stikine
Treehouser
The classic blue tarp is the Alaska State flower, lol.
Firewood
- Thread starter Ed L
- Start date
- Replies 788
- Views 60K
flushcut
TreeHouser
I stack, uncovered, full sun, full wind. In late fall I’ll bring in 20 or so IBC totes into the shop for winter burning. Air flow and avoiding ground contact is key IMO more so than covering. PNW guys I can see keeping their wood covered but just the top not the sides, air flow.
Cobleskill
Treehouser
I saw a guy making round stacks. Peaks them up and then lays cut pieces of slab wood like shingles on top. I should stop and take pics.
Burnham
Woods walker
Or just build a shed? Mine are drop dead simple construction...I'm basically capable as a carpenter, but nothing more. No foundation...PT 4x4 posts set in the ground for the corners, and just stack on pallets or scrap lumber.
Burnham
Woods walker
I am fortunate to have a metal roofing company in the nearby town. I bought a batch of mis-cut/scratched/slightly bent panels for cheap and roofed my sheds with that set on 2x4s. Since the spans are short, not much structure or cross framing was needed.
Burnham
Woods walker
An old thread...
We've been steadily working at replacing a 20+ year old firewood storage structure this early winter. It's mostly finished at this point...some siding to be added as the spirit moves us and decent weather to do light construction presents itself 
.
The old structure was just a run of 7 split cedar fence posts with a flat roof of 2x4's and old corrugated metal...a 1/2 cord would fit between each 10 feet of run, stacked rick fashion...60 feet all together. The new structure is similar, but takes two rows of wood, so stores a cord per section...6 cords total capacity.
Turned out to be...
.The old structure was just a run of 7 split cedar fence posts with a flat roof of 2x4's and old corrugated metal...a 1/2 cord would fit between each 10 feet of run, stacked rick fashion...60 feet all together. The new structure is similar, but takes two rows of wood, so stores a cord per section...6 cords total capacity.
Turned out to be...
What /I/ would like if I wanted to make the time, and had the patience to do it skillfully would be to make one out of eastern red cedar. Whole cedar stems as the posts, live edge cedar bracing, and a roof made of whatever, but with split cedar shingles as a finished top.
Burnham
Woods walker
A pretty woodshed is a nice thing, for true. After all, you will be looking at it for many years. But a couple of years worth of dry firewood trumps all...if waiting to get a shed built is caused by not being ready with the beauty components, you are missing the forest for the trees, so to speak .
.
Burnham
Woods walker
Fact of the matter here is that more than a few visitors to our place comment on the "beauty" of our filled woodsheds. Some take pictures, no lie.
So a nicely done shed, even without the live edge cedar trim, can be mighty appealing.
So a nicely done shed, even without the live edge cedar trim, can be mighty appealing.
That's why mine's a pallet box with recycled plastic on top :^D
It's only a single box. Between that, my porch, and an open pallet staging area, I can keep my wood good for a (recent)typical winter. The current winter is an old school winter, which is great, but I'm going through wood faster. With the demise of my pine, that opens up a good area to put wood, and I'll have to give some thought for doing something nicer up there.
It's only a single box. Between that, my porch, and an open pallet staging area, I can keep my wood good for a (recent)typical winter. The current winter is an old school winter, which is great, but I'm going through wood faster. With the demise of my pine, that opens up a good area to put wood, and I'll have to give some thought for doing something nicer up there.
Nutball
TreeHouser
Around here people don't buy wood until it's cold enough to burn. They see and feel that the outside of the firewood is dry, then complain when it doesnt burn. Woodsheds must be luxury around here.
Burnham
Woods walker
Understanding how fuelwood needs to be cured and stored must also be...ummm...a luxury 
.
I suspect these folks with this small understanding must use firewood as another luxury. A pretty fire in a fireplace or glass-doored woodstove used on occasion for ambiance.
If actually keeping your home warm, or if being able to cook your food, was dependent on the quality and condition of your firewood fuel, one would expect a higher level of awareness, I'd hope.
.I suspect these folks with this small understanding must use firewood as another luxury. A pretty fire in a fireplace or glass-doored woodstove used on occasion for ambiance.
If actually keeping your home warm, or if being able to cook your food, was dependent on the quality and condition of your firewood fuel, one would expect a higher level of awareness, I'd hope.
I think a lot of cultural knowledge about woodburning has been lost. Around here, most houses don't have a fireplace anymore. You used to get one whether you wanted it or not :^D With every house having woodburning capability, knowledge of wood, even if imperfect tended to propagate.
Burnham
Woods walker
I guess that sounds right John. Sad, but true.
Al Smith
Mac Daddy
I normally just tarp the stacks but didn't get that done this year . What little fall rains we got hasn't caused any problems .bone dry ash burns good . As I type it's 3 below zero .Insert does good but this cold it does have an appetite for wood .Face cord every 6-7 days , about 6 more weeks it will be all done .
SeanKroll
Treehouser
Cover the top in fall before wet weather arrives.
A long time ago, I build a nice 200 sq ft wood shed add-on to my barn, but it's too good to use for firewood. It's near my old firewood processing area and no longer convenient. I've got air-dried madrona slabs and other dry storage there. I'll build a wood shed on skids at some point. That will keep it from being locked into one place as I change up my work yard arrangements.
A sheet of greenhouse plastic keeps the wood dry through the winter, currently. Not glamorous, but effective.
A long time ago, I build a nice 200 sq ft wood shed add-on to my barn, but it's too good to use for firewood. It's near my old firewood processing area and no longer convenient. I've got air-dried madrona slabs and other dry storage there. I'll build a wood shed on skids at some point. That will keep it from being locked into one place as I change up my work yard arrangements.
A sheet of greenhouse plastic keeps the wood dry through the winter, currently. Not glamorous, but effective.
Altissimus
TreeHouser
Ready , Shed by next Winter or Bust , the right way to do it.
Cobleskill
Treehouser
I read someplace a long time ago the fastest way to stack wood to get it dry is in a circle with an open center. I never tried it myself. I'm not sure the circular stacks I saw recently are open in the middle. Have to stop and look. I bet he gets some people stopping. Quite attractive.
Altissimus
TreeHouser
Guy up valley sells tons of pre build , all sizes and uses. My neighbor said he's built them and bought them built , he believes they are quite close in price. Occasionally he has sales , called Jamaica Cottage Shop , average workmanship
For consideration...
afarmgirlinthemaking.com
You can search holzhausen for other pics/guides. Never done it, and I don't know the pros/cons, but it's an attractive way to store wood that doesn't require built infrastructure.
Building a Holz Hausen | A Stand Alone Firewood Storage
Building a holz hausen is European method used for firewood storage. Stacking firewood in this manner creates a free standing firewood storage.
afarmgirlinthemaking.com
You can search holzhausen for other pics/guides. Never done it, and I don't know the pros/cons, but it's an attractive way to store wood that doesn't require built infrastructure.
Cobleskill
Treehouser
Greenhouse plastic is tough and lasts for years. I have some used stuff a bud gave me in a huge roll from early 80's. Still good.
Burnham
Woods walker
I believe no method of stacking firewood without cover would result in fuel dry enough to burn well, given the 60 inches or so of rain we average a year at my place. More likely to get rot and mushrooms .
.
SeanKroll
Treehouser
Agreed.
I cover it when it's split until dry summer weather, then again in the fall.
I cover it when it's split until dry summer weather, then again in the fall.
CurSedVoyce
California Hillbilly
We buy these. Heavy bugger but holds up. They have different sizes. But one could cut what you need and glue a seam. Collections - https://www.billboardvinyls.com/products
Last edited:
