Milling & Urban Wood Solutions in San Francisco & the Bay Area
Locally Milled Urban Wood, Reclaimed Lumber, and Custom Creations Crafted from San Francisco’s Preserved Trees
Arborist Now offers the most complete tree-to-wood service in the San Francisco Bay Area. From planting and long-term care to removal, milling, custom wood creations, and installation, we are a truly full-circle urban forestry company. Our mill is located in the heart of San Francisco, making us the city’s only dedicated urban wood mill—serving homeowners, designers, architects, and landscape professionals with unmatched proximity and expertise.
Whether the tree comes from your property or from our carefully preserved inventory of salvaged urban wood, we give it new life through craftsmanship and intention.
Why Choose Arborist Now for Urban Wood & Milling?
A Full-Circle Approach: From Planting to Recycling
Arborist Now manages the entire life cycle of a tree. We plant, maintain, prune, and remove trees—and, when possible, we transform the wood through our milling operation. This closed-loop model is rare in the Bay Area and ensures that urban trees continue to bring value, beauty, and purpose long after their life in the landscape.
San Francisco’s Only Urban Wood Mill
Our fully equipped mill is located right inside San Francisco, reducing transport costs, lowering carbon footprint, and letting clients remain connected to the wood’s origin. No other company offers this level of proximity or local access to specialty urban lumber.
Rich Inventory of High-Value Urban Wood
Over the years, we have built one of the Bay Area’s most diverse inventories of locally salvaged hardwoods and softwoods, including:
- Oak
- Elm
- Eucalyptus
- Redwood
- Giant Sequoia
- Blackwood Acacia
…and additional unique species rarely found in standard lumberyards.
Expertise in Urban Wood Milling
Urban logs require techniques that differ drastically from industrial forestry lumber. We have mastered:
- Grain prediction
- Species-specific drying
- Milling oversized or irregular logs
- Maximizing value from unpredictable urban growth patterns
This expertise ensures superior stability, lower waste, and the highest-quality reclaimed lumber in the region.
Partnerships with Master Woodworkers
For fine furniture, architectural installations, and museum-grade interior pieces, we collaborate with elite Bay Area artisans. These long-standing relationships allow clients to achieve world-class craftsmanship without searching for outside talent.
Naturally Durable, Non-Toxic Exterior Wood
Our Eucalyptus and Redwood products are ideal for gardens, backyards, and outdoor structures. Naturally decay-resistant and never pressure-treated, they are free of harmful chemicals commonly found in lumberyard products.
Custom Products You Won’t Find in a Lumberyard
Our milling operation is 100% custom, producing materials unavailable at retail suppliers. We offer:
- Oversized slabs
- Beams, posts, and cants
- Curved or irregular shapes
- Rare species cuts
- True dimension lumber (not the thinner industrial version)
A true 2×4 is milled as an actual 2 inches by 4 inches—full thickness, full width, full length—precise to your project’s needs.
Exceptional Customer Experience
Every log, every board, and every project carries its own narrative. We work collaboratively with homeowners, designers, architects, and builders to ensure the final product reflects your vision—and the story of the tree.
Supply Only or Supply + Install
We can provide raw materials, finished pieces, or complete supply-and-install services depending on your project needs.
Equipped for Any Milling Scenario
We provide:
- Yard milling at our SF facility
- On-site milling when hauling out isn’t possible
- Large-diameter log processing
- Specialty and irregular cuts
We are equipped for both urban constraints and large-scale custom projects.
Our Milling & Urban Wood Services
Custom Milling
Every log has a story, and our milling service helps reveal it—whether the wood comes from your property or from our own inventory of locally salvaged urban trees. Some logs are meaningful to a place and best milled right where they stand; others come back to our yard to be transformed with care. In both cases, we treat every tree with respect, knowing it once shaded a home, lined a street, or stood as part of a neighborhood’s history.
Whether we bring our portable mill to your site or work from our own yard, we shape every log with intention—uncovering its grain, character, and spirit. From slabs and beams to unique blocks and custom pieces, we turn raw urban wood into something lasting and personal. Your vision, combined with the story inside the wood, becomes a one-of-a-kind creation you can continue to enjoy for years to come.
Urban Wood Creation
From beautifully carved benches, stumps, and unique seating to bespoke tables and functional outdoor furniture, our urban wood creation service brings your vision to life. We craft everything from conventional pieces to artistic conversation starters and stunning centerpieces, blending natural beauty with exceptional craftsmanship to create one-of-a-kind designs for any space.
Custom-Milled Creations
From Canopy to Craftsmanship: The Journey of a Grand Live Oak in Emerald Hills
Urban Wood & Outdoor Art Installations
Urban Wood Art & Interiors turns our sustainably harvested urban lumber into distinctive interior pieces. While we craft many projects ourselves, the most complex fine-wood creations—such as large tables, countertops, or intricate art pieces—are built in collaboration with the master artisans we partner with. These long-standing relationships allow us to bring your vision to life at the highest level of craftsmanship, delivering custom furniture and interior art tailored to your space.
On-site & Yard Milling Capabilities
We are fully equipped to mill wood under virtually any circumstance. If hauling large logs off-site is impractical, we bring our mill to you. With our portable Lucas mill, we can process:
- Slabs
- Beams
- Dimensional lumber
- Structural components
- Specialty cuts
Our San Francisco yard is also designed to handle oversized and irregular logs. Every piece is milled with precision and care.
From Tree Removal to Finished Wood — A Full-Circle Process
- Tree assessment & removal
- Log selection & salvage
- Custom milling
- Urban wood creation
- Installation into landscape or home
- Optional long-term care
Local Species & Urban Wood Inventory
Salvaged, local, character-rich species including:
Oak, Elm, Eucalyptus, Redwood, Giant Sequoia, Blackwood Acacia, and more.
Who We Work With
Homeowners
Landscape architects
Designers & builders
Fabricators & cabinetmakers
Artists & sculptors
Parks & municipalities
Commercial property managers
Service Area
Homeowner FAQ
1. Can you mill wood from a tree being removed from my property, and can I keep the lumber?
Absolutely. When we remove a tree from your property, you’re welcome to keep as much of the lumber as you want. Some homeowners choose meaningful pieces; others repurpose the entire tree. We can mill on-site or at our San Francisco yard, stack the wood for drying, or turn it into furniture or art.
Tree Removal
Custom-Milled Creations
2. How long does it take for the wood to dry before it can be used for furniture or outdoor projects?
Outdoor projects require less drying; indoor furniture must be fully dried. Our San Francisco yard provides ideal natural drying conditions. Thick slabs typically take 2–3 years. We also offer already-dried inventory for immediate use.
3. Do you offer installation for custom wood pieces such as benches, raised beds, or steps?
Yes. Our carpenters, woodworkers, and landscapers can design, build, deliver, and install your pieces using natural, chemical-free materials.
4. What types of wood are best for outdoor use in San Francisco’s foggy climate?
Woods that perform well in San Francisco’s foggy, damp conditions include naturally decay-resistant species such as redwood, cedar, and teak. These woods handle frequent moisture exposure without breaking down quickly and are commonly used for decks, fencing, and outdoor structures. Using proper sealing and regular maintenance will extend their lifespan even further.
5. How much wood can I expect from a typical residential tree removal?
Every tree is unique. Some yield many slabs; others only a few special pieces. Urban milling is part craft, part art—each project produces something one-of-a-kind.
Tree Removal Services
Pro-Level FAQ (Architects, Designers, Builders)
1. Do you produce true-dimension lumber and mill to precise architectural specs?
Yes—our Woodmizer bandsaw mill produces full, true-dimension lumber with professional accuracy for beams, posts, cants, stair treads, and architectural components.
2. Can you mill oversized logs or produce extra-wide slabs?
Yes. We operate California’s only Lucas Super Slabber (9-ft capacity), allowing us to produce very large slabs and wide pieces for tables, counters, stair treads, and feature elements.
3. What moisture content do you recommend for interior vs. exterior use?
- Interior: 6–10%
- Exterior: 12–18%
We naturally air-dry at our San Francisco yard and can coordinate kiln-drying through trusted partners.
4. Can you coordinate with architects or landscape designers on shop drawings/specs?
Yes. We regularly review shop drawings, plan cuts, provide dimensional guidance, and match lumber to project specifications.
5. What lead times should builders expect?
Milling-only projects have fast turnaround. Fabrication timelines vary by complexity. Once a project starts, we work continuously and provide regular updates to your team.
Contact Us
Tell us about your tree, your project, or your idea.
We’re here to help you turn urban wood into something meaningful, functional, and lasting.