Ask an Arborist

Q: I have a pile of redwood logs on my property. Besides firewood, do they have any special value? Would anyone pay me very much for them?

A: First of all, I'm afraid they do not have much value as firewood. Redwood has both low heat value and low flame length. So, it warms neither the body nor the soul. Sawmills avoid urban wood because it is often full of nails and other metal objects. You could cut the logs into rounds, seal them and use them as stepping stones for a path. The town you live in, fittingly named Mill Valley, mills wood for fence posts and other civic purposes. You could call the city arborist and ask whether he would like to take the logs. A donation to the town might be its best value.

Ref.