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Site clearing quote - Advice needed please

We have today been asked to quote for clearing the rear of 4 adjoining properties. They are owned by an asset management company and have been empty for many years.

The site is approx 1400 sq meters and they want all shrubs, small trees, buddleia and brambles etc cut down, all waste removed and the site left tidy.

There is also lots of rubbish strewn around the site and there are signs of people coming and going as there is a path worn in the ivy undergrowth.

So, my questions are:

1) What would you recommend to protect ourselves from items lurking in the undergrowth? e.g Glass, crap, needles, rats (already seen one)

2) What kit can you recommend for clearing a large overgrown are like this? There are bricks, blocks and all sorts of things hiding

3) How do I estimate the time it will take?

Ideally, it would make a great winter fall back job but I suspect the client wants to see some progress sooner rather than later.

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  • Include a premium for replacing hedgetrimmer and brushcutter blades. I'd typically go in with hedge trimmers for a lot of the brash and chop it down as I go. An old tough mower on the highest setting with the box off and flap open is good for the lighter flat areas (wear tough overtrousers).

    Also price in 2 pesticide treatments in the spring otherwise they'll be calling you in May saying the place is over run.


    You'll obviously need chainsaws and it seems wise to hire a decent size chipper.
  • Flail Mower??
    I have seen a guy use a mini digger to clear brambles from a plot before!


    Any sharps and the like need to be disposed of correctly so a premium for this! including any other rubbish!
  • Also worth asking if they are happy for you to burn the green waste on site as otherwise there could be many loads to take away.

    I'd personally opt for using a mini digger and old hedge cutter to clear the site.

  • PRO

    Flail mower and a Clearing saw with a 4 line head on it.

    If you hit something with a flail mower it's not going to do much and a 4 line head on a clearing saw is surprisingly destructive, the thicker the better for this sort of stuff.

    If access is tight I think AS Motor make a 60cm wide flail mower although I'd assume these are rarer to hire.

    Not too sure about clearing the crap and litter away, perhaps a mini digger would be best overall. You might even be able to find a flail to fit the end of a mini digger which would probably be a million times quicker than digging it all out.

  • PRO
    Burning is not an option due to the site location :-(



    Gareth Main @ Newick Landscapes said:

    Also worth asking if they are happy for you to burn the green waste on site as otherwise there could be many loads to take away.

    I'd personally opt for using a mini digger and old hedge cutter to clear the site.

  • PRO
    Sorry to sound naive but what's a clearing saw?



    Seth Burgess said:

    Flail mower and a Clearing saw with a 4 line head on it.

    If you hit something with a flail mower it's not going to do much and a 4 line head on a clearing saw is surprisingly destructive, the thicker the better for this sort of stuff.

    If access is tight I think AS Motor make a 60cm wide flail mower although I'd assume these are rarer to hire.

    Not too sure about clearing the crap and litter away, perhaps a mini digger would be best overall. You might even be able to find a flail to fit the end of a mini digger which would probably be a million times quicker than digging it all out.

  • PRO

    A good mini digger operator with a grapple or ripper, hired on a day rate, and access to a fail or scrub mower like AS's or Etesia's would be high on my agenda, along with need to 'mulch as much as possible' to reduce green waste costs.

     Grapple13         images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQbqjIoXIELI4Gt2N6IoLSWlcBzqUJPSauWYwyUrt444qwU-41scg

  • PRO


    Darren Walters said:
    Sorry to sound naive but what's a clearing saw?





    A more powerful strimmer/brushcutter 3hp+ usually.
  • PRO

    To best cost effective on these kind of jobs you need to automate or they suck up manpower due to unseen issues, where as when you've got machines you have 'power' to overcome large shrubs, root balls etc

  • can be fitted with more serious heads like a circular saw looking blade

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