Should I top cover the pine this year?

if it is only two rows deep and then it is not going to hurt to top cover it...will still dry just fine withe the wind and sun hitting the exposed sides.

You don't have to top-cover, but it does't hurt to do it either. The reasons I like to top-cover are because we usually get hammered with one monsoon after another in the fall, and I like to keep the dampness out of it Also, it seems to help ward out the ants a little. I notice the moister the wood, the more carpenter ants get into it for their birthing chambers. Only the wood I plan on using this winter gets covered, but in your case where you are worried about the pine getting punky, it wouldn't hurt to cover it for several years given you do NOT cover the sides, just the very top.

I would top cover that pine. I had some out since spring on the ground (i was gonna move it why i did this) and it got really moldy and nasty looking in say 4 months. I have no doubt that it would be punky if i did not cover it and waited to burn it winter of 13-14. I moved this wood into my shed about 3 weeks ago as i intend to burn it this winter. It alreay is below 20%MC. I would probly burn that pine this year if it was cut early in the summer, if latter i might look into the spring to burn.

I fear that that stuff will loose its solidness and go punky if left uncovered that long.

I'd top cover it.
It's seasoned well now & keeping the rain & wet snow off of it will just make it better.

What's your location? Weather in your area will have a big effect. Dry cold winters, CSS wood dries then too.

I think that to cover, or not comes down to individual taste . Seems like folks that don't cover have just as much luck with seasoned wood as those of us that do . The reason I cover is twofold . 1 -I have the metal roofing . 2 - I have tons of Larch ( Tamarac on the property ,and those nasty little needles get into everything and become a soggy mess over the winter.

burnagain said:

Bogydave I'm in middle GA. Rain tends to be the only precipitation it only snows once, maybe twice, per year. I am glad you all agree that I should top cover, it was my first thought I just wanted to clarify with the experts.

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I'll send pictures of precipitation, other than rain Maybe you won't need a fire at all LOL

Top cover for rain is a good thing. Snow too but not as bad as rain, here it's a dry snow & usually blows off the wood.
"Findable" is a feature of covered wood with snow, but you probably won't have that experience

Top cover IMO, is always a good idea for rain. keeps the wood drier.

Yup. Top cover and no worry about punk.

I think firewood is more likely to rot in the deep south, Georgia, for example, than it is farther north. I am not saying I think covering is necessary in the south, but I think the balance tips a little. Sure, up north snow will cover the stacks and that is a pain, but we get less rot in the north.

Wait...you're burning pine? Bad idea. Don't burn that stuff. It'll clog yer chimney and start a forest fire and cause the death of baby whales.

dafattkidd said:

Wait...you're burning pine? Bad idea. Don't burn that stuff. It'll clog yer chimney and start a forest fire and cause the death of baby whales.

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Geez dude .... Next you'll be telling a joke like ... " a baby seal walks int a club .... "

burnagain said:

yeah never have burned much before but took a couple down early summer and couldnt just let it waste.

i agree about the south rotting wood, i grew up in ohio and swear i never saw wood go punky so fast there.

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I actually really like burning pine. I don't get much of it, but I had like 1/2 cord of it last year for the fall and I loved burning it. Lights fast- burns hot and quick. Smells great, too. This fall I'll be burning shorties, chunks and uglies, and wishing I had that nice pine I had last year.