Signs pruning is enough
A tree with a small number of limbs reaching the roofline, a healthy looking trunk with no visible lean, and no history of major limb failure is almost always a pruning candidate. Thinning the crown and removing the offending limbs solves the roof contact problem without taking down a tree that is otherwise healthy.
Deadwood scattered through the canopy, even without direct roof contact, is worth removing during a prune since dead limbs are the most likely to fail in the next storm regardless of where they happen to be pointed.
Signs removal is the right call
A trunk leaning noticeably toward the house, especially if the lean has increased after a period of heavy rain, is one of the clearest signs that removal is the safer option. Root flare that has visibly cracked or lifted a nearby slab, patio or driveway is another, since that usually indicates a root system already under stress.
A tree that has already dropped a major limb in a prior storm, or shows large cavities and fungal growth at the base, has structural problems that pruning does not fix. In those cases the tree's remaining useful life near a structure is short regardless of how it is trimmed.
Species and site matter
Some species common around Richmond, particularly silver maple and Bradford pear, are known for weak branch structure and shorter safe lifespans than oaks or hickories of similar size, which shifts the calculation toward removal sooner for those species. A tree's distance from the house, the direction it would fall, and what sits underneath its likely fall path all factor into the final recommendation as well.
When the answer is not obvious from the ground, a closer look at the trunk base and root flare by someone experienced with tree risk usually settles it. That assessment is part of any tree related visit we run near a home.
What happens after the decision is made
A pruning job is typically finished in a single visit, weather allowing, with debris chipped or hauled the same day. A removal on a tree close to a house takes longer and often runs over more than one day when the tree is large or the rigging is complex, particularly on the tighter lots found in the Fan and Church Hill.