Burning Muddy Wood?

[Wolves-Lower]

Thanks to all for your replies about my thread on the Midwest Floods of 2008. I appriciate your condolances.
I managed to recover 6 pickup loads of my cut firewood downstream.
To wash the stuff would be time consuming so I stacked it dirty with plans of "Chinking it together" before burn to get most of the mud off.
Questions:
Is it ok to burn dirty flood wood?
And,
I had Hickory flooring that had to come out. I saved it and cut it up into chunks. It had a Oil based sealer on it.
What are your thoughts about burning that?

I did manage to move my wood shed back to its original spot. What a chore!
I found some big telephone poles. Then I jacked up my log wood shed and put the telephone poles underneath the 2X6 suppports. Then with chains and a truck I dragged my wood shed about 30 ft, while replacing new telephone poles in the front.

Thanks.

Wolves-Lower

 

[Jags]

W-L, glad to hear that you are starting to put things back together. With the wood in questions, just stack it up and keep it uncovered for awhile. The rains will do wonders for washing it off by winter. Should have no problems even if there is a little left on it. The flooring that has been finished is another story. My opinion is that I wouldn't burn it. If it took a gallon of the stuff to seal the wood on your floor, its the same as burning that gallon in your stove.

 

[pinewoodburner]

Burning the wood with mud on it should not be a problem.
Burning the wood floor with a finish, I would not. You would be burning a chemical and you don't know what toxins will go into the air.
Best of luck in dealing with the clean up.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I agree totally.

Wolves-Lower, it sounds like you've done a ton of work and there is probably even more to do yet. Glad you are getting it together. Wish we were closer so I could give you a hand.

 

[begreen]

Good to hear things are slowly coming back together wolves-lower. I agree in general with the consensus and like Jag's idea of letting the rains wash off most of the mud for a month or two. The oil soaked flooring would probably be extra-flammable. Was this linseed oil or a commercial mix?

How is the structure of the house? Is it a total loss or salvageable? Did you have flood insurance?

 

[Wolves-Lower]

The Oil based sealer was your typical Varathane Oil Sealer. I had the house full of Hickory about 1000 sq ft of it.
Hickory is just such great wood I hated seeing it go to waste.
The house sustained substantial damage but at least the foundation and everything above 30 inches looks great!
I am in the process of going through all the building permits and getting "Special Permits" from the Department of Natural Resourses to elevate my house.
Yes I had flood insurance, and the good thing is I am eligible for a grant to elevate.
Never had water in the house before, and I want to take measures from getting again.

The good news is, with a little steel wool and some Stove Black the burner looks as good as new!

 

[begreen]

When you said you had hickory floors I felt your pain. Hickory is nice wood, they must have been beautiful. Are they badly cupped or could they dry out in place and be resurfaced?

Good plan to raise the house, that's what the smart folks do locally on the flood plains. I really glad to hear that some hope and sunshine is coming your way. Hope the rest of the town is also recovering. On a positive note, another way to look at this if you are a gardener or farmer, nature just gave you a big gift of fresh soil.

 

[Carl]

Sorry to hear of your flood problems. Not an easy task to recoupe from. If my wood has dirt on it I do like you said, knock them together when dry to knock off as much as possible. If a little is left on the wood it won't hurt and will add just a little to your ash supply.

Others wouldn't burn the flooring but I would depending on what it looked like. A lot of the poisons were released when this finish dried but there will still be some left. Mixed in with good wood it shouldn't overheat and the few toxins which may be released are very minor compared to what is released every single second by all of us. I have burned lots of old furniture and painted items inside and out with no problems......so do what you feel is right for you. If you think it is a bad idea don't do it and sleep well or if it doesn't seem like a bad idea do it and still sleep well. %-P

Either way won't have much of an influence on our fresh air which is circulated worldwide across many dirty industrial areas that would make your chimney stack seem clean no matter what you put in it. I do try to be green but sometimes I think it is carried way too far. If this isn't burned where will it go, the landfill or left to rot somewhere putting the residue into the ground and eventually the water supply? What about everything else washed away? Will it all be picked up and disposed of? I doubt that would be possible.

Edit: Maybe I should clarify, I don't go looking for junk wood to burn but if I have some from a project or work around the house I don't hesitate to burn it. I won't burn treated lumber or some very heavily painted woods but most don't fall into this catagory. As others have advised, it is not good to burn this stuff, at least on a regular basic.

 

[bluefrier]

Jags is right about letting the rain clean up the wood for you. do not burn wood that is painted, chemically treated, etc...
Good luck with your clean up project.

 

[Adios Pantalones]

Unless you have another use for the ash produce, muddy wood is fine. When it dries- smash 2 pieces together as you pick them up to bring them in- I do this to reduce mess and bugs anyway.

I would have more issue with the muddy wood, as I use the resultant ah in pottery glazes and a little dirt really effects the chemical composition as the ash is only a very small % of the initial weight of the wood.