How to Stack Firewood
Stacking firewood may seem like a simple job and it is. But if you learn how to stack firewood right the first time it could help avoid some potential problems in the future.
The first thing to consider is if the firewood is green, wet or already dry. If it’s green or wet you will want to stack it in a way that will allow it to dry quickly. In order for firewood to dry it is important that it has adequate air flow.
First you will need to decide where to stack the wood. If it’s green or wet the best place to stack it will be out in the open where it will be exposed to the sun and wind. If it’s dry a shed or covered area will be best. If you don’t have a covered structure to stack it in a tarp or other cover will work.
You will want to stack your wood on something that will keep it away from contact with the ground. Wood will absorb moisture from direct soil contact and it can leña y carbon encourage mold and decay. Not to mention the dirt will stick to the wood and make a mess. You can stack it on a concrete slab or on a pallet, plywood, tarp or anything to keep it off the ground. A common way is to place two parallel boards, poles or similar objects on the ground and stack the wood on top and perpendicular to them.
Start stacking the wood and place the pieces parallel to each other and fit the pieces together as neatly as you can to ensure a stable stack. If you don’t have stakes or something on the ends of the stacks to stack against you can criss cross the pieces on the ends in the style of a log cabin so you can have vertical ends. It’s usually best to not stack your firewood more than 4 feet high or it could become unstable and fall over.
If your wood is wet or green it will shrink as it dries. It’s common for the stack to start to lean toward the side that dries the fastest which will usually be the side facing the sun. It can help if you make your stack leaning a little away from the sun to compensate.
If your wood is dry you can stack it in a shed or under cover. It’s best if the structure is ventilated to allow air flow. If you cover it with a tarp make sure you don’t cover the whole pile all the way to the ground. This will hold in any moisture that may get inside or that the wood absorbs from the air. Not only will this keep the wood from drying but can encourage mold.
Stacking firewood is a pretty simple job and there really isn’t a right or wrong way to do it but hopefully these few tips may help you find the way that suits you best.