TreeMax Services
Tree Risk Assessment
Not sure if a tree on your property is safe? TreeMax provides professional tree risk assessments following ISA Best Management Practice standards — giving you a clear, documented picture of risk and the specific steps needed to address it.
What Is an ISA Tree Risk Assessment?
The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) has developed a standardized risk assessment framework — the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Best Management Practices — that provides arborists with a systematic, evidence-based method for evaluating tree hazards. This framework is the industry gold standard for formal risk evaluation, used by municipalities, property managers, insurance companies, and courts across the country.
ISA risk assessment uses a three-part model to evaluate overall risk: the likelihood of failure, the likelihood that failure would strike a target (person or property), and the consequences of that impact. By evaluating all three factors together, an ISA assessment produces a risk rating — from Low to Extreme — that guides mitigation recommendations.
TreeMax's owner and lead arborist Max Echols is ISA trained and applies this rigorous framework to every formal risk assessment we perform. The result is not just a professional opinion, but a documented, defensible evaluation that protects you as a property owner.
What We Evaluate During a Risk Assessment
Structural Defects
Cracks, splits, included bark, co-dominant stems, cavity formation, and root zone defects that reduce the structural integrity of the tree or individual limbs.
Decay & Disease
Evidence of fungal pathogens, internal decay (using sounding and visual indicators), bacterial wet wood, and other conditions that weaken wood fiber strength.
Crown & Canopy Condition
Deadwood volume, leaf color and density, dieback patterns, branch arrangement, and evidence of insect damage or drought stress throughout the canopy.
Root Zone Health
Root collar inspection for girdling roots, soil disturbance, construction damage, soil compaction, and signs of root decay that compromise the tree's anchorage.
Site & Target Analysis
Identification of targets in the failure zone — structures, vehicles, utility lines, pedestrian areas — and estimation of occupancy to assess consequence of failure.
Environmental Factors
Wind exposure, slope, soil conditions, drought history, and neighboring tree influence that affect the probability of failure events.
When Should You Request a Tree Risk Assessment?
A formal tree risk assessment is appropriate in several situations:
- ✓A tree on your property looks unhealthy, has unusual lean, or shows signs of structural failure
- ✓A neighbor or tenant has expressed concern about a tree's safety
- ✓Your property has experienced storm damage and you need to document current tree condition
- ✓You're buying or selling property and want a professional assessment of significant trees
- ✓A tree is close to a structure, power line, or frequently occupied area
- ✓Your insurance company or HOA requires documented tree risk evaluation
- ✓You've received a notice from the city, county, or utility company about a tree
After the assessment, TreeMax provides a written report summarizing findings, risk ratings, and specific mitigation recommendations — whether that's pruning, cabling, monitoring, or removal. You'll have everything you need to make an informed decision and protect your liability as a property owner.
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