Firewood Storage from the experts

Our process to ensure clean firewood storage

A great example of proper woodshed design

Storing firewood can seem complicated on the surface, by following our guide you will not only learn about best practices but also understand the core factors to maintaining premium ready to burn firewood.

The 3 main principles to guarentee dry firewood are:

• Ground Moisture

• Airflow

• Weather

Ground Moisture

If you take absolutely nothing else from this article the single most important factor is breaking ground moisture. Similar to applying a vapor barrier in your crawl space, think of the bare ground as a massive sponge absorbing moisture from the environment and releasing it back into anything it comes into contact with. If you have ever came across an old stack of firewood its almost guaranteed that the bottom layer has begun to rot and break down this is due to the bottom layers contact with the ground. The solution! Elevate your wood store, a simple pallet to a custom firewood rack will do the job.

Airflow

Airflow is the second most important factor; firewood acts like a very slow sponge if in contact with moisture like the ground as previously mentioned, it will slowly absorb water and if conditions are right, wood will slowly release moisture. If you were to take a soaking wet sponge and place it in a container, the sponge would stay wet much longer than if you left it in an area that receives airflow. It’s essential to place your wood store in an area that can receive as much sunlight and airflow as possible. This will ensure that your wood remains dry, and most importantly, free of any mold or organic growth

Weather

The final factor to consider is the weather where you live! In our local environment of Charleston SC we experience very hot, humid and rainy summers and milder winters. The heat is great for drying wood however, the humidity and frequent rain bring challenges. Surface moisture in addition to natural sugars found in wood, can create a perfect environment for mold. To prevent this it’s best to cover your wood with a tarp, roofing tin, or woodshed. It is essential that when covering your wood airflow is still allowed. If a wood stack is covered on all sides, then the wood cannot breathe, which is essential to remove any remaining moisture.