C/S/S How long will silver maple last?

[bunfoolio]

I am working on year 3 and was wondering how long it would last? I do not want it in my stack if it will just rot anyway. Area gets lots of sun and wind.

 

[pen]

Throw some top cover on it, and I wouldn't be worried any if it was solid to start with.

pen

 

[Grisu]

Forever as long as it is kept dry. Just ask the studs in your wall.

 

[Applesister]

If you are concerned about longevity with that particular species, burn it first.

 

[Woody Stover]

Not sure in the long run but I've got some that's been out there three years. Top-covered, I'd bet it would last a long time.

 

[firefighterjake]

Forever as long as it is kept dry. Just ask the studs in your wall.

Ummm . . . if I start asking the wood studs in my walls questions and they answer back I think someone might have to blue paper me.

 

[Fred Wright]

Pretty much indefinitely if kept covered and dry. A lot of furniture is made from maple.

Our issue with soft maple is the high humidity here. It can get mold after a couple years on the stacks.

 

[DougA]

Kept dry, it will last for decades. Not sure why you aren't burning it after 3 yrs. I burn a lot of silver maple and it's not as good as some for long burns, but it still makes a lot of heat. I've never heard of silver maple studs though. Too twisty.

 

[Applesister]

Im too dependant on soft maple to supply my firewood in the one year seasoning catagory. Its unusual for it to be sitting longer. I roll hickory and oak over from season to season but never the lighter stuff. I dont have huge stockpiles though.

 

[Soundchasm]

I processed silver maple last summer, and I recently checked a pile of ends/uglies I didn't fiddle with last year, and those in contact with the soil were doing predictably worse than the others, but it seemed obvious that uncovered is not a good strategy for silver.

 

[bunfoolio]

Thank you for all the replies. Looks like I will start splitting and top cover.