Should you stack firewood next to your house?

All firewood should be stored at least five feet or more from the foundation of the home. Do not stack your wood against a wooden building's wall. Keep the main stack of wood outside of your home. Only bring inside the house, the wood you need to burn for the next two days.

How close can you stack firewood next to a house?

Keep the wood about 20 feet from the nearest door to your house to prevent pests from having a direct route inside. If you're stacking wood next to a structure, stack it at least a few inches away from the structure to allow airflow behind the stack.

How far should firewood be kept from house?

Answer: Firewood storage attracts a number of pests including termites, other insects, and rodents. When you put firewood next to a building foundation, it's like leaving their favorite food right outside your door. I recommend that you keep any firewood at least five feet or more away from the foundation.

Where is the best place to store firewood?

Firewood is best stored outside. It should be stored neatly, with the outside of the wood exposed to the air. If possible, you should place the wood on top of plastic sheeting or in a wooden log store. Avoid tree cover if possible and don't leave the logs in a heap.

Is it safe to store firewood on porch?

Storing firewood on a wooden deck long-term is terrible idea. Not only does this put your wood pile in close quarters with your home, but the wood's presence can introduce mold and cause the deck to rot. On a long enough timeline, the weight of the wood and the rot can cause structural damage to the deck itself.

Storing Firewood Outside, What You Need to Do

What is the best way to stack firewood outside?

Stack wood in a single row, out of the shade, with enough space between the pieces to allow air to pass through. This exposes more wood to sunlight and breeze, which helps dry it out faster. When stacking, use a crisscross pattern to make pillars at each end for stability.

Can I stack firewood in my garage?

GARAGE – Not only will your wood stay dry, but it won't be covered in snow during winter. The only issue is that there isn't much airflow in a garage so you'll want to avoid stacking your wood in the garage if it's too wet. It will take longer for your wood to dry under those conditions.

Is it OK to leave firewood uncovered?

To Cover or Not to Cover

Ideally, firewood should remain uncovered so it can be properly dried, but this is not practical when rain, snow and ice can quickly coat winter firewood. A good cover over the top of your woodpile will protect it, and be sure the cover is slanted to shed moisture away from the pile's base.

How do Amish stack firewood?

The Shaker or Amish method stacks firewood in the round, but without the central stake as a reference point. Not only are these round wood files aesthetically pleasing, the wood enthusiasts that utilize them feel they are better than the traditional rectangular shaped wood pile because they : Take less time to stack.

How do you keep firewood out of termites?

To store firewood to avoid termites, it is best to stack wood at least 20 to 30 feet from your home, preferably at the highest point of your yard, elevated on a span of 2 x 4's on cinder blocks at least eight inches off the ground, located in an area with plenty of direct sunlight.

Can you store firewood on side of house?

Do not stack firewood against your house.

A lot of people store firewood stacked against their house. This is a convenient location that keeps the logs close at hand. At the same time, the eaves help protect your wood from rain and snow.

Do wood piles attract mice?

Firewood piles are also enticing to both rats and mice. Piles of lumber like firewood can serve as shelter for rodents if they can access it from the ground. Discarded furniture, automobiles, any other items that may act as potential shelter are also attractive to rodents.

Can you stack wood outside?

Stacking wood between a couple of trees, or under a canopy or roof made for wood piles are good locations. Roofs and canopies, provided they do not fit tightly over the stack, help keep rain and snow from piling on top of the wood. A cover is not a requirement, but it helps keep wood drier.

Can I store firewood in my shed?

If you store firewood outdoors, choose a place near your home that's off of the soil. If you store it inside, choose a storage location like a shed or keep it in a trunk in your home. Make sure to protect firewood from moisture so it will burn effectively when you're ready to light a fire.

Why do people stack firewood in a circle?

Placing wood in a radius pattern is the best way to stack firewood because it allows the wood to dry more rapidly. Other benefits: stacking it in a round takes less time, sheds water better (because the wood is at an angle), takes less space and makes the pile more stable.

How long should you age firewood?

Season for a season.

The key to seasoning lies in the word itself: Most firewood properly split and stacked takes at least a season to dry properly. For many of us, that is about six months. If you stack your wood in early spring, it should be ready to be put away for winter use by October.

How do you arrange firewood?

First, take four pieces of roughly uniform pieces of firewood and lay them down alongside one another. Then, add three pieces of firewood on top of the base perpendicular. Then, add two pieces of firewood perpendicular to that layer. Place a small pile of tinder and kindling on top of the base and ignite.

Should I put a tarp over my firewood?

Seasoned Firewood

If firewood is seasoned, dry and ready to burn, then it should have a tarp over the top of the stack to protect it from the elements. However, do not cover the sides of the stack with a tarp, or the wood may rot. Even after the wood is dry, the stack needs good air circulation to keep moisture out.

Should I cover my wood pile with a tarp?

Should you cover a woodpile? Above: If a wood stack is out in the open then it can be protected from rain with a tarpaulin or some other cover but this should never come down over the side of the pile because it would trap moisture, as well as potentially causing mold and rot.

Can wood season without being split?

Firewood doesn't necessarily need to be split to season but splitting wood when it's green can help speed up the drying out process. If you're looking to season your wood as fast as possible be sure to cut the logs to length and split them prior to stacking.

Can I store firewood in my basement?

It's recommended that firewood be stacked at least 20 to 30 feet away from the exterior of the home to keep pests away. Garage or basement – Instead of building a wood shed designed to store firewood, some New England homeowners opt to keep their firewood stacked in their garage or basement.

Should you keep firewood inside?

Never stack firewood indoors.

Firewood should not be stored indoors in any area – in the home, basement, or garage. Insects can emerge to take up residence within the structure, and the firewood pile can also provide attractive harborage for rodents or other wildlife or insect pests.

How can you tell if firewood is wet?

How To Tell If Firewood Is Wet. Firewood that is too wet to burn will be harder to light and harder to keep burning, and may produce more smoke than usual. Wet firewood can have moisture visible under the bark or feel wet to the touch, and will have a moisture content level higher than 20%.

Should you cover firewood in summer?

A tarp or another similar cover should be loosely kept over the firewood, but should not be tightly wrapped around it or extended all the way to the ground. The idea is to protect the firewood from direct moisture and the weather elements, while still allowing proper air circulation.

How do I keep mice out of my wood pile?