In Chicago, wood heat can be expensive...

[RickBlaine]

Local place charges $864 for 3 Face cords (that is 1 cord) of wood, delivered. But only $708 if you pick it up yourself. Such a deal....Craigslist sellers usually sell for about $400 - $500 delivered, but you REALLY have to make sure it is a true 4 x 8 x 4 foot size, because most around here don't know what a true cord of wood is. ( I was like that last year- still a newbie but I am up all night studying). As for "seasoning"- forget it. All this wood was cut and split in August/September of this year. Giant piles do not equal "stacking". Moisture meter indicates 25% -30%!

We have natural gas heat in Chicago, so wood heat is kind of a novelty. Most wood buyers burn in a traditional open fireplace- so it is not for heat, but for ambiance. You have to be creative to find lower priced wood, or at least tough up and make your own.

 

[Warm_in_NH]

Wow! Definitely geared towards the novelty burners, as birch is more than oak!

 

[iluvjazznjava]

I feel for you, but at least you have access to some nice hardwoods. I just bought a half cord of fir from a local mill that was cut to length (16") and delivered for $100. All I have to do is split, stack and burn. The fir is seasoned (<20% moisture), but it burns quick. The only person I know who sells hardwood in my corner of the world is selling birch for $725 a cord.

 

[DougA]

Wow, that's insane. We've had so many wind storms around our area in 2013 that there is a glut of firewood. Of course, it's all seasoned too - one year I've got way more wood than I could ever use but at $70 or less per face cord, it's not worth my time and effort to sell it.

Just saw this ad:
For Sale. Large amount of seasoned firewood in 1 - 8' lengths. $20 Face Cord.

Lots of ads for free firewood if you cut & split it yourself.

 

[mass_burner]

Would it be worth it to drive a pickup out to more rural areas and stock up. At these prices, all nighters or Niels are definitely preferable.

 

[prezes13]

I was talking to my friend yesterday his brother has a landscaping business so he sells wood on the side. He sold already 14 cords of wet wood split and delivered $240 a cord. That's insane when I can get Eco Bricks for $260.

 

[Spletz]

Wow! You're on the wrong side of the pond! $864 a cord Head east two hours. $155, and 18-20% MM, red oak, delivered. Yes a true 128 cu ft cord. I grant you my wood tick is also a friend/neighbor, but my discount is very little.

 

[RickBlaine]

Spletz- I may have to rent a good sized U-Haul, pay the per mile up-charge, and pick up 3 cords next Spring. That is cheap!

 

[Spletz]

Those prices are insane! I envision a Seinfeld episode of running wood out of Michigan as opposed to running returnables into Michigan

 

[Hoozie]

1/3 cord "Taste of the Woods"

(cut off on the bottom of the blue page)

Why does that sound like a frilly name they come up with for drinks

 

[CountryBoy19]

Wow! You're on the wrong side of the pond! $864 a cord Head east two hours. $155, and 18-20% MM, red oak, delivered. Yes a true 128 cu ft cord. I grant you my wood tick is also a friend/neighbor, but my discount is very little.

If you shop around in the off-season around here you can get a full cord of "seasoned" (cut and split 3 weeks ago) hardwoods for $120 or $135 per cord ($40 or $45 per "rick")...

 

[Simonkenton]

Maple and birch are more than oak. Oak is much better firewood. Some weird, expensive Yankee firewood.
And, on the back side of the brochure, a lesson on "How to Start a Fire." Some valuable info in Chicago, I guess.

 

[firefighterjake]

...
And, on the back side of the brochure, a lesson on "How to Start a Fire." Some valuable info in Chicago, I guess.

Step 1 on how to start a fire) Find Mrs. O'Leary's cow?

 

[Poindexter]

Wow. I googled a little, the oak (if red or red hybrid) works out to about $300 per ton now. Two years from now when it is seasoned (I guess, I don't have any oak to cut, but most of you are seasoning oak two years...)

Once it is dry, ass/u/me-ing you don't mind having part of your lawn tied up your BTU for BTU price is about equal to propane at 1.92/ gallon or electricity at 8.9cents / kwh or natural gas at 21.87 / 1000cf or #2 oil at 3.05/ gallon. According to my forest service fuel value calculator anyway.

I am paying 3.80 for #2 myself, but no, even if they were willing to deliver to Alaska at that price, I wouldn't pay that much for oak.