Garrett Tree Service
Urban Lumber and Milling in Colorado Springs, CO
That old tree can become a table instead of a truckload of chips.
Milled slabs and beams from removed city trees — salvaged wood with a story instead of a chipper.
What is urban lumber and milling?
Urban lumber is usable slab and beam material milled from removed city trees instead of being chipped. Garrett Tree Service identifies salvageable trunks during removals around Colorado Springs, mills them into slabs, and dries them for furniture, mantels, countertops, and custom builds.
Most of the biggest, most interesting wood in Colorado Springs is standing in front yards. When a mature elm, cottonwood, walnut, or locust has to come down, the trunk is often better material than anything at a lumberyard — figured grain, wide widths, and a known origin. We cut those logs long, mill them to your target thickness, and let them dry properly.
Who needs urban lumber and milling?
- Homeowners who want a piece of their own tree kept as furniture
- Woodworkers and makers looking for local wide-slab material
- Builders and designers sourcing character mantels, treads, or countertops
- Property owners who'd rather see a tree salvaged than chipped
How the work actually goes
Every urban lumber and milling job follows the same four steps so there are no surprises on price, schedule, or cleanup.
- 01
Log evaluation
During the removal we flag trunks with the size, soundness, and grain worth milling.
- 02
Cut for lumber
The tree is sectioned to preserve length instead of being bucked into firewood rounds.
- 03
Milling
Slabs and beams cut to your target thickness, live edge or squared.
- 04
Drying and handoff
Air dried and stickered — we walk you through moisture content and what it's ready for.
What affects the cost of urban lumber and milling?
We quote a fixed scope in writing after seeing the tree. These are the factors that move the number up or down.
- Species and figure — walnut and figured elm are not cottonwood
- Log diameter and clear trunk length available
- Slab thickness and how many pieces come out of the log
- Handling, transport of the log, and drying time before pickup
Urban Lumber and Milling service area coverage
Garrett Tree Service provides urban lumber and milling across Colorado Springs and the surrounding areas. Find your city below to confirm you're in range and see local details.
El Paso County · Home Base
ZIPs: 80903, 80904, 80905, 80906, 80907, 80909, 80917, 80918, 80919, 80920, 80921, 80923
Urban Lumber and Milling in Colorado Springs →
El Paso County · ~20 miles north
ZIPs: 80132, 80133, 80921
Urban Lumber and Milling in Monument →
El Paso County · ~15 miles northeast
ZIPs: 80908, 80921, 80106
Urban Lumber and Milling in Black Forest →
El Paso County · ~5 miles southwest
ZIPs: 80906, 80905, 80926
Urban Lumber and Milling in Broadmoor →
Why homeowners keep calling us back
Licensed and insured in Colorado, locally owned, and known for assessing a tree before removing it. Full cleanup on every job — brush chipped, wood hauled, work area raked.
Honest assessment first — we say when a tree can be saved
Rigging and crane work for tight, high-risk removals
Complete cleanup every visit, not a pile left behind
Urban Lumber and Milling FAQs
- Can you mill the tree you're removing from my yard?
- If the trunk is sound and big enough, yes. Ask before removal day so we cut the log long instead of bucking it short.
- How long until the slabs are usable?
- Air drying runs roughly a year per inch of thickness. We'll tell you realistically when a slab will be stable.
- Which species are worth milling here?
- Elm, walnut, locust, ash, cottonwood, and large ponderosa all produce good material depending on what you're building.
- Do you build the furniture too?
- We supply the lumber. We're happy to point you toward local makers who work with slabs.
Get Your Free Estimate
Call or text for immediate help, or send the form and we'll get right back to you with a straight answer on your trees.
719-696-0787Serving Colorado Springs, Black Forest, Monument & Broadmoor, CO