Any Oak Tree specialists out there?

cuffie

One of our huge oak trees has fallen over. It must be 100 years old. It has been uprooted (roots are about 20ft across), and the tree trunk must be 4-5ft wide. Its such a shame, not just because of the gap it will leave, but the fact that it must have been there for such a long time. I'm not really sure what to do. Obviously, it needs to go, but the Oak wood itself must be worth some money mustn't it? I don't want to pay for a tree surgeon to come and chop it up and take it away and then make a mint himself by selling the wood. Should I ask him to take it away free of charge, and then let him have the wood? Or shall I sell it (who to?) What shall I do? Do you think I am being unrealistic here? Its a shame I can't chop it up myself and make my new kitchen out of it!!!! Would save me thousands!!!! (is that really an option - or am I just being silly??! We are in the process of looking at kitchens at the moment, and hubby would prefer an oak one anyway!)
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

frivolous_fay

Hire a chainsaw and put something in the free ads?

Our huge ash tree went rotten and had to be cut down - we kept a slice of it to count the rings and keep for posterity But someone most likely made a bit of dosh on the wood!

susieb

Put it on freerecycle, something like, firewood for anyone who can cut and remove.

cuffie

Is it worth any money though?

hardpressed

Slightly off topic but I have it on good authority that to tell the age of a oak tree, without cutting it down to count the rings, measure the circumference 1 metre above the ground then 1cm = 1yr. Only works with oak trees apparently.

Debt_Free_Chick

cuffie wrote: »

Its a shame I can't chop it up myself and make my new kitchen out of it!!!! Would save me thousands!!!! (is that really an option - or am I just being silly??! We are in the process of looking at kitchens at the moment, and hubby would prefer an oak one anyway!)

Might be worth looking in to

You'll need to find a local sawmill first - they just might be interested, or at least take a look and tell you if the wood is good enough for joinery. If you can't find a sawmill, ask a local joiner (Yellow Pages).

You'll also need a joiner or a kitchen maker and they will probably need to liaise with the sawmill.

It ought to be possible .... but with a lot of research & legwork.

Around here, it would be gone like a shot - sawmill down the road and plenty of people who work with wood, including a local artist. Not only does he do sculpture, but he also makes noticeboards, benches etc ....

scbk

TBH chances are if it's fallen over then it's rotten, so might not be useful for anything more than firewood.
But, if you have a small local sawmill then it might be worth giving them a bell and see what they say.

I wouldn't suggest hiring a chainsaw, they're one of the most dangerous "power tools" there is and IMO should only be used by trained users.

Its such a shame, not just because of the gap it will leave, but the fact that it must have been there for such a long time.

Don't worry about it, all trees will either fall over or be felled. Getting rid of the old trees will make room for new ones