To cover or not?

[GeeWizMan]

I felled, bucked, and split some oak earlier this spring. I've stacked the splits outside in a fairly open to the wind and sunny spot. Should I just leave the wood there to season uncovered all winter or should I throw a tarp over the top for the fall rains and winter snows? What would you do?

 

[SolarAndWood]

Let it enjoy the wind and sun and save the landfills from another shredded tarp. When it is ready to burn, find a roof or some metal roofing to put it under.

 

[btuser]

Let it enjoy the wind and sun and save the landfills from another shredded tarp. When it is ready to burn, find a roof or some metal roofing to put it under.

I'd cover the top-if I wasn't so lazy. Stack the top bark side up and you're good to go.

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Let it enjoy the wind and sun and save the landfills from another shredded tarp. When it is ready to burn, find a roof or some metal roofing to put it under.

The good tarps cover the boat. The tarps too worn for that cover the wood.

I suppose when they get too worn for that they could be dropcloths, but I've rarely seen them too worn to cover wood.

 

[BrotherBart]

Top cover it.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Let it enjoy the wind and sun and save the landfills from another shredded tarp. When it is ready to burn, find a roof or some metal roofing to put it under.

I'd cover the top-if I wasn't so lazy. Stack the top bark side up and you're good to go.

Lazy? No one who burns wood is lazy. I don't even stack until the fall of the season I intend to burn it. Until then it sits in a heap I push in and up with the tractor. But, I have a high, dry, sunny and windy spot for the heap. If I didn't, I would probably cross stack and top cover as soon as it was split.

 

[GeeWizMan]

Thanks for the suggestions. I always know where to go to get some quick advice. I must have 10 old tarps stacked up in the garage. I'll make a patch work of different color tarps. Maybe not, I think my wife would have me make it less noticeable in no time. I will throw a top cover on it. Of what? I'm not exactly sure. Thanks.

 

[LLigetfa]

If the wood is not for this Winter's burning, it doesn't much matter. I would however top cover it next Fall.

 

[JotulOwner]

Top cover it.

I agree. It can't hurt and can only help (especially if you have dense piles that are difficult to dry out after it rains). I still cover the top on single rows because there is no disadvantage IMO.

 

[860go]

I'm a top coverer, mostly just to keep the leaves and things out of there

 

[Vic99]

Cover top til late spring.

 

[Wood Duck]

My wood sits out in the open uncovered and seems to season pretty well. I don't cover it because I have no convenient way to do so, and I don't think covering is necessary. I will probably try to cover a couple of weeks' supply this winter, to avoid having to dig through snow and make a mess in the house, but I am not too worried about the wood getting rained on.

 

[Carlos]

Man i came in at the right time. I stated to stack some fresh cut wood and i was wondering the same thing! Im a total noob a this so i needed to find the answer! I dont have much so ill leave it uncovered! Eventually down the road when i have tons of wood ill consider making a shed! thanks fellas!

 

[firefighterjake]

I'm in the leave cut it, split it, stack it and leave it uncovered for the winter and spring . . . and cover it for the Fall before the snow flies proponents. For better or worse, it seems as though this method is working out well for me . . .

 

[smokinj]

If the wood is not for this Winter's burning, it doesn't much matter. I would however top cover it next Fall.

+1

 

[trafick]

The only reason I cover wood is to keep the snow off. Other than that I leave it bare.

 

[BroadCove]

I don't cover mine because my wife hates the look of covered stacks. It seasons just fine that way. I put a cord or so in the basement at a time, and I make sure I bring it down during a dry spell (e.g., no rain for at least the past 3-4 days). Lots of folks don't like having wood in the basement, and I don't want to rehash that debate here, but it works for me. In other words, cover it if you want to, don't cover it if you don't want to.

 

[btuser]

I think it matters how wide you stack it. Last year I stacked 4x4x8, and the the middle was soaked even with a tarp on top. Second cord I stacked the same but the middle was stacked vertically on end, and dried much better. From now on my uncovered stacks won't go wider than 2'. If I had the open room I'd just leave it in a pile till it time to move it to the shed.