, living paycheck to paycheck, I can’t afford an expert. I should mention that I rent, but when I showed the tree to the landlord ( last fall when it cracked ) he told me to wrap a chain around it. So I don’t think I’ll be getting any help from that angle. Something tells me this summer is going to be a big bummer. ---
**Author:** ![Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nefarious_chipmunk/32/1045_2.png) [@Nefarious\_Chipmunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefarious_Chipmunk)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/6 "2010-06-02T06:06:28Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > I should mention that I rent, but when I showed the tree to the landlord ( last fall when it cracked ) he told me to wrap a chain around it. So I don’t think I’ll be getting any help from that angle. I am not sure why this is your problem. If you rent, isn’t it his responsibility to pay to have it removed. Certainly, it seems that trying to take care of it yourself would involve liability if more damage DOES occur. Am I missing something? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/7 "2010-06-02T12:17:09Z")
> [@Qwakkeddup](#): > > I’m no expert, but I am not a clueless newbie. I know full well that the tree is even more dangerous now than when it was still standing. However, living paycheck to paycheck, I can’t afford an expert. > > I should mention that I rent, but when I showed the tree to the landlord ( last fall when it cracked ) he told me to wrap a chain around it. So I don’t think I’ll be getting any help from that angle. > > Something tells me this summer is going to be a big bummer. The tree is _not_ your responsibility. Neither is the condition of the house’s roof; the landlord needs to fix this to protect his investment. Have you let him know about this development? (Interesting that this appeared on the first day of Hurricane Season. There’s nothing like a storm coming through to point out why people need to keep their trees in good shape.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/8 "2010-06-02T12:42:43Z")
I had something similar happen last year. I live in sort of a duplex; a small apartment on the side of a large house. In the front yard, right next to the driveway, was a big linden tree. It was a double trunk, right down to the ground. About a year ago, after some very heavy rains, it split and one half came down. Fortunately, it was the half facing away from the house. Took out the power lines, though. It was a mess. Which left the damaged half of the tree facing the house and cars. My landlord hired a company to come take it out. They had a big crane and everything; cut it into pieces and lowered them into the yard. The trunk was hollow. There was a piece about twenty feet long, and if I’d been willing to get dirty I probably could have crawled through it. I managed to save a few pieces for a friend of mine who does woodworking. It’s not something to mess around with. ---
**Author:** ![Baracus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@Baracus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baracus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/9 "2010-06-02T12:52:39Z")
Getting the tree removed and any damaged fixed is not your responsibility. If the tree is presenting a hazard and the landlord will not fix it, you likely have some remedy like deducting the costs you incur from your rent, but I wouldn’t suggest doing that without some further investigation. Messing with this yourself could be quite dangerous. I remember my father telling me a story regarding one of the death notifications he had to go on while in the guard. It seems a convoy was returning from annual training and came upon a downed tree in the road. A group of men got out to drag it off the road. In doing so they released a limb that was twisted under the tree and it subsequently whipped out and practically decapitated one of the soldiers. It was just one of those bizarre accidents that it would never even occur to you to be afraid of. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/10 "2010-06-02T13:26:53Z")
I can clearly remember 30-40 years ago, when I was a kid in one of the bungalow belts on Chicago’s NW side. A neighbor 4 houses down was removing a hue silver maple from the postage-stamp sized backyard between his house and garage. He had nearly all of the limbs removed except for one big one - which he proceeded to drop right through his garage roof. Quite impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/11 "2010-06-02T13:34:46Z")
Did you shoot that video with your Model 414 PD Bell & Howell Zoomatic Director Series Camera? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/12 "2010-06-02T13:48:31Z")
Call your city’s Code Enforcement Office and get them out there immediately. They will deal with your landlord. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/13 "2010-06-02T13:48:52Z")
I can’t believe you’d actually fix this yourself, or pay somebody else to do it. It’s not your job. ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/14 "2010-06-02T13:56:58Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Did you shoot that video with your Model 414 PD Bell & Howell Zoomatic Director Series Camera? Nope, used [http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665291488](http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10551&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665291488) and it is set to HQ. Don’t know why it looks so bad. The original file looks that bad too. I cut some limbs that were blocking the back door so I could go in and out. I sure hope the landlord gets someone in here. I checked each limb I cut to make sure it wasn’t bound up or supporting anything, did just enough to clear the door. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/15 "2010-06-02T13:57:48Z")
You’d be surprised how many landlords don’t care. They can always get new tenants if it’s cheap rent or a month to month lease, or if they take section 8 And if you have bad credit or live pay check to paycheck it’s hard to move. And if you tell on the landlord be prepared for him to retaliate in some way A lof of folk are truly at the landlord’s mercy ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/16 "2010-06-02T14:16:37Z")
One thing we found out during a fun hurricane season a few years back. Some insurance companies will pay to remove a tree if it is actually ON the house. Most wouldnt do anything if it was just laying in the yard. Give em a call, you never know. And, again, be very careful out there! ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/17 "2010-06-02T15:27:02Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Did you shoot that video with your Model 414 PD Bell & Howell Zoomatic Director Series Camera? LOL at this! Don’t mean to make light of the tree issue either - hope this all works out for you, **Qwakkeddup** , wish you the best. It does look like a duesy, too for someone without some \*serious experience with “hangers” and bigger wood. **Philster** ’s comment though helped my current mood a lot. Thanks **Philster**! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/18 "2010-06-02T16:30:24Z")
Another vote to ride your landlord’s ass to get this fixed. Also like how your Dad points with his middle finger…constantly telling the world F-You! ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/19 "2010-06-02T19:48:33Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > LOL at this! > > Don’t mean to make light of the tree issue either - hope this all works out for you, **Qwakkeddup** , wish you the best. It does look like a duesy, too for someone without some \*serious experience with “hangers” and bigger wood. **Philster** ’s comment though helped my current mood a lot. Thanks **Philster**! 🙂 I was going to make a comment about it being shot in Zabruder-Vision, but this being the Dope and all, I had to be a little less obvious. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Qwakkeddup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/90ced4/32.png) [@Qwakkeddup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwakkeddup)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582/20 "2010-06-03T01:22:07Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Another vote to ride your landlord’s ass to get this fixed. > > Also like how your Dad points with his middle finger…constantly telling the world F-You! It’s because he is missing a good portion of his index finger. For the update, the landlord has been here, taken pictures and has someone to start cutting up firewood for tomorrow. The guy is even nice enough to try and save my wheelbarrow that is pinned, not crushed just pinned, under some branches. The next door neighbor is going to talk to the landlord about chopping the rest of the tree. I hope they come to an agreement that results in one less tree, that thing is rotten. So, I may be out helping with the brush pile, and getting some more footage of the tree removal tomorrow. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-rotten-tree-fell-on-the-house/541582.md?page=2)