Where to build the pile/shed?

[Drvn4wood]

This is the property I have to work with where I'd like to have about a 10x16 wood pile area eventually converting it to a shed. We're gonna remove that clothes line but if you look at the second picture I'd love to go between roughly were the pole is and the tree. We're building a new paver patio this spring so I will be able to use those stones and pavers as a base - There's a lot more pavers and stone not pictured I can use too. Problem is, in heavy prolonged rain that area will flood.

In the first picture to the left of the poles you can see it it's like a little channel. Behind that you can see where the where a culvert feeds in. The neighbor with the nice building has lived here for 30 years and said it has only happened once, but two years ago during Irene the water was about 2 feet deep where the poles are and was up to the concrete slab at the back of my house. Never got in the house fortunately. That story has made us consider flood insurance though.

It's tough to illustrate with pictures how much elevation changes and the amount of undulations in the yard. I don't wanna build it out front because we are doing some cosmetic things to the house and really don't want a wood pile in the front lawn.

Normally that area is just soft and he said it can be a couple years between times where there is major standing water. Any suggestions on how to make a proper base there? If a 30 year even takes the pile I'm ok with that - just don't want to be in a constant battle with it. I'm looking above that tree but that slope seems like it would make life difficult when it comes to stacking. Anyone had similar issues that may be able to help?

 

[wahoowad]

how about some stacks along the side of that sheetmetal building?

 

[weatherguy]

Is that big metal building yours?

 

[Drvn4wood]

No the building is my neighbors. The line is roughly where the two black poles are. My initial plan was to run between them but in heavy rain it floods. I may have to come up the hill some but I don't know how well a stack would hold up on such a steep slope.

 

[wahoowad]

I'd work with your suggestion of stacking past the tree even if it means working with a slope. One of my main woodpiles is on a slight slope so I shimmed my pallets to get them semi-level. It produces a slight staggering effect at the bottom but you can still make your stacks even. It makes the space usable. Here's a pic:

Also, those rare floods will likely be in the summer/spring, right? If so, and if it gets the bottom rows of your wood wet, the flooding should still subside quickly allowing it to either dry out or re-do a stack to get them dry.

 

[Drvn4wood]

Good stuff. I think I'm gonna start up the hill a little bit and see how it goes. If the slope is too steep, I'll move down and figure out a way to elevate it a little. Or I'll tell my wife the new paver patio is out because that's the only place the wood can go!

 

[Applesister]

No, you will use your patio, add a chimera. Or outdoor firepit. I can clearly see the dip area. I would avoid it. Traffic to and from the shed or stacks will ruin that nice lawn.
I would suggest just above or just below the tree. On the slope. You can dig into the slope and level the ground and backfill with gravel.
It will be more work in the shortrun.

 

[Drvn4wood]

Yeah I have a lot of gravel to fill and level whatever I dig out plus a lot of old pavers. That hill is a little steeper than the pictures make it appear. We have to dig out quite a bit for the patio real soon so I might continue digging on the hill. I'd better start something soon. Starting to accumulate some rounds.

 

[paul bunion]

I leveled my pallets using a combination of 6x6 and 4x4s along with some pallet rack vertical posts that I lay down horizontal and put the pallets on top of. You only need to support a pallet along the outside edge and down the middle. It doesn't take much in the way of materials to level them off and get them jacked up off the ground if moisture/floods are a problem.

 

[Apprentice_GM]

I too would cut into the slope to create a level base for stacks. A bit more work for setup, but simple and relatively quick. I would keep the stacks out of the low area that could potentially flood.

 

[Soundchasm]

I have a hill like yours that is camera shy as well. Just consider how far uphill you'll be going with a full wheelbarrow (daily?), and then factor in snow and slush. After a winter or two you might find a place a little closer to a door! Even if you make a holding spot on the porch, once a week you'll be humping four trips up that bad boy. Food for thought.

 

[Drvn4wood]

I really appreciate all the help and information from everybody that has experience. This is our first home so my learning curve is pretty steep since I've never burned wood other than in my parents fireplace.

One thing that everyone has helped me with is that the dip or low lying area is out. I do want to work up the hill a little over the summer but I'm starting to get some wood now. We have a very sturdy two-tiered retaining wall that I didn't even think about. That's a little of the red oak I've acquired and since it's gonna be a few years before I touch it I believe I'm gonna start up there. Sorry for the sideways pic but I work at night and just got home..haha..

We have about 2 cord of 3 and 4 year old split/stacked wood available from her dad so I figured I'd use pallets and runners in the lower driveway where my puny stack currently sits for easy access this coming winter while keeping it elevated off the pavement if some water ponds.

Seem like a decent plan to start? You can't budge one of those bricks and the stone is pretty deep. My neighbor saw it being built and said they were compacting the dirt as they went so I would think it would hold anything I put on it. It's about 4 feet deep with about 16 feet of nice flat stone and about 46" to the top layer on the second tier. I'm probably overthinking it but I don't wanna screw up the wood..

 

[Backwoods Savage]

If the wood is stacked right, you can stack on unlevel ground like you have.

 

[Soundchasm]

Location, location, location. Are you talking about on the gravel or on the pavement? Either way, and including the yard, there's debris generated. Pavement can be cleaned once a year, and I expect the stuff in the yard to decompose and be beneficial. My wife lined a bit of our driveway with river rock on one side, and those things catch every bit of clippings, leaves, mulch, etc. It very slowly built up and now we're taking them out, cleaning up, and putting them back.

Congrats on the new crib!

 

[Drvn4wood]

Location, location, location. Are you talking about on the gravel or on the pavement? Either way, and including the yard, there's debris generated. Pavement can be cleaned once a year, and I expect the stuff in the yard to decompose and be beneficial. My wife lined a bit of our driveway with river rock on one side, and those things catch every bit of clippings, leaves, mulch, etc. It very slowly built up and now we're taking them out, cleaning up, and putting them back.

Congrats on the new crib!

Both the gravel and the pavement. I'll eventually expand to the lawn but it's nice grass and I don't wanna screw it up.. Till I run out of room..