A roaring fire can be one of the key ingredients to a successful Christmas – but one issue you will need to consider is where you store your logs over the festive period to ensure they remain fit to burn as fuel. Here Lumberjacks look at the problem and identify a couple of solutions.
Outdoors Isn’t Always the Answer
As you might expect, you need your logs to stay as dry as possible. Since 2022 it has been illegal to sell firewood with a moisture content of over 20%, and ideally you want somewhere to store them which will keep that moisture content low.
Leaving them outdoor in piles, out in the open, isn’t an option as condensation and frost over winter make the logs more prone to rot and mould. So, you should have some form of protection for your firewood if you are leaving it outdoors.
Indoors Isn’t the Answer Either
It can be tempting to store as many logs as you can inside the home to minimise these problems. However, that isn’t the answer either– particularly if you have chopped the wood up yourself from your own garden.
Aside from the problem of where to put them (you could need as many as 6 cubic metres of logs over winter, if you light a lot of fires), there is also the issue of insects and bugs. Many of these love wood, and they could thrive indoors, so you’ll have to remove them on a regular basis.
What Drier Logs Mean for Your Fire
Drier logs are easier to light, and easier to keep alight. They produce a better-quality fire which will burn better for longer – saving you money. Firewood which doesn’t contain too much moisture will also produce less smoke and air pollutants, so it’s better for the environment as well.
If your fire is in a fireplace, then wet wood can lead to a bigger build-up of soot and creosote as the additional water vapour combines to a residue of creosote – increasing the likelihood of a chimney fire or blockage. You may need to have it swept or inspected more frequently, again costing you more money in the long run. If the fire is in a wood-burning stove, then this problem could take the form of corrosion (or blackening the glass on the front of the stove).
A Log Store is the Ideal Solution…
As well as supplying hardwood logs, smokeless coal and other fire-related sundries – and in November we are offering these at a 5% discount – we also stock wooden log stores at our Ipswich base.
These are open fronted, with heavy duty slats and a sloping roof; this should keep the bad weather off and still allow air to circulate (and keep the logs dry). They should provide a convenient shelter for your wood until you are ready to burn it. The main size is 1.2metres by 0.76m, but bespoke sizes are also available.
…Or You Could Use a Garden Shed
A garden shed is also a good place to store firewood and sundries – it’s not as bespoke as a log store, but it will keep your logs dry and safe from the elements. And you can put a lot more items in there as well – tools, garden machinery, furniture (the last two particularly over the winter months).
At Lumberjacks we can also supply a wide range of large wooden sheds from our Ipswich yard – including Apex and Pent sheds, adaptable sheds and workshops, and heavy duty buildings. We also occasionally have them available on special offer.
Home Deliveries from Lumberjacks
If you would like to know more about any of our products, you can call us on 01473 461394 or follow this link and fill in the online form. If you are considering a large order then we offer a delivery service to Woodbridge, Felixstowe, Hadleigh, Stowmarket, Needham Market and many other destinations. For more information click here.