CHOPMEN TREE SERVICE
Call 360-777-5093
Vancouver, WA · Portland Metro · Priority Response

Tree down? We answer.

On the house, across the fence, blocking the driveway — we respond fast, work safely around the tension a fallen tree hides, document everything for your insurance, and leave the property clean. Licensed & insured.

Chopmen Tree Service mascot — superhero with axe

If a tree has fallen on your home in the Vancouver or Portland area: keep everyone away from the damaged area, call the utility first if any power line is involved, photograph everything for insurance, then call Chopmen at (360) 777-5093 for priority removal with full insurance documentation.

Every fall and winter, Pacific storms roll up the Columbia River Gorge and find Clark County's weak trees. Saturated soil loosens root plates, east winds out of the Gorge do the rest, and suddenly a Douglas fir that stood for sixty years is lying across a roofline. Storm work is what we train for the rest of the year: it's rigging under tension, done carefully, when the homeowner is having one of the worst weeks of the season.

If a tree just came down: do this, in order

  1. People first. Clear everyone out of rooms under the damage — and keep them out. Partially failed trees and ceilings shift without warning.
  2. Power lines: stop. If the tree touches any line, treat every wire and the tree itself as energized. Call Clark Public Utilities (360-992-8000) or PGE — nobody touches anything until the utility clears it.
  3. Photograph everything from safe distance: the tree, the damage, the room interiors. Your insurance claim is built on these photos.
  4. Call your insurer's claim line and open the claim. Ask whether emergency mitigation (tarping, board-up) is covered — it usually is.
  5. Call us. We assess, quote, and stage the removal — safely, with the rigging a loaded tree demands. Don't accept help from anyone with a chainsaw and good intentions: a tree on a structure is under tension, and cut in the wrong order it rolls, bounces, or takes out what's left of the roof.

What storm response includes

The cheapest storm work happens in October

Almost every tree we remove off a roof in December showed warning signs in September — a dead top, shelf fungus, a lean that got worse. A pre-season look plus storm-prep pruning costs a fraction of an emergency call and an insurance deductible. If a tree's already past saving, scheduled removal beats emergency removal on price every time.

Insurance, plainly

The rule of thumb: insurance pays when the tree hit something it covers. Tree on the house, garage, fence, or deck — removal from the structure, the repair, and some debris cleanup are typically covered minus your deductible. Healthy tree flat in the yard, nothing hit — usually on you. Your neighbor's tree on your house — generally your policy's problem (that's how the industry works, not a Chopmen rule). We can't adjust your claim, but we document thoroughly and invoice in the itemized format adjusters expect, which makes the whole thing go smoother.

Why storm calls come to Chopmen

We're local — based in east Vancouver, not routing your 7 AM emergency through a national call center. We answer, we tell you honestly where you are in the queue, we show up with the rigging gear loaded, and we treat a stressful scene with some calm. Serving Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, Washougal, Salmon Creek, Felida, Hazel Dell, and across the river into the Portland metro.

Storm damage — frequently asked questions

A tree fell on my house — what do I do first?

Clear everyone out from under the damage, call the utility if any line is involved, photograph everything from a safe distance, open your insurance claim, then call a tree service. Don't let anyone cut until the scene is assessed — loaded trees roll when cut wrong.

Does homeowners insurance cover storm tree removal?

Generally yes when the tree hit a covered structure — removal from the structure, repairs, and some cleanup, minus deductible. A tree that falls harmlessly in the yard usually isn't covered. We provide the photos and itemized invoices your adjuster needs.

How fast can you get here after a storm?

Trees on houses and blocked access come first; we typically respond same-day for emergencies in Clark County. After a major windstorm, calling early gets you in the queue — and we'll tell you honestly where you stand in it.

What does emergency removal cost?

Quoted on site — a tree under tension on a roof is a different job than one flat on the lawn. Emergency work costs more than scheduled removal; if insurance is involved, our documentation supports the claim.

Can you make my trees safer before storm season?

Yes — most storm damage is preventable. Pre-season assessment plus storm-prep pruning in early fall is the cheapest insurance there is. October is the right month to call.

Storm damage right now?

Call — we answer fast, assess safely, and document everything.

Call 360-777-5093