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  1. wingsfan Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 1, 2008
    341 posts
    Jackson,Mi.
    I got all the wood I have processed and stacked, About 2 1/2 cords that are the start of next years supply.Sould i have covered it for winter even tho i'm not using it till next year.I look out at it now and it is covered with 5-6 inches of snow. Sould i clean off the snow and cover it to help keep some of the winter moister off it?
    #1

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  2. jatoxico Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 8, 2011
    727 posts
    Long Island NY
    Nah
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  3. Flatbedford Minister of Fire

    I only cover my stacks to keep the snow off the next week's supply if a storm is forecast. Otherwise it is uncovered. Rain and snow will only wet the surface. Wood does not absorb rainwater unless it is rotten.
    ChrisNJ, AJS56 and midwestcoast like this.
  4. midwestcoast Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 9, 2009
    1,408 posts
    NW Indiana
    No problem having it sit out in the snow this winter and the rain come spring & summer. It will dry for you. Start thinking about covering next fall.
    Like Flatbed I also have only a weeks worth under cover. I found I don't like messing with tarps & this way works for me.
    Moving the years' supply or more into an airy shed once it's seasoned is best, but we can't all swing that.
  5. Flatbedford Minister of Fire

    I keep about 1/3 cord on my covered front porch all winter. I only cover the stack so that I don't have to chop ice off the splits when I move them to the front porch.
  6. AJS56 Member

    joined: Mar 5, 2012
    212 posts
    Central Lower Mich
    What Flatbed said.
  7. midwestcoast Minister of Fire

    joined: Oct 9, 2009
    1,408 posts
    NW Indiana
    Oh, gotcha. All I have is a 4'Lx 4'H rack on my deck with a nifty cover on it. I'll be knocking the snow of the splits if we ever get any.
  8. firefighterjake Minister of Fire

    joined: Jul 22, 2008
    13,524 posts
    Unity/Bangor, Maine
    As mentioned . . . if you're not using it for this burning season (wasn't sure if by "next year" you meant in January-March 2013 or if you meant as in Fall 2013-Spring 2014) top covering it or not doesn't matter as much . . . some folks do, some don't . . . I am in the Lazy Man Camp and I have not top covered my wood or worried about the snow on top . . . by the time I move the one year old wood into my woodshed and then burn it a year or so later any snow or rain has long since evaporated from the top.
  9. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,499 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Fugetaboutit.
    AJS56 likes this.
  10. etiger2007 Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 8, 2012
    1,035 posts
    Clio Michigan
    I just leave it as well. I keep about two face in the garage to keep the elements off it.
  11. Scotty Overkill firewood hoarder

    joined: Sep 24, 2011
    7,152 posts
    central PA
    I usually only top-cover the wood plan on using in a given season the summer before I use it. And the main reason I do it is because.of the torrential rains we've been getting in the fall and the snow and ice in the winter. Not necessary, but it makes the wood nicer to deal with. When I build my woodshed I won't be covering any of it anymore!
    Backwoods Savage likes this.
  12. Backwoods Savage Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 14, 2007
    24,500 posts
    Michigan
    I do top cover before winter and yes, the wood we split last spring is now covered. In fact, all our wood is top covered but not with tarps. We use galvanized roofing. Many do not top cover at all and get along fine. It has been a long, long time since I did that so 2 years ago the wood we cut did not get top covered. Just wanted to do some that way again as a reminder and see what difference there might be. Naturally that wood has really turned gray but it looks good. It will probably be 2 or 3 years before we get to that wood.
  13. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,983 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    I like to top cover if it's easy & not gonna be a pain with wind.
    You will be fine, rain & wet snow will slow the drying but you have time thru the summer (unless it's red oak )

    Cover next fall before it gets rained on for sure since ;)
  14. Kenster Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 10, 2010
    1,514 posts
    Texas- West of Houston
    I never cover any of my stacks. I keep a few days worth of wood up on our big covered front porch. If it comes to the porch wet, it will be dry by the time I burn it.
  15. albert1029 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 15, 2011
    334 posts
    Southwestern PA
    it should be a great relief to hear that you don't have to mess with it...I have a big pile of silver maple and some big rounds yet to split...it looks pretty cool with a lot of snow on them, I'll get a pic tomorrow...
  16. albert1029 Feeling the Heat

    joined: Nov 15, 2011
    334 posts
    Southwestern PA
    next year's silver maple, some locust and a little cherry...tick, tick, tick.... IMAG2267.jpg
    Scotty Overkill likes this.
  17. wingsfan Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 1, 2008
    341 posts
    Jackson,Mi.
    Thanks for the replies..Now I know I don't have to worry about it and it will still be ready for next season.
  18. bboulier Feeling the Heat

    joined: Feb 9, 2010
    438 posts
    NE Virginia
    I cover about 2/3 of a cord of my dry wood with a tarp, since we get more rain than snow and it is nice to bring in a couple days supply of wood into the house I usually burn only during the evenings, since we are helping take care of my 22-month old grandson. He follows directions pretty well and knows a fireplace is hot, but he is apt to be unsteady when tired, so we don't burn while he is around. Don't cover any of the the newer, unseasoned wood.

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