We have 5 mature oak trees that need to be removed and possibly sold (we're building a new house). We're not sure where to start looking.

Please try contacting several custom/portable sawmill operators on the following directory created by the Illinois Urban Wood Utilization Team:

http://www.illinoisurbanwood.org/documents/ILCustomSawmillsDirectory2011.pdf

However, most of these custom/portable sawmill operators are not in the business of removing yard trees, nor are many custom sawmill operators and traditional loggers willing to assume the extremely high cost, risk, and liability associated with removing individual trees in residential areas, not to mention the specialized equipment needed in many situations. This is exactly why the vast majority of residential tree removal projects are a net "cost" project, not a net "profit" project to the homeowner.

Of course, you can always try contacting a licensed timber buyer via the following Website if you truly believe your trees to be of legitimate and outstanding commercial value for lumber or veneer:

http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/timber/09/TBlist.pdf

Best of luck!

I too have a very large oak tree in my front yard, it's close to the house with branches overhanging roof, and it's almost direct center of my front door thus, blocking views. I also have my main drain running through the middle of the front yard, I think this tree's roots might be invading the pipe, I've already had it rodded out in the less than a year I've lived there. I worry too of this tree falling on my house. Ideally would like to sell the tree as well to offset removal costs of some useless trees and branch trimming. I live in the northern suburbs of Chicago.

Please try contacting several custom/portable sawmill operators on the following directory created by the Illinois Urban Wood Utilization Team:

http://www.illinoisurbanwood.org/documents/ILCustomSawmillsDirectory2011.pdf

However, most of these custom/portable sawmill operators are not in the business of removing yard trees, nor are many custom sawmill operators and traditional loggers willing to assume the extremely high cost, risk, and liability associated with removing individual trees in residential areas, not to mention the specialized equipment needed in many situations. This is exactly why the vast majority of residential tree removal projects are a net "cost" project, not a net "profit" project to the homeowner.

Of course, you can always try contacting a licensed timber buyer via the following Website if you truly believe your trees to be of legitimate and outstanding commercial value for lumber or veneer:

http://dnr.state.il.us/law3/timber/09/TBlist.pdf

Best of luck!