For many people, winter is a time to think about firewood. It’s also a time when the weather outside might not be so nice! If you don’t have an area to store your wood, or if you want to cover it up for some other reason, here are a few tips from our blog that will help.
Is your firewood getting wet from rain? It’s time to take action! In this blog post, we will review how to cover firewood outside. We’ll discuss the best materials for covering wood and how much you should use per pallet. We’ll also go over a few tips that will make the whole process easier. So let’s get started with our complete guide on covering firewood outside!
Preparation
Before you begin to cover firewood outside, make sure that the area where you will store it is clean and dry. This may sound a bit of an odd step but storing your logs in a damp place can cause mildew or rot. More importantly though, this means cleaning up any debris from the yard before covering your woodpile with tarps or plastic sheeting.
Don’t get too caught up on how much time has passed between when you put down your last tarp and now because some moisture loss occurs naturally over time as well even if there’s been no precipitation during that period of time.
Location
If you are looking for a place to store your firewood, there are several options. It can be storage outside or inside the house. If it’s in an open space like backyard, then cover is not that important because weather will affect it anyway. However if you keep wood indoors and want to avoid moisture damage on them, covering might become necessary especially during winter months when humidity levels increase significantly due to cold temperatures.
You should consider several factors before you set the final choice of location. It can be backyard, front yard or sideyard etc. All these locations are exposed to different environmental conditions so it’s better to keep them inside if possible. However, in some cases this might not be feasible because of space availability for example you may have very limited storage space indoors and that is why an outdoor place would work best then.
You should also try keeping your firewood stack under a shelter especially during winter months when humidity level increase due to cold temperatures which results in increased risk of wood damage by fungus, mold or rot (depending on species). When outdoors there are several options but outbuilding like shed or garage will make more sense if you have one.
Outbuildings are typically equipped with vents, windows and doors which will allow for better circulation of air. And it’s important to remember that wood should be stacked off the ground because moisture can accumulate underneath them on soil surface causing fungus or rot damage. If there is no outbuilding available then try to stack firewood in some corner under a roof overhang if possible but make sure they are not against exterior walls since cold drafts coming from outside during winter months may cause frosting even inside your house.
If all outdoor options are exhausted then keep at least indoor ones open before considering something like basement storage where humidity levels can become very high due to poor ventilation and lack of natural light too so avoid it unless you have no other choice.
What to Cover Firewood With
There are a number of things you can cover your firewood with. You have to consider the type of wood, how much use it will get and what kind of weather is expected when using your firewood outside. For example, if you live in an area where there’s lots of rain or snow then protecting your logs from getting wet may be important for maintaining its high heat output and keeping it dry enough to not easily catch on fire while burning; whereas other areas might experience very little rainfall/snowfall that this isn’t as big of a consideration.
If you’re looking for something durable that won’t break down quickly like plastic sheeting, one option could be building a small shelter around the pile (for more ideas see section below). This would be a good choice if you’re looking for something that’s long lasting and can even provide protection from pests.
How to Protect the Wood from Rain and Snow?
The first thing you need to do is protect the wood from rain and snow. Cover it with a plastic tarp or use a cover that allows water in but blocks moisture out, such as burlap bag.
You can also choose to find dry firewood instead of storing it outside during wintertime when rain and snow are common weather conditions.
When to Cover the Woodpile
The first step before covering firewood outside is knowing when to do it. There are several reasons why you should cover your woodpile at certain times of the year, but there are also some instances where you shouldn’t use weatherproofing techniques or covers because they could cause damage instead of preventing them. Keep in mind that how long each task takes will depend on many factors such as time of day and type of climate, however these steps will provide a general idea for all seasons.
Maintenance of a Covered Woodpile
- The best way to keep your firewood dry while the weather is hot and humid is by covering it with a tarp. The moisture in wood can cause mold, mildew, fungus & bugs which means you have wetter wood that cannot be used for fuel or burning.
- This article will go into detail on how long certain woods should be covered outside depending upon different climates throughout the year. It also covers what type of tarps are best for this use as well as other accessories needed when storing logs outside.
- One of the most important things to do is check your woodpile after each rainstorm or snow fall. If you notice that many logs are wet, then it’s time for them to be uncovered and given enough time in dry conditions before covering up again.
- The best type of tarpaulin material to use would be a UV resistant plastic because this will help keep any moisture out while also preventing damage from wind & other natural elements.
- Tarps with grommets along the side can make finding an optimal place easier when using lots of firewood outside as well as making sure the tarp stays down during heavy winds by tying rope (or bungee cords) through each hole for extra protection against weathering.
- It is also recommended to have a few extra tarps on hand in case your first one gets too dirty or torn up. This is especially important if you are using plastic, because the material can degrade over time when exposed to sunlight and other natural elements.
- -When storing firewood outside for longer periods of time it is essential that each piece has about 30% moisture content inside them at all times. If they become dryer than this before being used, then they need more protection from wind & weathering which means covering them back up with another tarp until conditions improve.
- The best thing to do during these types of situations would be adding an oil based wood sealant onto each log after allowing some nice sunny days to pass. This will help prevent the wood from cracking and splitting as well as keeping it preserved for longer periods of time.
- If you decide to go with a tarp that is black or other dark colors, then you should know they absorb sunlight more than lighter colored tarps which means your logs could become dry faster. Another benefit of using darker tarps is that they tend to last much longer under UV exposure because the material doesn’t degrade like plastic does over time (although it can rip easier due to strong winds).
Tips: For those who store firewood outside during winter months only & don’t want to cover up their stock completely, we recommend buying an anti freeze kit instead. These kits come with everything needed to protect your wood from the hazards of frozen weathering.
- When using anti freeze kits it is important to remember that each application needs to be done after every snowfall or significant rainfall. This will keep logs at their most optimal moisture content & ensure they are protected during any cold snaps throughout winter seasons.
Please note: We do not recommend storing firewood outside longer than necessary if you live in colder climates because these types of tarpaulins can only slow down how quickly wood becomes damaged by rain, sun and other natural elements but cannot stop them completely like a plastic cover does.
Environmental Protection
Firewood is a renewable source of energy, and helps people to beat the rising costs of home heating bills. There are many ways you can go about sourcing firewood; some people buy them from retail stores while others cut their own with an axe or chainsaw. Either way, before long your yard might start looking like a pile of woodchips with several logs stacked neatly in between! If you’ve never used outdoor storage for firewood before it might be easy to make mistakes when covering up your freshly chopped wood by mistake.
Safety Tips
- Before you get started, there are a few things to keep in mind for your safety.
- Use gloves and protective equipment when using any power tools or chemicals.
- Wear rubber boots if you’ll be standing in water while working on the firewood cover.
- Keep children and pets away from the area.
- Make sure to store your wood in a dry place, preferably near where you burn it so that it’s convenient for you too.
FAQs
How long does it take to cover firewood?
It depends on the size of your stack and how much you're covering, but usually around three hours.
How do I clean my wood after treatment with oil?
You can use a pressure washer or hose depending upon the amount of dirt that has built up since last cleaning. If there's still mud caked onto your treated wood then consider using an old toothbrush for tough areas followed by another power wash. Don’t forget to wear gloves! Also keep in mind that newly cut wood is made moist from sap content inside which may cause splinters if handled without care why some people choose not to treat new wood.
Do I need to cover the ends of my firewood?
Easing up on how much you're covering and where is a great way to let your firewood breathe (without getting damaged). If there's one end that’s more exposed, then it would be worth putting some protection over it. There are different ways in which this can be achieved but probably the easiest option is by installing metal banding or wire netting around the log with cable ties every 18 inches or so depending upon size of logs. Another method involves cutting notches into both sides of each piece at an equal distance from either end, before binding them together through these cut areas with steel straps very common in the UK.
How long can I store my wood?
It's important to burn your firewood as soon as possible after cutting, so that it doesn't have time to rot and generate dust containing spores of toxic fungi such as Aspergillus Niger which may cause respiratory problems for some people. If you do end up with a large stockpile then make sure to stack them off the ground in an upside down V shape on top of each other avoiding contact between touching ends or sides this will stop moisture from accumulating throughout the pile and reduce rotting too. For those who are wondering, yes they're safe enough to touch but not recommended! There's also no need to cover them unless there is a significant amount of rain expected.
What are the benefits of covering firewood?
The main benefit is to protect the wood from rainfall, sun and snow which could otherwise cause it to warp or rot so why not prevent this happening in the first place! It's also a good idea if you have pets as they may chew on untreated pieces. If you’re planning long periods away without daily access then considering treating your stack beforehand for extra protection against insects that might infest them instead, since termites love damp conditions under piles of logs left lying around. Finally, an additional bonus is that treated wood doesn't create any smoke when burned during use, making it more environmental friendly too compared with other options out there today.
Conclusion
If you want to store firewood outside, make sure it is covered. When buying a cover for the woodpile, be mindful of what type of weather and insects are in your areif there’s a lot of rain or snow where you live, choose an all-weather cover; if it’s cold and dry during most months (even when not winter), then opt for one that will provide protection from elements but won’t retain heat. In addition, keep in mind how often you use the firewood pile so that your purchase matches its intended purpose!