its very hard.. without pix ... and im not too sure about some of your numbers ...

but the bottom line for me is usually .... if they are bugging you ... or making you worry... its worth the money spent to be rid of them ...

get at least 3 written estimates.. and insure that all carry full insurance .... and then decide whether its worth it ... and have them address how the removal will happen ....

ken

Proximity of large growing conifers to a residence is not nearly the dire issue many make it out to be :-) I have many very large (80'+) Douglas firs in my backyard as do most of my neighbors. NBD

If you have any concerns, get a qualified arborist out to evaluate the trees' health. They will be able to tell you if a) the trees are healthy and b) if they pose any significant hazard.

And avoid any more topping. That can serve to weaken structural integrity and create opportunies for insects and diseases to invade.

White pines are very wind firm and seldom toppled, even by a tornado, which usually just strips the branches off. I’ve got two large white pines within 30’ of the house and happy to have them. I don’t lose sleep worrying if they’ll fall onto the house.

Ken, I measured those diameters (via circumference first) and distances myself. Heights are by comparing to height of my house.

All thank you very much for the comments. I like these pines very much, especially because of their foliage. Their shade is beneficial to my hostas. I noticed that damage occurs mainly through ice storms, with large branches falling next to their trunks. I have them now for 30 years and had them originally topped, because I was not used to have high trees. Driving around my area I see very tall not topped pines, and those would worry me now too. Yes, topping creates several thin new leaders, which might have a tendency to break off, is not advised.

Considering that they are already 150 years, they can live here another 10 years before I have to think about it again. They are also situated with other large trees, mostly maples in neighbors lots, so they do not experience full force of winds. Gardengal and Maackia thanks telling about your good experience with tall conifers!

The topping is likely to have produced problems with decay and deformity so the structural integrity typical of undamaged, natural habit examples of the species probably doesn't apply to this situation. Ask a certified arborist for a hazard tree evaluation.

For the record a large Pinus strobus is one on the order of 200+ ft. tall and 5+ ft. thick. Similarly, an 80 ft. Pseudostuga menziesii is not "very large".

Embothrium, thanks for your comment. All 3 of mine had trunks which were forked by nature. 2 of them have now 2 or 4 slim leaders, which does not look too good. Just driving in upstate NY looking at pines from the express way, some of them were naturally deformed with multiple leaders. I think I will keep these 3 pines, and when necessary have some pruning done. Danger to the house would not come from a high leader or branches breaking off, they would fall to the ground next to the trunk. I do not see any disease.