To cover or not to cover

If you do a search you'll see this topic has been talked about to death.

Summary: Some folks do. Some folks don't. Those that do tend to just cover the top.

I think you have to specify whether it's a pile that's being used this winter.

I would say cover it down the sides, at least the windward side.

Bowow said:

Merry Christmas everyone. Do you cover your wood pile or not? Do you just cover the top or do u drape the tarp down the sides?

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Rule of thumb is if you want good wood, top cover it. Never, never, never cover the sides or ends though. If you do that you will trap the moisture in and you want that moisture to get out.

I recently tried an old experiment and had several stacks that we did not cover. Long story short, that will be the last time we will do that. Most generally we cut wood in winter, split in spring and stack right after splitting. The following fall we will top cover using old galvanized roofing and usually this is done around the first of December. A few years later we'll burn it. We try to make sure all our wood has been stacked out in the wind for 3 years before burning. The benefits of doing this are fantastic.

I think he said he is burning this stack this season, with no shed in the picture, so he wants to keep it dry. You got wind blown snow and rain, that's why I feel the windward sides should be covered. Should do that after a dry spell.

Moisture is the enemy of wood. Moisture makes wood attractive to insects and fungus.

I leave mine out in the open for a year then put it in the shed for a year and burn it the next year. one half of the shed is for this year, one half for the next year.

This is what I do with all my wood. 4 open sides and a roof. I can get about 8 cords in there and the wind blows right through! When it's dry enough, I have an enclosed shed that holds 5 cords.

velvetfoot said:

I think he said he is burning this stack this season, with no shed in the picture, so he wants to keep it dry. You got wind blown snow and rain, that's why I feel the windward sides should be covered. Should do that after a dry spell.

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The wood will not soak up that windblown snow or rain. Wood is not a sponge and only the very outside will get wet. Left alone, that is usually dried completely within 24 hours and many times sooner. Leave the sides open so air can blow through the stack and the wood will continue to dry. Close off that air circulation and you also lock in the moisture.

Yup, top cover the wood pile you'll be using this winter. There's nothing more irritating than a snow- and ice-covered wood stack that's all frozen together. :D

I had my this year wood off the ground and top covered only during rainy weather and open during nice weather. Then in mid october I left one section top covered only and open on the sides to the elements and another pile with the tarps draped down the sides. Both are double row stacks that have stayed below 20% but the one that had the tarps to the ground have frozen condensation on the underside of the tarps. IMO top covered only is best but each to their own....

Backwoods Savage said:

The wood will not soak up that windblown snow or rain. Wood is not a sponge and only the very outside will get wet. Left alone, that is usually dried completely within 24 hours and many times sooner. Leave the sides open so air can blow through the stack and the wood will continue to dry. Close off that air circulation and you also lock in the moisture.

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Not going to bring wet wood into the house, the wood I cover is already as dry as its going to get.

If you live in Ontario this week and didn't cover your woodpile every cord would be a 128 cu foot block of ice!