I have a question for you wood burners,
How long will wood stay good for burning once its cut,split, and stacked?
How long will wood stay good for burning once its cut,split, and stacked?
I have a question for you wood burners,
How long will wood stay good for burning once its cut,split, and stacked?
That is an excellent question Tiger. Yet, nobody can say for definite. The big points have been touched on above; keep the wood off the ground and keep it top covered and it will last many years. I've burned 10 year old wood and we regularly burn 6-7 year old wood. Not that long ago a relative of ours burned wood that was somewhere between 15-20 years. It had been cut to length but not split and was all white ash. I must say it was excellent wood.
I was reminded recently that one time my father-in-law gave us some wood. He decided to not burn wood anymore and said if we'd empty his basement he would be very happy and we could have the wood. Seems that was around 10 years old and burned just fine.
One nice thing is that you don't have to have a big wood shed or do anything particularly fussy with the wood. The stack below was from the winter of 2008-2009 and all that is under the wood are some soft maple poles I cut in the woods. They are maybe 4" diameter maximum. The top is covered with old galvanized roofing. By the way, that wood is still stacked right in the very same spot. We probably won't burn that wood until the winter of 2013-2014. It is a combination of ash, elm and soft maple. It will be excellent when we get around to burning it.
View attachment 72271
I have a question for you wood burners,
How long will wood stay good for burning once its cut,split, and stacked?
If you can find a local company that builds pole buildings , ask them for their " cover " sheets . You may be able to get them for free.I need to find some of that roofing, I tried the ol tarp method last year and I was always messing with it. Thanks Savage.
I need to find some of that roofing, I tried the ol tarp method last year and I was always messing with it. Thanks Savage.
That is an excellent question Tiger. Yet, nobody can say for definite. The big points have been touched on above; keep the wood off the ground and keep it top covered and it will last many years. I've burned 10 year old wood and we regularly burn 6-7 year old wood. Not that long ago a relative of ours burned wood that was somewhere between 15-20 years. It had been cut to length but not split and was all white ash. I must say it was excellent wood.
I was reminded recently that one time my father-in-law gave us some wood. He decided to not burn wood anymore and said if we'd empty his basement he would be very happy and we could have the wood. Seems that was around 10 years old and burned just fine.
One nice thing is that you don't have to have a big wood shed or do anything particularly fussy with the wood. The stack below was from the winter of 2008-2009 and all that is under the wood are some soft maple poles I cut in the woods. They are maybe 4" diameter maximum. The top is covered with old galvanized roofing. By the way, that wood is still stacked right in the very same spot. We probably won't burn that wood until the winter of 2013-2014. It is a combination of ash, elm and soft maple. It will be excellent when we get around to burning it.
View attachment 72271
Dennis, when do you top cover, after a couple years or right after its stacked? Do you always keep the wood top covered year round? Im just wondering because I have some wood thats been exposed two years and I was going to top cover this fall during a dry spell, wonder if I should cover all 12 cords and keep the over on all the time or remove it after winter or should I leave the newer split stuff uncovered for another year or two.
Wish i could score some of the roofing material you have, Ive been looking but no luck, I suppose I coud but some new, would last a long time.
After a couple of years you better cover the top and have it up off the ground or you will get rot, at least with many species. I had some bad luck with red oak leaving it uncovered for a few years. Wood like black locust there is no problem.
In a shed where it stays dry and termites dont get into it it will stay good forever!! Think of your house or furnature, you dont worry about your house roting or your floors! Staying dry is the key.
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