If you use firewood frequently through the winter months, you’ll need a place to store it so that it stays safe and dry. Those who use a wood-burning fireplace as their main source of heat during the cold part of the year will use a significant amount of wood, so having a spacious storage option is desirable. Here, we’d like to highlight some helpful and effective firewood storage ideas that should make it easier for you to keep your firewood organized and ready to burn.
We sell more than just carports at American Carports, Inc. Our fully customizable structures can be designed to fit your exact needs with our Build & Price tool. Try it today!
Separate but Close
Storing firewood is a tricky task because you want to keep it close to your home for convenience, but not too close. Big piles of wood tend to attract a variety of critters, so you don’t want to store the wood right next to your house. Rather, it would be better to store it in a separate structure that is close enough to the house to still be convenient on those cold winter mornings.
A small metal outbuilding like a storage shed or carport is a perfect solution to this problem. These kinds of buildings are affordable to construct, can be placed in a variety of locations, and require very little in terms of maintenance. Also, by going with a metal building, you won’t have to worry about those critters doing any damage to the structure itself. The size of the building you select will depend on how much wood you need to store, of course, but this idea can work for a variety of needs.
It’s All About the Stack
There is an art to stacking firewood, so it’s beneficial for you to learn a little about the best methods to handle this task. Piling up your firewood in a messy heap in the middle of the floor is just asking for trouble. This causes the wood on the bottom to stay wet, and it gives small animals endless places to hide.
The right way to stack firewood is to give each piece as much room to breathe as possible. You want the wood to be dry when it comes time to burn it, and wood needs air circulation if it is going to dry out. Another key point is to make sure you resist the temptation to stack your pile too high without the right support. A tall stack of firewood could turn into a serious safety risk if it tips over at the wrong time. Consider using a firewood rack to keep your wood organized and in place.
Limit Other Uses
It might be tempting to get multiple uses out of your firewood storage building by adding other items to the space. However, it’s best to avoid this temptation and keep the area clear instead. There are a couple of problems with storing other things near your firewood, and the first is simple convenience. If you pile up other items in the space, it’s going to be hard to access the wood when you need it. Also, a pile of firewood is a potential fire hazard, so you don’t want to collect it next to anything that could be flammable or contribute to the ignition of a dangerous fire.
Only Bring in What You Need
On a winter day when the weather is good, you might be tempted to pull a weeks-worth of wood off of your pile and bring it into the house. That would save you work later on, but it would also come with some significant downsides. In addition to cluttering up your house, you’d certainly be bringing plenty of new guests in with you–and most of them have eight legs. Spiders love woodpiles, and some will come in with each load. By bringing in a big pile that is going to sit for a few days, those spiders will have a chance to dispense to various parts of your home.
The other concern with bringing in so much wood is that the wood won’t be able to dry out properly while inside. If you have green wood, that wood needs to dry in an environment that is not as warm and humid as your house. Leave it outside in covered storage until it’s ready to be used.
Work with American Carports, Inc. Today!
We hope these effective firewood storage ideas assist you! If you decide to add a new structure to your property to keep your firewood out of the elements, American Carports, Inc. would be happy to serve you. Our metal structures are a perfect choice for firewood storage, as they are affordable, durable, and can be installed quickly. Start customizing your structure with our Build & Price tool to get started!
