Seasoning Wood - HOA Problems

[Isomil]

Got a great deal on some mixed hardwood, but it definitely needs some more seasoning and drying out. The wood itself is somewhat green and has a smell to it and it wasn't covered during the floods we got around here in Boulder, Co.


Found out that the HOA would not let it be stored in the sun outside, so it is in a storage shed in the garage that has pretty bad airflow. Was trying to speed up the seasoning of the wood, but the only thing I have in that storage shed (more like a particle board enclosed cube) is a light socket.

Would putting a small ceramic light heater in there help? Maybe find a light socket fan to get some air flowing?

Trying to get creative with it, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[paul bunion]

Welcome to the forum.

In guessing your storage area is pretty dry just from what I know of your local climate which is to your benefit. If I put wood into an area like that here all I would is grow mold. Any air blowing across your wood will help but if your storage area is fully enclosed you need to get some air running through it. Maybe with some PC sized fans on vent holes with a wall wort transformer to power them?

 

[Isomil]

I did go check on it a few minutes ago and indeed there is some white mold.

I cant change the structure, but since its a garage shared with only a few of my neighbors could probably easily just leave the door open. Only thing in there is wood.

With a door open if I could find a fan which connects into a light socket, would that greatly improve it? Could also just do a socket to outlet adapter and plug in whatever.

 

[weatherguy]

A fan would help quite a bit

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Got a great deal on some mixed hardwood, but it definitely needs some more seasoning and drying out. The wood itself is somewhat green and has a smell to it and it wasn't covered during the floods we got around here in Boulder, Co.


Found out that the HOA would not let it be stored in the sun outside, so it is in a storage shed in the garage that has pretty bad airflow. Was trying to speed up the seasoning of the wood, but the only thing I have in that storage shed (more like a particle board enclosed cube) is a light socket.

Would putting a small ceramic light heater in there help? Maybe find a light socket fan to get some air flowing?

Trying to get creative with it, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum Isomil.

That really sucks big time about not being able to stack outdoors. If I were in that situation, I would try to put both a fan and a humidifier in that shed. I would also be attending some council meetings to get that rule out. Go prepared though and keep emotions out as much as possible. Let them know that you want to heat with wood which is good for ecology but only if you can burn dry wood. Let them know that wood needs to dry at least a year before burning and by doing that, the emissions from your wood stove will be very low but if you attempt to burn wood that has not dried properly, the emissions won't be so good. It might also help to take pictures of that mold. What does that mold do for you when you or your family enters that shed?

Good luck.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Welcome to the forum Isomil. Are you alone out there? Any relatives you could ask to dry your wood on their property?

 

[Isomil]

I just rent the condo, so unfortunately I can't really debate with the HOA. The storage shed is more of a small enclosure, so no one will actually be in it.

Think I may have found a spot outside that's not in plain view under a balcony that could work. About 3 ft of height, 12 ft wide, and would have 3 of the 6 sides of the stack with exposure.

 

[n3pro]

One of the things I fear living where I do, which is why I try to play nicey nice with the neighbors. For the most part if it's in front you will get a knock on the door, in back only if a neighbor complains. One of the thoughts I have had just in case it would happen to me, what if you "hide" the stacks with potted plants? Might not allow the best of air flow but might be better then the shed and make the HOA accept? Just my thoughts. Good luck.

 

[BIGDADDY]

Would you be allowed to put up some kind of fence to keep it out of view like some apartment buildings hide dumpsters?
What exactly does the HOA policy say? You can't store it outside or in view or what?

 

[Isomil]

Place I rent doesn't actually have any kind of yard. Just a front and back concreted patio and the HOA does not allow it to be stacked in a visible location of the "common areas", which is technically where my patios are.

The place I'm thinking about stacking it hopefully will work. Its a little fenced off area with a gate that goes around the city's farmers ditch. Its normally just overgrown with all variations of unwanted weeds and brush. Wood has to better than that right? haha

 

[BIGDADDY]

So you're renting. Is the HOA included in any lease agreement you signed with landlord?

At least you are in a more temporary situation then if you owned the place.
I'd look for another place in the meantime if possible.

 

[Isomil]

Lease Agreement eh? This was the most informal lease I've ever seen, but maybe that's because I'm renting from the owners. One page word document saying pretty much deposit, HOA requires you pick up after your pet, and rent is due on the third. Back home no matter what you were renting there was a very detailed and long state form.

Will definitely think this through more for the next place when the lease is up. Didn't have many fires back in Dallas and having a fireplace at all was not common so I skipped the whole thought process for this.

 

[Isomil]

BTW I'm impressed by all the responses to a noob question without any flaming. Great community you have here.

 

[BrotherBart]

Flaming is out of here. In a heartbeat. We don't play that here.

 

[BrotherBart]

When we moved here we built the house exactly one hundred and eighty yards away to not be in an HOA. One day a guy came through the woods to tell me my stacks violated the HOA regs. I told him that kicking his ass back to the property line was within my regs.

Dude hauled ass real fast and hasn't been seen since. That was years ago. Word gets around about that crusty old fart.

 

[BIGDADDY]

Lease Agreement eh? This was the most informal lease I've ever seen, but maybe that's because I'm renting from the owners. One page word document saying pretty much deposit, HOA requires you pick up after your pet, and rent is due on the third. Back home no matter what you were renting there was a very detailed and long state form.

Will definitely think this through more for the next place when the lease is up. Didn't have many fires back in Dallas and having a fireplace at all was not common so I skipped the whole thought process for this.

How much do you like your landlord? I don't think I would like the landlord leaving out ANY restrictions to the property I was renting. Maybe you could get a rent reduction or stack the wood on your property, because as long as you're renting it, it is yours. If your lease doesn't restrict you from stacking firewood outside then that is your agreement with the landlord. I think that's what Judge Judy would say. Lol
You could go on ask a lawyer it's free and a real lawyer will answer your question.

http://www.avvo.com/ask-a-lawyer?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=ask a lawyer for free&utm_campaign=legalbroad

 

[red oak]

When we moved here we built the house exactly one hundred and eighty yards away to not be in an HOA. One day a guy came through the woods to tell me my stacks violated the HOA regs. I told him that kicking his ass back to the property line was within my regs.

Dude hauled ass real fast and hasn't been seen since. That was years ago. Word gets around about that crusty old fart.

Yes in Northern Virginia the HOAs are pretty bad, at least according to friends I have who live in that area. I generally think that if you want the freedom to do what you like with your own property you should steer clear of them.

As for the OP, first welcome Isomil! Second, definitely leave the door open on that shed and if you can get a fan on that wood then do it. Dehumidifier would not hurt either as was suggested earlier. As you're just renting the place I would not spend a lot of time trying to get this rule changed. If you can find another place, or a place to buy, if you want to burn wood make sure you check out all the local codes and ordinances if you are in town. Hopefully you can find a solution that will work for you this winter!

 

[basod]

HOA eh.. been there and messed with a complaining neighbor so bad that he was convinced someone else had moved his trash can towards the road - digital copies of the letterhead are fun to play with if you ever get one.
His wife was the ornery one while changing the oil in my vette and caddy one morning - vehicles on jacks while morning called were unacceptable to her

 

[Isomil]

Talking to the neighbors they suggested a ask for forgiveness later approach. So went ahead and moved a little of the wood to see if anyone complains. Not perfectly ideal from what I read, but much better than before.

 

[RORY12553]

My overall first reaction to this would be if you are going to be using fans and dehumidifiers on a daily basis which have an ELECTRIC cost associated would it outweigh the benefit of using wood? Unfortunately in your circumstance you can't use the natural outdoors to dry the wood like most of us can which is a huge cost savings.

 

[mcollect]

We use a dehumidifier to take slab wood to 10% for cabinet wood. Just cover the inside of the shed with plastic and run the dehumid until it is ready. takes a very short time, let the dehumid vent out side and the heat really helps.

 

[Papa-Yankee-Romeo-Oscar]

My overall first reaction to this would be if you are going to be using fans and dehumidifiers on a daily basis which have an ELECTRIC cost associated would it outweigh the benefit of using wood? Unfortunately in your circumstance you can't use the natural outdoors to dry the wood like most of us can which is a huge cost savings.

+1... that's exactly what I was thinking. A fan isn't so bad but a dehumidifier is a fairly large energy hog and I especially wouldn't run a space heater.

Maybe stack it the other way so the air can flow through the stack/stacks a bit better.

 

[basod]

+1... that's exactly what I was thinking. A fan isn't so bad but a dehumidifier is a fairly large energy hog and I especially wouldn't run a space heater.

Maybe stack it the other way so the air can flow through the stack/stacks a bit better.

Thumbs up for the phonetic alphabet

 

[Papa-Yankee-Romeo-Oscar]

Thumbs up for the phonetic alphabet

Tango-Yankee