Stump grinders & stump grinding services

There are two options you have to remove stumps from your property. If you want to do it yourself, you rent a stump grinder or you can hire a local company to come out and do it for you. For most people, if they do it themselves, renting a small stump grinder will not cost that much for the day. However if you’re not a professional and you have multiple or large stumps, then it's probably best to leave it to the professionals. 
Stump Grinding Costs
Most homeowners don't want a stump sticking out of the ground after tree removal.  Not only is it ugly but it is tedious to mow around it all the time. There are a number of ways to remove a stump, but grinding it is the preferred way. Prices vary depending if you hire a professional tree service company or you do it yourself.
Should You Rent Or Buy A Tree Stump Grinder?
Your options if you do the work yourself is to rent a tree stump grinder or buy one.Your choice will make more sense depending on how often you need a grinder.  If it's a one time deal, then renting makes more economic sense while if you plan on providing a professional service, then figuring out how many jobs it takes to make it worth your while to buy a tree stump grinder. Once it’s paid for itself, then each additional job will be a net profit minus any maintenance issues that arise. Renting a grinder costs between $150-$200 per day so most homeowners choose this route.  Professionals either buy a grinder if they have enough work or sub-subcontract it when the jobs come up.
Things To Consider When Buying A Stump Grinder
If you are renting a stump grinder, you just need something that gets the job done. If you’re going to buy one however, it's important that it has all the available features you want. Things to consider when buying include:​

• Cutter Disk – The cutter disk or cutter wheel ideally should be made out of carbide. Its teeth should be extremely sharp and show no signs of wear. 
• Size – A stump grinder with a slim profile will be easier to handle, be able to reach tighter places, and you will have less fatigue. It will also take up less room for transporting and ease of loading and unloading.
  
• Horsepower – Buy a tree stump grinder with the highest horsepower that you can afford. The higher the horsepower, the faster and more efficient the grinder will be.
  
• Weight – Buy one that has a lightweight design. This will help you when transporting it from job to job.
  
• Depth – At the absolute minimum, your tree stump grinder should grind down to a depth of 20 inches below grade. Otherwise, what's the point of buying a grinder if it can't do its intended job.
  

​Hiring A Stump Grinding Service
If you decide to hire a company to grind your stumps for you, you should call around and ask questions to guage their experience. Different companies charge different rates, and you can save a lot by doing some price shopping. For example:

• Discounts – Many tree stump grinding companies offer discounts for multiple stumps or other services done at the same time.
• Extra Fees – Check if there are additional fees such as hauling away the wood chips or other debris. There might be additional cost if you are out of their area.
• Large Jobs – In the case of clearing large expanses of land, most companies charge flat hourly rates. If you need this kind of work, call around to see who has the best price.