Our Story.

Our primary clients were residential customers who, after having trees removed by arborists, sought to repurpose the wood instead of sending it to a landfill. These customers hired us to mill the wood onsite for future use, fostering a deeper appreciation for urban trees.

Inspired by the potential to process urban waste trees and reduce waste, we delved deeper into this concept. After extensive research and travel across North America, we connected with like-minded businesses and organizations. Through formal training and relationship building within the urban wood industry, we gathered invaluable knowledge and insights.

Our vision is to apply what we’ve learned here in Nova Scotia. We aim to process sustainably sourced wood from urban salvaged timber and small, sustainable woodlot owners into usable products for the very communities from which the wood was obtained.

FAQs

  • Urban salvaged timber, also known as urban wood or urban lumber, refers to wood that is harvested from trees in urban and suburban areas rather than from traditional forest settings. These trees may be removed due to reasons such as disease, storm damage, construction, or other development activities. Instead of being chipped, landfilled, or burned, these trees are repurposed for use in lumber and other wood products

  • Kiln-dried lumber is dried in a controlled environment using a kiln, allowing for rapid, consistent drying within days or weeks, resulting in stable wood less prone to warping, cracking, or pests, though it is more costly and energy-intensive. Air-dried lumber, on the other hand, is dried naturally over several months to years, making it more cost-effective but with greater risk of inconsistent moisture content, warping, and pest issues. The choice between the two depends on budget, time constraints, and specific project requirements

  • Urban trees can often contain metal, which we consider when assessing whether and how to process a tree. Drawing from our extensive experience with urban timber, we've developed methods to minimize the risk of encountering debris. However, despite these precautions, we still occasionally find metal in trees. Fortunately, due to the sizes and species of our urban forests, we can usually salvage a portion of the tree, ensuring it remains economically viable

  • Tracking our products internally offers several benefits, but the external advantages are even more significant. Sustainability is the cornerstone of our business, and we want our customers to be confident that our products meet this standard. To ensure this, we maintain a chain of custody for our products. For urban salvage, this includes detailed records of each tree, such as its location, photos of the removal, transport, milling, and reasons for removal if applicable. Additionally, our tracking system allows us to provide specific information on the amount of carbon sequestered in the lumber or finished product you purchase.