Is covering your wood stacks essential?

[teekal]

I live in the Canadian Prairies (Manitoba, Canada). We don't get a ton of rain annually. Up until this point I have always stored my split wood on pallets, uncovered in my back yard. I have a bunch that is ready to burn for this year, and then a separate row of pallets full that I am seasoning for next winter.

I have heard a few people on here mention wood rotting when left uncovered for too long. Are we talking 3+ years, or could I run into that problem if the wood stays on pallets for just a year or two? I don't have enough space in my yard to get ahead for more than a year or so.

Thanks always for any help!

 

[Woody Stover]

Here, I would cover it all, but it sounds like you are drier there. For sure, I would cover what you want to burn this year, especially since you probably have less dense woods that may absorb more moisture from rainfall.

 

[blades]

I would cover it, just because its a pain to chip splits out of a mass of frozen snow /Ice/splits and of course then it is wet on the outside when it thaws out. Making a mess dripping all over ( course you might not be like me, but I keep a couple days worth inside.) If you do cover it its best to keep some air/breathing space between the cover material and the splits if possible.

 

[Vikestand]

As essential as a pair of long underwear opening morning or deer season.

 

[Little Digger]

Where I live, we get more than our fair share of rain, and rarely a little at a time, so it is necessary to cover. Where your at, I would suggest top covering the wood you will be burning this winter. Maybe even cover it after the summers heat has waned in preparation for fall and winter. It'll help keep the snow and other debris off your firewood.

I went a little overboard with bringing wood inside this season. Right now I have a little better than a half cord sitting in racks in my living room along the wall where the wood stove is located, Add to that the cord and a half on the porch, and I should have winter licked since I burn about 2 cord a year for now. No other means of heat!

 

[Wood Duck]

It is not necessary to cover, but it can be helpful. Where I live there are lots of trees and fallen leaves get into the stacks. The leaves rot and hold moisture which can make the wood rot. Out in Manitoba you might not have as many leaves or as much rain, so covering might be less important.

Even though it isn't ideal, I don't cover my stacks and the wood is still pretty good. You will be OK without covering, but even better if you cover.

 

[AmbDrvr253]

For the ease of answering the question.............YES

 

[English BoB]

For the ease of answering the question.............YES

For all the reasons that have been stated - YES.

BOB

 

[TheAardvark]

100% required.....no
A good idea......yes

 

[mass_burner]

If your gonna be burning for sometime, think about building a simple shed to put your seasoned wood in.

 

[Seanm]

Depends on location. Like you I dont have lots of space so its essential that my firewood stays dry during frequent thunder storms in the summer, heavy fall rains (at times) and massive amounts of snow in the winter. I burn mostly standing dead lodgepole pine, larch and fir which can be ridiculously dry to begin with so I like it to stay that way. The odd time that I harvest some green fir or birch I want it top covered so I can maximize the drying time. I get silly about it and will uncover from time to time during long high pressure hot spells.

 

[Vikestand]

If your gonna be burning for sometime, think about building a simple shed to put your seasoned wood in.

So you season wood outside, then move it to a shed and I am assuming you move it to or close to the house?

 

[Fred Wright]

As the folks say, top covering has advantages. In our case, the climate is very humid and we do get our share of rain and snow. Without a cover, splits get rained and snowed on and will freeze together. Wet wood is harder to get burning than dry.

 

[BillLion]

I don't cover until sometime in late November before the snow...but I could be totally wrong about this.

 

[teekal]

Thanks for all of the input, guys.

I got a large tarp to cover the stuff on my pack porch that I will be burning over the next month or so.

As far as the other stuff on pallet rows that I'm seasoning, does anyone have any basic designs just to put a roof above pallet rows instead of constructing a full blown shed? I was thinking just some simple posts along the back of the pallets and on the sides, and then if I can get a hold of some scrap tin siding or something similar.

 

[pma1123]

Many of us use rolled rubber roofing to cover our pallet rows instead of a dedicated woodshed for woodpile cover. I end up putting the chunks/uglies on top of that to hold it from blowing off. Much less work than constantly messing with tarps. I have a local roofing contractor that is thrilled to let me come out and "dispose" of their take-off pile.

 

[teekal]

Many of us use rolled rubber roofing to cover our pallet rows instead of a dedicated woodshed for woodpile cover. I end up putting the chunks/uglies on top of that to hold it from blowing off. Much less work than constantly messing with tarps. I have a local roofing contractor that is thrilled to let me come out and "dispose" of their take-off pile.

I am intrigued. What is this rolled rubber that you speak of? Do you have a picture handy?

 

[BrotherBart]

Search Google for "EPDM roofing". It is also sold as pond liner.

 

[teekal]

Search Google for "EPDM roofing". It is also sold as pond liner.

Gotcha. Thanks!

Do you guys just cover the top with a little bit of overhang, or do you try and envelope the entire stack?

 

[BrotherBart]

Just the top. You want air to get to the wood and you don't want to trap moisture in the stack.

 

[ColdNH]

I only top cover what im going to burn in coming winter in the late fall. My stacks are along my yard and quite frankly a nice straight stack of firewood looks nice next to the lawn, when you cover it with tarps or rubber roofing or whatever it starts to look like a visual eyesore.

I have never had issues with any wood rotting, however it typically does not sit longer then 3-4 years.

 

[teekal]

I only top cover what im going to burn in coming winter in the late fall. My stacks are along my yard and quite frankly a nice straight stack of firewood looks nice next to the lawn, when you cover it with tarps or rubber roofing or whatever it starts to look like a visual eyesore.

I also really enjoy the look of the stacks lining the yard. Thanks for the input!

 

[BigCountryNY]

My stacks are along my yard and quite frankly a nice straight stack of firewood looks nice next to the lawn, when you cover it with tarps or rubber roofing or whatever it starts to look like a visual eyesore.

I've got 12 cord stacked on pallets on a 15'x40' concrete pad near the front of my property that is all top-covered with 6 mil black plastic and I only get complements. I agree that if not done right it can appear shoddy, but stacks can be made to appear very nice.

 

[Shane Collins]

I've tried it both ways, covering the top and not covering. For me there wasn't much difference. From now on I'll probably not be covering the stacks. If you're not moving the wood into a shed before burning then I would top cover the stuff you're planning on burning sometime late summer. That's how I'm doing it and every split I check is nice and dry.

 

[mass_burner]

So you season wood outside, then move it to a shed and I am assuming you move it to or close to the house?

My shed is behind the drying racks, the move is about 3-10 ft depending on the rack. I have another 6x3x3 rolling rack just outside the patio under the eave that I stock for burning. I can bring it into the patio if blowing snow is expected.