We all hope for dry conditions when we order fire wood, the great British weather has other ideas for us. Here are some key points to help keep those seasoned logs ready and waiting to keep you warm.
Pick an Ideal location
- Pick a spot that is dry and well-ventilated, and not directly under trees where it
could get soaked by dripping branches. - It is best to keep the firewood pile at least a few feet away from your house to
deter pests from coming inside.
Store it off the ground
- Place logs on a raised platform like a wooden pallet, bricks, or a dedicated
firewood rack to keep them from absorbing moisture from the ground. - This elevation also improves airflow around the bottom of the woodpile.
Stack for airflow
- Arrange logs in a neat, stable stack rather than a loose heap to ensure air can
circulate freely through the entire pile. - A crisscross or grid pattern is recommended for both stability and airflow.
- Leave a small gap between the back of the stack and any wall it might be
against to allow for air circulation.
Protect from the elements
- Cover only the top of the stack with a tarp, a piece of plywood, or a metal roof
to shield it from rain and snow. - Do not cover the entire stack with a plastic tarp, as this will trap moisture and
promote mould and rot. - Slope the cover slightly to help rainwater run-off.
- You can secure the cover by weighing it down with a few pieces of firewood.