Why get a risk assessment?
Most trees are low risk most of the time. An assessment tells you which ones are not, and what to do about them before a storm does it for you. It is also the evidence insurers and councils want when a tree is causing concern.
What the arborist looks at
Likelihood of failure
The arborist checks the whole tree: root plate and soil, trunk, unions where branches join, and the canopy. Typical defects include decay, cavities, cracks, included bark at forks, dead limbs, root damage and fungal fruiting bodies.
Targets
A dead branch over a paddock is a very different risk from the same branch over a bedroom or a school playground. The assessment records what is under the tree and how often people are there.
Consequences
Size matters. A small twig falling is a nuisance. A large limb onto a roof or car is not.
How risk is rated
Arborists use recognised methods such as TRAQ, QTRA or VALID to combine these factors into a rating. The method matters less than the outcome: a clear risk rating and specific recommendations you can act on.
Warning signs you can spot yourself
- A new lean, especially with cracked or heaving soil on one side
- Mushrooms or bracket fungi at the base or on the trunk
- Cracks or splits running down from a fork
- Large dead branches in the canopy
- Sudden leaf drop or dieback in part of the crown
Who needs one
Homeowners worried about a big tree over the house, body corporates with shared trees, schools, childcare centres and councils all commission assessments regularly. Buyers increasingly order one as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
What it costs and what you get
A single-tree assessment with a written report is usually priced similarly to a council permit report. See our cost guide. You get photos, findings, a risk rating and prioritised recommendations. Book through our arborist reports page or start with an on-site consultation.