Headquartered in Carp, Ontario, a rural community on the northwestern edge of the City of Ottawa, Capital Timber is built on a vision of sustainable craftsmanship. Brothers Greg and Andrew Clifford have built a business that transforms what was once seen as waste into beautiful, functional products, blending their skills to create a truly unique company.
The siblings have carved out distinct yet complementary roles. Greg oversees the running of the mill, expertly repurposing timber into its next chapter, while Andrew, an arborist by trade, handles tree removal and related work with precision and care. Together, they bring a new purpose to discarded wood, combining artistry and sustainability.
When a client hires Capital Timber to remove a tree, the process goes far beyond simply cutting it into sections and hauling it away. Instead, the company devises a thoughtful plan to repurpose the wood. From crafting mantles and tables to producing flooring, Capital Timber transforms what might have ended up in a landfill into beautifully revitalized timber products.
The uniquely sustainable service is catching on. As Greg explains, “We did a few jobs where the clients were having their trees removed, and then they found out about this service, and they wanted their trees made into a product for their house or their cottage.”
Once trees are cut down, they are transported to the sawmill in Carp, where Greg and his team take over. Each log is meticulously inspected, ensuring that it’s suitable for repurposing. It is then milled, dried in a special kiln and prepared for its new life.
Recently, Capital Timber completed a large-scale timber reuse project. They were tasked with removing trees from a forested area near Kanata, where a forestry school was to be constructed. Greg described the project as a perfect fit: “There were a bunch of trees that needed to be cleared so that a building could be put up. They were adamant on having those trees used for something.”
It took an entire two weeks to cut the lumber down for the forestry school project. After drying, it was processed into 3,000 square feet of panelling that now adorns the exterior of the new building. The project showcases the company’s craftsmanship and highlights Capital Timber’s ability to preserve a location’s natural essence while enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
However, not every fallen tree can be given a new life. Their work requires a quality product from the beginning, and as Greg explains, “The tree has to have been healthy when it was removed. If it’s got an insect infestation below the bark or is rotten, it likely won’t be useable.”
However, he says that many fallen trees are very useable, like those that need to be cleared after a bad storm. Not only does Capital Timber provide tree maintenance, removal and stump removal, but they can also take away any fallen trees and clean up your property.
For the Clifford brothers, it’s not just about cutting or turning wood from a property into custom flooring, panelling, or a rail from someone’s home; they see it as a way of completing the circle on a tree’s life. Their approach is deeply rooted in the belief that every piece of timber has value, and it’s their mission to tell that story through their finished products.
Whether it’s a dining table, siding for a building, or a floorboard, each crafted item goes from being a piece of yard waste to something that makes your property truly unique and that will add to the overall design aesthetic.
Capital Timber’s work speaks for itself and demonstrates that with dedication and creativity, even the most ordinary materials can be transformed into something extraordinary.
Greg sees potential demand for their service in homes, campuses and government buildings across the National Capital Region: “There’s constant development in the city, and they are removing trees and buying lumber when they could be removing it and then processing it into the lumber for their projects; it seems like a no-brainer.”
With the number of trees in the national capital region coupled with Capital Timber’s sustainable yet innovative approach to wood reclamation and craftsmanship, the possibilities to beautify places and spaces in Ottawa using reclaimed timber are endless.
To learn more about Capital Timber, visit capitaltimbercompany.ca
