questions about wood storage

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buddylee

Member
Feb 16, 2011
98
middle georgia
New to amassing a large amounts of wood. What I want to know is the proper ways to store wood. Some of my wood is from fresh cut trees and the rest is from logging leftovers. Should I treat the fresh cut wood and semi-seasoned the same? Split everything right away ? What will cause rot to set in? How long can you store wood covered?
 
Use pallets or gravel or both to keep the wood up off the ground. Soil contact will cause rot. Prolonged moisture can cause rot as well so the wood needs good air circulation. In my area Oak and Madrone that is up off the ground with good air circulation can stay outside for six or seven years at least.
 
Split right away if at all possible. Stack as well. Oak will take a couple seasons to dry, but most anything else will dry for this season if you split it now.
 
You should cover the top of your wood due to your location. I learned this the hard way. It is not required for many parts of the US but in GA you should cover it for best results.
 
smokingout said:
New to amassing a large amounts of wood. What I want to know is the proper ways to store wood. Some of my wood is from fresh cut trees and the rest is from logging leftovers. Should I treat the fresh cut wood and semi-seasoned the same? Split everything right away ? What will cause rot to set in? How long can you store wood covered?

If I wanted to burn the wood this Fall I would sort out the fresh cut wood from the logging left overs . . . and burn the logging left overs first. I know in the first year of burning I got a late start and between burning a bunch of very dead elm and tree tops I was able to do OK in my first year of burning.

I would most definitely split everything sooner rather than later . . . and avoid rot by getting the split wood up, off the ground (pallets work for me) . . . if you opt to cover (always a hot debate) you only want to top cover the stack vs. covering the whole thing (which can cause rot.)
 
smokingout said:
New to amassing a large amounts of wood. What I want to know is the proper ways to store wood. Some of my wood is from fresh cut trees and the rest is from logging leftovers. Should I treat the fresh cut wood and semi-seasoned the same? Split everything right away ? What will cause rot to set in? How long can you store wood covered?

I would treat them the same. Split and stack. What causes rot is moisture. Make sure you stack so the wood is off the ground. How long can you store wood covered? I don't know for sure but probably 100 years is a fair guess.
 
Backwoods Savage said:
smokingout said:
New to amassing a large amounts of wood. What I want to know is the proper ways to store wood. Some of my wood is from fresh cut trees and the rest is from logging leftovers. Should I treat the fresh cut wood and semi-seasoned the same? Split everything right away ? What will cause rot to set in? How long can you store wood covered?

I would treat them the same. Split and stack. What causes rot is moisture. Make sure you stack so the wood is off the ground. How long can you store wood covered? I don't know for sure but probably 100 years is a fair guess.

Ya know I could have a field day with that one Dennis lol...I choose to keep you in suspense as to what I would probably say..

:lol:

Ray
 
I live in Georgia - I keep the top covered (with a bit going over the sides, maybe a foot) with coated canvas tarps except for when there are days in a row of sunny weather and I remember to remove the tarps.
The wood has been sitting for a year now, no rot, fine shape. As suggested, off the ground, stacked and split.
 
raybonz said:
Backwoods Savage said:
smokingout said:
New to amassing a large amounts of wood. What I want to know is the proper ways to store wood. Some of my wood is from fresh cut trees and the rest is from logging leftovers. Should I treat the fresh cut wood and semi-seasoned the same? Split everything right away ? What will cause rot to set in? How long can you store wood covered?

I would treat them the same. Split and stack. What causes rot is moisture. Make sure you stack so the wood is off the ground. How long can you store wood covered? I don't know for sure but probably 100 years is a fair guess.

Ya know I could have a field day with that one Dennis lol...I choose to keep you in suspense as to what I would probably say..

:lol:

Ray

I can imagine Ray! :lol:
 
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