Freshly Split Wood - Right In The Woodshed?

[davidmsem]

I'm splitting some wood and wondering if I should place it directly in my woodshed (pictured). I went through the index of articles and did not see one on this topic. Advice or location of an article would be appreciate!

This is a great forum!

 

[mellow]

As opposed to putting it in rows outside first?

 

[davidmsem]

As opposed to putting it in rows outside first?

Yes.....outside in the sun.....I've read that.....top only covered....

 

[firefighterjake]

I wouldn't split it and stick it in the woodshed . . . I would let it season outside for the first year -- let the sun and wind exposure do its magic as opposed to sticking it under cover away from the sun and wind.

 

[davidmsem]

I wouldn't split it and stick it in the woodshed . . . I would let it season outside for the first year -- let the sun and wind exposure do its magic as opposed to sticking it under cover away from the sun and wind.

Thank you Jake.......completely uncovered?

 

[firefighterjake]

Thank you Jake.......completely uncovered?

Some folks -- many folks -- top cover. I think this is perhaps the best method.

Me, I'm lazy . . . I never have top covered . . . I just leave them outside for a year or two before bringing the stacks into the woodshed . . . and then I let them sit there for another year or so (large woodshed). Works for me.

 

[davidmsem]

Some folks -- many folks -- top cover. I think this is perhaps the best method.

Me, I'm lazy . . . I never have top covered . . . I just leave them outside for a year or two before bringing the stacks into the woodshed . . . and then I let them sit there for another year or so (large woodshed). Works for me.

Thank you.....this is such a great forum.....I stumbled on it looking for wood shed plans but I've learned so much. I've ordered a Recency i3100 that should be installed soon!

 

[mellow]

I do not have a woodshed I top cover and stack in rows on pallets. However, if I did have a woodshed I would just stack in it since I already move the wood too much as it is. I would leave it there for a year+ depending on species of the wood, some use the woodshed as a last stop for the wood before going in the house.

 

[branchburner]

I agree with Jake... only difference is my shed (actually a section of my barn) is for the current burning season only. The general plan for me is to cut/split/stack (close to where I drop the trees, if possible, to minimize extra handling) uncovered for a year or two (three if oak), only top-covering a few months before bringing in for the upcoming season.

I also now stack only single row, leaving at least a foot between rows. This means only two stacks running the width of a pallet, rather than jamming three rows tight together. Pallets and space are both free to me, so I'm not sure why I spent so many years keeping the middle of my stacks greener than they needed to be!

I have also found, especially when stacking outside in a field, that having a TWO-pallet elevation from the ground keep the bottom layers of my stacks drier. If I was stacking in a shed like yours, that's what I'd put down: a two-pallet floor to let air circulate.

Because your shed allows for no air flow in the rear, I would not fill it directly with green wood. My Dad had some oak buried at the bottom of the pile in the back of his storage space, and even after a few years it seemed nearly as heavy and moisture-laden as when he put it in. It got no sun, but more importantly, no air.

Some sheds have sides with wide spaces between the boards, allowing for better ventilation. I think with that type of shed I would have no problem filling green, so long as the rows were elevated and spaced to let air flow through.

 

[AK13]

With a nice woodshed like that I would definitely stick it right in the shed. No way would I stack it twice. Way too much work. My father has always stacked his wood right in the shed. He stays 3 year ahead and his wood always burns like a dream.

I already have to move my wood from my barn to my house and can't imagine stacking it next to the barn, then inside, then to the house.

 

[begreen]

It looks like that woodshed is unventilated except for the front. If so I would stack it outdoors and transfer it to the woodshed when ready to burn. Wood dries fastest when the prevailing winds can blow through the stacks. Our shed has lattice sides that allow good venting.

FWIW I stack outside the shed, especially hardwood like madrona and locust. It take a couple years to season well and I don't want to tie up shed space with wood that is not ready to burn.

 

[billb3]

Nice shed.
I wouldn't put green wood in it.
Maybe green wood that seasons rather quick.
Pine I might.
Oak, no way. That I'd leave out naked (prefer top cover) unless it was c and s dead standing and punky.

I think a lot of us shelter the wood we plan to burn this season and leave next year's and the year after out to the ravages of the weather, which in most cases, is good for it or, at least not extremely detrimental.

I'm not a fan of restacking either so I just suspend a tarp over the cord I'm picking from this month.

 

[northwinds]

I stack everything outside for three years and then bring it into the woodshed/pole building during the spring of the year that I'm going to burn it. Restacking isn't work when you're listening to the ball game. One of spring's simple pleasures.

 

[shoot-straight]

i built a woodshed for several reasons:

1. no more tarping

2. looks neater no scattered stacks every which direction in the "work area"

not stacking into the shed violates each reason for me!

ironic, because i am currently "overstocked" and have a full 8x32 shed and 2 cords stacked and tarped and another 2 "scattered"... clearly it doesnt dry as well as in the open, but as some have said with some ventilation and plain old time it will be fine. i actually recently opened the back of my shed to allow for more air movement.

 

[weatherguy]

Nice shed, did you build that yourself? I always leave my freshly cut wood stacked outside without a top cover the first year, second year before the snow flies and the leaves fall I top cover, currently don't have a shed but have the material, just need a free weekend to build it.

 

[Rossco]

Depends on the wood?

Wood here would season in there no worries.

 

[davidmsem]

Nice shed, did you build that yourself? I always leave my freshly cut wood stacked outside without a top cover the first year, second year before the snow flies and the leaves fall I top cover, currently don't have a shed but have the material, just need a free weekend to build it.

Thanks ....I built the shed this year...took me most of a week on vacation to finish it.

 

[bens_igloo]

Pretty nice build for a week's work. nice job!

 

[davidmsem]

Depends on the wood?

Wood here would season in there no worries.

It is maple and ash I believe...

 

[davidmsem]

Pretty nice build for a week's work. nice job!

Thanks Ben....I found pictures here and modified it slightly. I splurged on cedar siding to keep my bride happy with the looks....Thank you...this is a great forum!

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

Split it, stack it, single rows, in the sun, in the wind, when it is under 20%, load it up in that bad boy of yours......
Wish I had me one of those......

 

[begreen]

Thanks Ben....I found pictures here and modified it slightly. I splurged on cedar siding to keep my bride happy with the looks....Thank you...this is a great forum!

Your shed is better looking than our house. Nice job.

 

[Rossco]

It is maple and ash I believe...

Yeah that's not gonna season very well in there if green.

Re-handle is the price you pay for hardwood I guess.

 

[Seanm]

I have a short drying season here but have the advantage of the short seasoning times of softwoods. I stack top covered on pallets double row. The back row is standing dead and the front row is left for shady standing dead or green. Seems to work pretty good. I would never think to put any green in a wood shed unless there is good ventilation. Like Rossco says it depends on the species. I have some apple that is on the two year plan and some green larch cut in late winter last year that is just barely ready now. That is a very nice wood shed by the way and is awesome for wood that is ready or almost ready for the stove.

 

[phishman]

I have also found, especially when stacking outside in a field, that having a TWO-pallet elevation from the ground keep the bottom layers of my stacks drier. If I was stacking in a shed like yours, that's what I'd put down: a two-pallet floor to let air circulate.

that's a great idea, thanks.