Selling timber from private garden

[Foggy]

Hi folks,

 

I’ve been asked to remove roughly 15 Sitka Spruce/Larch/Hemlock (17-20m tall, 400-600mm girth) from a garden, it’s pretty tight access and most of the trees require climbing, so naturally is going to be expensive. 

 

The owner is keen to try and recoup some cost though, and is interested in trying to sell the timber rather than paying us to shift it. I can’t see it being worthwhile for him, but it would be interesting to at least try. I can’t see them being useful for anything other than chip as they aren’t particularly nice sticks. We can get timber roadside and it would be easy enough to load onto a lorry. 
 

Has anyone got any experience of this kind of timber sale? How many m3 is worth it for sale etc. cheers! 

 

[openspaceman]

27 minutes ago, Foggy said:

Hi folks,

 

I’ve been asked to remove roughly 15 Sitka Spruce/Larch/Hemlock (17-20m tall, 400-600mm girth) from a garden, it’s pretty tight access and most of the trees require climbing, so naturally is going to be expensive. 

 

The owner is keen to try and recoup some cost though, and is interested in trying to sell the timber rather than paying us to shift it. I can’t see it being worthwhile for him, but it would be interesting to at least try. I can’t see them being useful for anything other than chip as they aren’t particularly nice sticks. We can get timber roadside and it would be easy enough to load onto a lorry. 
 

Has anyone got any experience of this kind of timber sale? How many m3 is worth it for sale etc. cheers! 

 

Knots and inclusions will militate against selling it for sawlogs or bars plus you will need at least an 8 wheeler load of 17 tonnes for local delivery or 29 tonnes for an artic flat bed.

[Foggy]

3 hours ago, openspaceman said:

Knots and inclusions will militate against selling it for sawlogs or bars plus you will need at least an 8 wheeler load of 17 tonnes for local delivery or 29 tonnes for an artic flat bed.

Just about what I thought 😂

[topchippyles]

Cut them down and leave it to the customer to sell its not worth the hassle.

[scbk]

Someone will buy it for firewood, for the right price. Might involve a weekend warrior ringing it up on site and carting it away a trailer load at a time, so don't get involved in that.

 

Does the person not burn wood themselves? Or a neighbour?

[Steven P]

I think if profit is the game then they could splash out £80 on a mains chainsaw, and the same again on some safety kit, cut into lengths as firewood, split it to double the money. Not firewood, split logs of course so as not to fall foul of any ready to burn schemes. Reckon £15 a car boot load would see it go over the summer for the most, but also the most work and hassle.

 

You could ring it up to firewood lengths, be quicker than them but could you do that for £150 or whatever they'd pay for the saw etc.

 

Reading around on the forum here, if someone would take them they are not going to pay what they would for the same from a forest - garden washing lines and nails premium will be deducted.

[Squaredy]

19 hours ago, Foggy said:

Hi folks,

 

I’ve been asked to remove roughly 15 Sitka Spruce/Larch/Hemlock (17-20m tall, 400-600mm girth) from a garden, it’s pretty tight access and most of the trees require climbing, so naturally is going to be expensive. 

 

The owner is keen to try and recoup some cost though, and is interested in trying to sell the timber rather than paying us to shift it. I can’t see it being worthwhile for him, but it would be interesting to at least try. I can’t see them being useful for anything other than chip as they aren’t particularly nice sticks. We can get timber roadside and it would be easy enough to load onto a lorry. 
 

Has anyone got any experience of this kind of timber sale? How many m3 is worth it for sale etc. cheers! 

 

Yes of course there is some value there, and you can cut the stems into helpful lengths so the owner can sell them.  If after a few weeks they realise it is rather a lot of effort and not bringing in any cash then they could ask you to quote for their removal.

 

As has already been said, don’t get involved.  Transport costs for the logs will make it a fool’s game.

[Foggy]

Thanks for the advice folks, this was my thinking but thought I would to see if it was worthwhile. 
 

Looks like we’ll be hauling a few tonne of Sitka away then, as he doesn’t want it lying around his B&B.

 

Might be time to invest in a firewood processor..

[Squaredy]

7 hours ago, Foggy said:

Thanks for the advice folks, this was my thinking but thought I would to see if it was worthwhile. 
 

Looks like we’ll be hauling a few tonne of Sitka away then, as he doesn’t want it lying around his B&B.

 

Might be time to invest in a firewood processor..

It may not be the best firewood, but it will dry super fast, so worth having.

[david wood]

15 hours ago, Foggy said:

Thanks for the advice folks, this was my thinking but thought I would to see if it was worthwhile. 
 

Looks like we’ll be hauling a few tonne of Sitka away then, as he doesn’t want it lying around his B&B.

 

Might be time to invest in a firewood processor..

as job starts i would stick on facebook marketplace at a sensible price per trailer load - lots of folks go for if not stupid money asked and dont mind some work sawing and splitting.   lil bit area dependant but have bought in myself at right money, especially if can get roadside access for folks with a trailer. wont make customer a fortune but some loads gone cash all helps soften blow

 

if customer just wants gone off site right away less fun for you to haul off but i would still stick on marketplace offering delivery at a cost, may shift a load or 3 if can just tip off at somebodys place and saves re handling back at your premises