No woodshed this year-can I tarp my stacks in place when snow comes?

[Blueox4]

I probably won’t have a woodshed in place this year and i have about 4 cord of seasoned wood stacked under an overhang on my garage on pallets and it’s going to be OK as it really can’t get wet there and it’s pretty protected from the elements even in winter. I plan on using that wood first this year. My issue is I have another 4 cord stacked on poles out in the yard, all top covered also and it’s been drying nicely all spring and summer. If I had a woodshed I’d bring all that in but this year was going to just tarp it totally, top and sides instead of just top cover for the winter and if I get into that stack this year just uncover it as I go. I get a lot of snow here and if I don’t cover the sides of the stacks I’ll have snow up to mid stack at least and that can’t be good. OK to tarp it in place this year and when should I totally cover them; first snow, first frost?

 

[bholler]

I probably won’t have a woodshed in place this year and i have about 4 cord of seasoned wood stacked under an overhang on my garage on pallets and it’s going to be OK as it really can’t get wet there and it’s pretty protected from the elements even in winter. I plan on using that wood first this year. My issue is I have another 4 cord stacked on poles out in the yard, all top covered also and it’s been drying nicely all spring and summer. If I had a woodshed I’d bring all that in but this year was going to just tarp it totally, top and sides instead of just top cover for the winter and if I get into that stack this year just uncover it as I go. I get a lot of snow here and if I don’t cover the sides of the stacks I’ll have snow up to mid stack at least and that can’t be good. OK to tarp it in place this year and when should I totally cover them; first snow, first frost?

Just leave it top covered it will be fine

 

[peakbagger]

I agree. If you want to make a small modification, put some spare pallets with a bit of overhang on top of the stacks and top cover the pallets, leaving the side open to get air flow.

 

[Bushels20]

Just leave it top covered it will be fine

I agree. I don’t even top cover my stacks that are 2-3 years out. I don’t tarp until August-September before burning season the year of. Never had a problem. As long as it’s off the ground in a well ventilated area. Wood doesn’t soak up water unless it’s on the ground....I don’t think. I’ve never seen it happen.

 

[bholler]

I agree. I don’t even top cover my stacks that are 2-3 years out. I don’t tarp until August-September before burning season the year of. Never had a problem. As long as it’s off the ground in a well ventilated area. Wood doesn’t soak up water unless it’s on the ground....I don’t think. I’ve never seen it happen.

I top cover everything as soon as its split. Yes it will dry uncovered but if you get much of any rain or have leaves that fall on the stacks it will dry allot faster topcovered

 

[Poindexter]

I have had blown snow all up in my stacks and it sucks.

I top cover when I stack, would side cover right around the time of the first hard frost as the wood isn't likely to loose any more water until spring anyway.

 

[Bushels20]

I top cover everything as soon as its split. Yes it will dry uncovered but if you get much of any rain or have leaves that fall on the stacks it will dry allot faster topcovered

Maybe I will consider top covers on everything. Never really given it much thought, honestly.

 

[bholler]

Maybe I will consider top covers on everything. Never really given it much thought, honestly.

At my last house i was short on space. So i needed to get my wood dry in one year i could not do that without top covering. Now that i have more room i wouldnt have to but it cuts down on leaves and crap in my stacks

 

[Bushels20]

At my last house i was short on space. So i needed to get my wood dry in one year i could not do that without top covering. Now that i have more room i wouldnt have to but it cuts down on leaves and crap in my stacks

Makes complete sense. And given where my stacks are, you’re right. I get a lot of leaves and junk on them. It makes sense that it would slow drying. I think I will grab some tarps and get them covered. Probably avoids that long term soaking in the middle after hard rains as well leading to a more evenly dried middle stack (I stack on pallets 3 rows deep).

 

[BrotherBart]

I have always top covered stacks right out of the splitter.

 

[Bushels20]

I have always top covered stacks right out of the splitter.

View attachment 229944

What material are you using to cover? Looks heavier than a tarp. Is it rubber roofing?

 

[BrotherBart]

Yep. Bought $800 worth of it for five bucks at a landscaper's bankruptcy auction because nobody knew what it was. They were using it for pond liner.

 

[Bushels20]

Yep. Bought $800 worth of it for five bucks at a landscaper's bankruptcy auction because nobody knew what it was. They were using it for pond liner.

What a great find.