I think it's time for me to start stacking in single rows

I only stack on pallets in cubes about 40"X48" and 5' tall. I top cover with rubber roofing. All wood sits for four years and the only problem I've had is some oak sapwood going to punk because the roofing sagged and rain runoff was concentrated in one spot - only losing a few splits though. So....you're splits were about 18 months in the stack or so? I think that stacked wood in the northeast seems to need more time to be perfect (depending on species) - my oak is a definite three year wood, and even red maple, cherry and white birch seem better after a full two years. But, if you have the room to single row, that's great! Cheers!

I'm having a similar problem with 2 cord of walnut that was cut and split in Dec 2011. However I have walnut that was cut/split in Sept. 2012 that reads 18-20%.
Stacked in single rows separated approx. 1' apart.

I leave a 18" gap between rows. Just enough for me to squeeze in between if I need to. The wind blows through
the stacks very nicely. It takes up a little more real estate but it's well worth it .

Paulywalnut said:

I leave a 18" gap between rows. Just enough for me to squeeze in between if I need to. The wind blows through
the stacks very nicely. It takes up a little more real estate but it's well worth it .

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+1. I haven't had any problems stacking on pallets, but I lay my pallets down in a row and then have two rows running along their length with a gap in between. Not sure if that's how you're doing it or not. I know from experience that butting rows up tight against one another doesn't cut the mustard.

I think I've read far too many positive things about single-stacking on the forum now to ever want to double-stack the wood I'm seasoning.
Awesome info, as always!

I also put only two rows on pallets leaving space between them.

If you have the space, single rows can be very effective. This gets sun on both sides and wind blows from west to east through the wood. It has better air flow underneath, too.

Well that's discouraging... I'm in the process of switching from single row stacks to pallet cubes so I can move them around with the front end loader.

Just to be clear, I still like pallets. As mentioned earlier, I think it just depends on your climate how much time you have to let it season.

I'm trying a new technique, 2 rows on pallets, with a space between them.
New is; I lean the stacks slightly together to where the meet at the top.
Then a row of bark up birch down the seam.
Hoping to keep some rain & snow out of the center.
Last year the space was packed full of snow.

Single stack it in the sun and wind for best results.....
And make small splits.....

PSYS said:

I think I've read far too many positive things about single-stacking on the forum now to ever want to double-stack the wood I'm seasoning.
Awesome info, as always!

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If you have the room and can make stable single-row stacks that don't fall over and require restacking periodically, it's absolutely the way to go. If the stacks are out in the sun and wind and your climate isn't too humid, it doesn't take more than a year for good dry firewood, and smaller splits of most species are ready to go in the fall if they were stacked in spring. Another year is better, but half a year in those conditions is OK if necessary.

pen said:

Been there, done that. The stuff needs air!

Were these top covered or not?

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Funny, I just posted on a thread about the stuff someone learned this year. This is one of those things I learned in yr one. I now have 9 racks in the backyard, they are 12" off the ground and are about 16" apart. I get a good prevailing wind that goes through regularly and an extra hour of sunshine in the summer months. It works!

Bob, I think where you went wrong was to not top cover them soon enough. Actually in your area it would not do any harm to top cover that wood as soon as you get it stacked. Give that a try and see if it may work better for you.




I'm not convinced yet and have stacked wood this way all my life. Well, most times in 3 rows together but have stacked with over 20 rows together. Never have had a problem with wood not drying. Many claim with the 3 rows that we typically use for stacking that the center row won't dry. That may be true but I've found it interesting that the wood piles shrink down at the same rate. It would seem if that center row did not dry that it would end up higher. That has never happened.

Here are a few examples and for added emphasis, in the first three pictures, those were stacked right on the ground. Nothing under them except good ole Mother Earth. Naturally the bottom row and mostly the bottom 2 or 3 rows would be frozen in when we got down to them. No problem. Wait for spring, throw those on top of the new piles and they would be fine the following year.

There is not a doubt in my mind that single-stacking will get the wood to season faster.

There is also not a doubt in my mind that if you give the wood several years stacked together it will dry. I have 10 rows, stacked together, off the ground, that has been seasoning for 2-3 years. Seems to dry fine to me.

If you have plenty of wood, your stacks that are stacked tight in rows of three or so will surely season in 3 years.
Guys that are trying to speed things up some so they can catch up will probably do it quicker in single stacks with
a space in between. No scientific evidence though.

Backwoods Savage said:

.... That may be true but I've found it interesting that the wood piles shrink down at the same rate. It would seem if that center row did not dry that it would end up higher. That has never happened.

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Hmmm...the scientist has a good point there.

Backwoods Savage said:

Bob, I think where you went wrong was to not top cover them soon enough. Actually in your area it would not do any harm to top cover that wood as soon as you get it stacked. Give that a try and see if it may work better for you

I'm not convinced yet and have stacked wood this way all my life

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I don't process as much as most here, but what I have sits on pallets, typically 2 together, for approx 4 x 9 supporting 3 rows. This gives me over a full cord stacked on each pair of pallets - sugar maple and yellow birch mostly. So far it seems to work well. But a top cover with something solid (so there's no sag under wet leaves and snow) is required.

granpajohn said:

Hmmm...the scientist has a good point there.

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Not sure if that was meant to be nice or nasty...

Backwoods Savage said:

Not sure if that was meant to be nice or nasty...

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I think that was meant for good...

Backwoods Savage said:

Not sure if that was meant to be nice or nasty...

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..chortle, guffaw... You know I don't make nasty posts. (I suppose there's plenty enough without me adding in.)