Tree to lumber with Capital Timber

KINBURN – Kinburn’s Capital Timber Company can not only take that tree down that just has to be removed, but they can also return it back to you in planks, if you so desire.

The full-service tree removal and sawmill company has a permanent home on Donald B. Munro Drive and is now focused on providing full tree and lumber service to the community.

Capital Timber Co. is owned and operated by brothers Andrew and Greg Clifford. It is a full-service tree care and saw-milling business, serving Ottawa and surrounding areas with professional services and competitive rates.

West Carleton Online visited the sawmill and business headquarters last Wednesday (June 12) and spoke with Greg about the company and how it fits into a unique niche in the formerly separate tree removal and saw milling industries.

“Our tree care service is unique in that we try to repurpose as much waste as possible into usable materials,” Greg said. “From milling a log and creating a dining room table, to milling custom hardwood flooring, our services allow for both a custom and sustainable product.”

Greg says Andrew started the tree service business in 2011 working as climbing and consulting arborists, while Greg himself was in school taking Algonquin College’s Cabinet and Furniture Program.

The two of them would work in the Westboro area of Ottawa where they grew up.

“I started taking some of the trees we were removing and cutting them up with a chainsaw mill,” Greg said. “I was making live edge slabs and selling them out of my garage. It was a completely separate business and then we decided to partner up. With Canada being one of the highest producers of waste per capita with wood being one of the main contributors, we saw an opportunity for not only ourselves as business owners, but for clients who may want to salvage or repurpose their valuable trees into a new project.”

Around 2019, the brothers officially combined their services.

Greg said one of the first things he learned, was to become a little more selective about the wood he keeps.

“I sort of became a hoarder,” Greg said. “Now we’re a bit more selective. You can saw everything, but you can’t sell everything.”

Around 2019, is also when Capital Timber came to the Kinburn area, going from a company that rented property, to owning their sawmill property.

“Getting to the property was a big deal for us,” Greg said. “I feel there is nothing holding us back now.”

And now Capital Timber Co. is finding clients who need a tree removed but want to keep the wood if possible (although you don’t have to).

“We’re finding people are wanting to keep the lumber if they have a sentimental attachment to the tree,” Greg said. “We were removing trees and live edge was really popular at the time. Rather than just dump it at the fireplace, I started cutting and selling it and it was working. Not all wood is worthwhile, but for some it’s sentimental.”

Greg says, while Capital Timber is happy to serve individual clients, the team is also looking at working with homebuilders as well.

“When land is being cleared, we can see if any of it can be used,” Greg said. “Siding, tables, flooring, islands. We’ve worked with a local furniture guy before.”

Capital Timber also has a kiln on site, and the capacity to store lumber. Drying wood takes a long time. It can take four to six weeks for Capital Timer to properly dry lumber in their kiln.

“Everything that is sold goes through the kiln,” Greg said. “It’s pretty much a massive dehydrator with a heater.”

Capital Timber attaches probes to the wood “to monitor the drying process.”

“There’s a lot more to it then I originally thought,” Greg said as experience teaches him some things not as easily learned in the classroom.

Greg says Capital Timber can turn a tree to lumber “within a month depending on how busy we are.”

For more information about the Capital Timber Company, including a complete list of services and prices, visit their website here.