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Last Updated on March 29, 2022 by woodcutter
“Is there anyone awake in this home? Can you please bring me some firewood; I want to prepare a cup of tea to warm up my intestines”.
Thus, the usual wakeup call of a shivering voice from grannies sitting alongside of a fireplace in the cold winter. There is nothing cozier than toasting yourself with fire during this season. Despite wearing more jerseys and bomber jackets, you can feel that there is a void that need to be filled .Only fire can provide with enough warmth. Above all, it is important to store your firewood properly in winter.
What is the best way to store firewood outside?
Positioning has always been an important part when setting your woodpile. Most of the time people usually store in garages or indoors. They do this because it is easier to lift and they don’t need to move very far. However, they are a lot of disadvantages on that as insects may be hiding among the logs so thus preferably to store firewood outside. Furthermore storing in garages may accommodate insects, which may end up rusting your tools with their waste. Despite the heaviness and stressful to carry firewood in winter, it is important to store your firewood outside.
What’s next after selecting a place to store firewood outside?
As I mentioned that the suitable place to choose is supposed to be outside, here are some easy steps to follow when preparing that place:
- First of all you should thoroughly clean up the place that you’ve chosen.
- Apply a layer of gravel or concrete to the surface of the ground.
- Look for at least 4 or 9 big stones (depending on the amount of firewood you have gathered). Put those stones into equal rows and columns that will produce four corners. If you do not have stones, you can use concrete or any other solid object.
- Dig a hole close to the stone in every corner and put a long and straight log.
Lay a board on top of those stones. If you do not have boards, they is another mathematical option of converging few logs parallel to each other on top of the stones.
After that, you’ll lay many rows as you will be proceeding with piling your firewood.
You may be wondering why you shouldn’t lay firewood directly to the ground? Note that they are a lot of different small creatures that lives in the soil. For instance, bugs are always busy digging in and out of the soil and they may end up boring firewood. Naturally, they are highly dependent on wood as their source of food. Furthermore, you will be avoiding bacteria into the ground, which is also known for decomposing wood. By following these simple steps above, you’ll be ensured that no bacteria can reach your firewood.
Place in a neat pile
The hard part is over. You’ve laid out the foundation and corner logs. Now it’s time to pile your firewood in an orderly way so that you will have an easy access to the firewood that will keep you warm all winter long. In this process, you need to be very careful and making sure that you build a strong woodpile that would not fall. Give yourself time to neatly pile up instead of tossing. I recommend you to gather long and straight logs by the time of your firewood gathering because they have more stable structure. Angle your woodpile against prevailing winds, so that the drying breezes will blow through the stack.
Should you cover your woodpile?
“Oh my eyes will be glaring tonight. These logs are producing smoke and are not burning properly”. Again, thus the usual saying from someone who is expecting a glow from a wet firewood in winter. We all deserve best heat. However if you didn’t cover firewood, it will get wet and damp. Firewood can easily get wet that will make it decay and difficult to burn. Especially in some regions where they have snowy winters, covering firewood is a must. Wet firewood produce smoke, which is harmful to our health .You blow the fire until you feel dizzy.
Besides that, wet firewood can attract termites. Can you imagine the army of termites pouring out of the firewood and scattering all over the fireplace. To cover your logs, you can use metal roof that reduce moisture more quickly from the wood or DIY a shed that gives ventilation and protection to your firewood from moisture. Or else, just buy a shelter logic firewood-seasoning shed. You are free to use any option mentioned that you are comfortable with.
Bonus tips and warnings
Our children likes to do naughty things. They can play hide and seek on top of woodpile. We should teach them that no matter how happy they are, woodpile is not a place to play. Furthermore, avoid gathering logs with barks because they are major insect’s carrier.
With the correct process for firewood storage, you’ll be assured you will not face any problems in your firewood all winter long. I hope that after reading these tips, you have a better understanding of how important firewood storage is.
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