We serve Columbia and the towns around it, out to about 40 miles: Ashland, Hallsville, Rocheport, Centralia, Fulton, Boonville, Jefferson City, Moberly and Mexico. Our mill is stationary, so you bring your log to our yard, and you can pick up lumber, slabs and mantels here. If you're farther out, you're still welcome; it's just a longer haul.
Distances from Columbia
The distances below are approximate miles from Columbia, not from our yard. Message us before you come so we know you're on the way.
Columbia. Logs from town are mostly yard trees: storm damage, planned removals, and ash coming down across Columbia. Trees from older Columbia lots often carry nails, wire and fence staples, so tell us what you know about the tree's history. A town lot rarely has room for a loader, so a trunk from a Columbia yard usually leaves with the tree crew that took it down. See custom sawmilling.
Ashland (about 15 miles). A short run down US 63. Ashland and southern Boone County have plenty of oak and walnut on larger lots and woodlots, and a log on a trailer from there is an easy trip.
Hallsville (about 13 miles). North of Columbia in Boone County's farm country. Fence-row cedar, oak and walnut from acreage are typical of what comes off these properties. Cedar fence rows often hide old wire, so tell us if a tree grew along a fence.
Rocheport (about 14 miles). West on I-70 near the Missouri River bluffs. Wooded river-hill lots here grow big hardwoods, and storm-downed trees on steep ground are a good reason to talk to your tree service about keeping the trunk in long sections.
Centralia (about 23 miles). Northeast in Boone County's open farm country, where most big trees grow in yards, fence rows and along creeks. Fence-row trees often carry old wire, so mention it. It's a comfortable haul for a log on your own trailer, especially with two or three at once.
Fulton (about 25 miles). East in Callaway County. Fulton's older neighborhoods have big, mature shade trees, and the wooded hills south toward the Missouri River grow oak and walnut. Close enough to haul a log in one easy trip, or to come pick out lumber or a slab in person.
Boonville (about 25 miles). West across the Missouri River in Cooper County. River-bottom sycamore and big bottomland hardwoods are common in this area, and sycamore saws into wide boards and slabs.
Jefferson City (about 31 miles). South down US 63. A longer trip with a log on the trailer, so send photos first and we'll tell you if it's worth the drive. Lumber, slabs and mantel beams are easier to haul home than logs.
Moberly (about 36 miles). North up US 63 in Randolph County. Near the edge of our area for hauling logs. Bring several logs per trip if you can, so the minimum charge and the drive count for more.
Mexico (about 39 miles). Northeast in Audrain County, the far edge of our area. For a log from this far, send photos and measurements before you load it, so you know what you're hauling and what it will yield.
Log drop-off and pickup
Every log comes to our yard to be milled; we don't travel to saw. You can haul a log on your own trailer or have the tree service that took the tree down drop it off.
Every way to get a log here, and how to store it until it's sawn, is covered on our custom sawmilling page. If you're a tree crew with logs to drop, see our page for tree services.
Planning a log haul
A log is heavier than it looks. Freshly cut hardwood is full of water, and a single big trunk can weigh more than many small utility trailers are rated to carry. Before you load:
- Check your trailer's rating and your truck's towing capacity, and stay under both.
- Cut to length first. Two shorter logs are easier and safer to load and haul than one long one, as long as each is still long enough for the boards you want.
- Load it low and centered, just ahead of the trailer axle, and chock it so it can't roll.
- Strap it hard. Use ratchet straps or chain over the log and to solid tie-down points. Round logs shift under braking.
- Bring several at once. If you have more than one log, one trip with several makes better use of the drive and the milling minimum.
If loading is more than you want to take on, ask your tree service to drop the log at our yard when they finish the removal.
Delivery of lumber, slabs and mantels
You're always welcome to pick up at the yard. Bring a truck or trailer sized for the load, and something to cover and strap it.
Outside the area?
If you're more than 40 miles out, you can still bring us a log or buy wood from us. For a long haul, send photos and measurements first so you know the log is worth the trip. People will drive a long way for the right slab; logs are heavier, so it pays to be sure before you load. Lumber, slabs and mantel beams travel easily in a pickup or on a small trailer, so buying finished wood from us makes sense from almost anywhere in the region.
Get a Quote
Tell us where you are and what you have, and we'll quote the job.