In the evenings, whether you’re on your patio around the fire pit or indoors by the fireplace, a pile of well-stacked firewood is always appreciated.
Your fire will burn better if you have hardwood or softwood firewood and it all starts with the way the wood is stacked. Here are some great tips for stacking firewood for those warm and cosy evenings by the fire.
Choose a proper location
It can be tempting to stack your firewood close to your home, so you don’t have to walk too far in the wind or rain to gather wood for your fire inside your home. A seasoned firewood stack close to your home can be a serious fire hazard if you live in an area that is prone to wildfires or dry conditions. It is recommended that you stack your firewood at least 30 feet away from your house to reduce any risk of a wildfire catching.
Ideally, you should not store the firewood stack in a shady environment and instead choose a location that receives a lot of sunlight. The heat and light from the sun will speed up the drying and seasoning process, so your firewood will burn more efficiently in the winter months.
You should place your firewood stack far from areas where your dog or children play. A stack of properly stacked firewood is unlikely to topple over; however, accidents can occur if your child or dog climbs on the stack.
Keep off the ground
It is best to stack your firewood at least a few inches off the ground. You may have a few problems if you stack firewood directly on the ground. You need a stable base for your log pile. It is much more likely that moisture will build up on logs that are placed directly on the ground, causing the wood to rot.
You can easily keep your logs off the ground by laying down two treated wood boards to rest your logs on. Unlike natural wood, these types of boards are designed to be on the ground and resist moisture better.
Stacking your firewood
It is important not to stack your firewood too tightly, whether you have a rack or not. If your logs are stacked too tightly together, moisture will be prevented from evaporating, which will lead to improper drying and seasoning.
It is important to leave some space between the logs to promote air flow, which will help keep the wood dry. If you are stacking firewood, keep the ends even in order to keep the pile stable.
Keep them protected
Tarping your wood stack completely is not recommended. Under a completely covered tarp, the wood cannot dry properly because moisture is trapped underneath.
Ideally, the top of the wood should be covered so that the rain can run off rather than soak into it. A tarp, tin roofing, or another similar material could be used to cover the top of the wood. Turn up the bark of the top layer of the wood if there is nothing to cover it with. In this way, moisture can be prevented from penetrating the wood.
If you follow these simple tips, you’ll soon have a firewood pile ready for cosy night in by the fireplace.
We provide a stacking service at Conwy Valley Logs for an extra £10 per bag, so if you need assistance stacking your wood, feel free to get in touch with us.
