Storing firewood correctly saves time, money and nerves. In order for crackling wood in the stove and fireplace to spread cozy warmth in winter, important aspects are important. This guide explains where and how to properly store and stack firewood for optimal calorific value.

Firewood should be stored under a roof if possible

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. Firewood storage instructions
  3. Where to store
  4. Observe important regulations
  5. Store firewood decoratively
  6. Common mistakes
  7. frequently asked Questions

    8. the essentials in brief

    • A firewood store should be covered on top but open on the sides
    • Firewood should never be stored indoors, as without ventilation it will become damp and moldy
    • Stacks of firewood must not be higher than 1.50 m
    • Cold firewood does not ignite well

    Store firewood correctly - instructions

    Outdoor drying in a stack of plywood is the cheapest solution for hobby gardeners to store firewood perfectly. To ensure that freshly cut logs dry quickly and without pest infestation, it is important to stack them correctly. Thanks to expert stacking technology, you can do without an additional stacking aid and the associated costs. How to properly store firewood in the garden:

    Material requirements and tools

    • freshly cut wood, ready for the stove or fireplace
    • 4 thick wooden posts (150 to 180 cm high)
    • Material for the base (squared timber, gravel, stones, pallets)
    • weatherproof, UV-resistant, rainproof cover (truck tarpaulin, pond liner or similar)
    • Wood gripper or wood packing tongs for back-friendly stacking
    • Tension wire, mallet, folding rule, gloves

    Step-by-step instructions

    1. choose a sunny, dry, airy spot outdoors
    2. knock in a sharpened wooden post at each corner of the campsite
    3. on the floor lay out the material for the subgrade
    4. First row: Lay the pieces of wood next to each other on the base with the bark facing down
    5. Second row: Lay the wood across the logs of the first row, always with the cut side facing up
    6. continue in the cross joint
    7. stretch a wire every 50 cm between the wooden posts for stabilization
    8. Cover woodstock, leaving sides open and airy

    By stacking the rows of logs at right angles and repeatedly stretching wires, you add extra stability to the firewood store. Ideally, you should arrange the larger logs on the outside and reserve the space in between for smaller logs. This allows the air to circulate even better and accelerate the drying process.

    A firewood store should be open on the sides

    digression

    The type of wood determines the storage time

    How long firewood should dry and store depends on the specific properties of the wood. In terms of fiber content and wood density, forestry generally differentiates between hardwood and softwood. The dense, robust structure of hardwood requires a storage period of two to four years. Only then are the logs dry enough to be burned in the stove. Softwood has a good calorific value after just one year of storage. Typical hardwoods are oak, maple and cherry. Softwoods include most conifers such as spruce and fir.

    Where can firewood be stored?

    The rule of thumb for an optimal choice of location is: never dry and store firewood in closed rooms. Without constant ventilation, mold and rot in the pile of wood are inevitable within a few weeks. If moldy wood ends up in the stove or fireplace, the whole family inhales harmful mold spores. For this reason, all storage rooms that are located in the house are taboo. The following table shows where you can store firewood properly and which locations are not suitable:

    suitable location unsuitable location conditionally suitable location
    in the garden Inside Meadow
    terrace living room orchard
    carpot basement, cellar Forest
    airy barn closed garage along hedges
    outside along the wall of the house closed garden house
    outdoors under the canopy conservatory

    In some federal states and municipalities, the storage of firewood in the forest, on a meadow or along a hedge is conditionally permitted. The most important prerequisite for approval is the guarantee that the wood storage facility will not adversely affect the ecological balance or the appearance of the landscape. Biotopes, nature reserves and legally protected flood areas are generally excluded as storage areas.

    Cold firewood will not ignite

    Cold firewood does not burn

    In winter, ice-cold firewood regularly causes frustration because it does not ignite or only with difficulty. Bring firewood from the outdoor storage area into the house a few days in advance so that it warms up to room temperature. Residual moisture can still escape on this occasion.

    Observe important regulations

    The legislator has a say in the storage of firewood. Burning damp wood is punishable by fines, as is storing too large quantities. If you get too close to your neighbor with the woodpile, you are also acting against legal regulations. In Germany, the federal states and municipalities are subject to specific regulations relating to the storage of firewood. The following overview summarizes general guidelines for legally compliant storage and stacking of firewood:

    • Store no more than 40 m³ of firewood per parcel
    • Storage quantity corresponding to the annual consumption in a household
    • maximum stacking height: 1.50 m
    • Storage in protected areas only on application to the Lower Nature Conservation Authority
    • no storage permitted of pallets, construction and demolition wood
    • Cover with environmentally friendly, landscape-neutral materials
    • Attention: Distance to the property line at least 50 cm

    In order to nip any conflict with the regulations in the bud, please check with the responsible building authority for regional regulations on private wood storage. In Hesse, for example, the municipality must be notified in writing of the storage of firewood from 10 cubic meters. In Baden-Württemberg, outdoor wood storage is limited to a volume of 20 cubic meters. Commercial wood storage outdoors is not permitted in a number of federal states or is permitted under strict conditions.

    tips

    The extensive firewood regulations do not stop with proper storage. The wood can only go into the oven when it has a maximum moisture content of 25 percent, which corresponds to a water content of 20 percent. If wood that is too damp is burned, dark, stinking smoke billows out of the chimney and betrays the culprit from afar.

    Store firewood decoratively - ideas with a twist

    A firewood store can be added decoratively to the garden

    Creative hobby gardeners are not satisfied with storing firewood properly. The stack of wood should also be a feast for the eyes, harmoniously integrated into the appearance of the property, garden and terrace. The following ideas may fire your imagination for decorative storage of firewood:

    • Build a round wood pile in the garden and stack logs in a round shape (construction instructions in the video below)
    • Stack different types of wood as a colorful wall with integrated decorative elements
    • Store dry firewood in the decorative corten steel shelf as a heart or ring

    Since freshly felled wood should dry and be stored for up to four years, the expense of built-in lighting is worth it. While you stack the logs according to the instructions above, install small spotlights with a low-voltage power supply, as they are known from classic garden lighting.

    Video:youtube

    Avoid common mistakes

    Smoke-filled living spaces instead of cozy warmth are the result if the fireplace owner makes one of the following common mistakes when storing firewood. In order to save the readers of this guide from trouble with firewood, the following table summarizes common misconceptions with tips for prevention:

    error damage prevention
    storage time too short high smoke development Store hardwood 2-4 years, softwood 1-2 years
    stored in the house mold and rot Store firewood outdoors
    no cover Firewood does not dry Cover stack of wood, leave sides free

    frequently asked Questions

    How long does firewood need to be stored?

    The duration of storage depends on the type of wood. Hardwoods such as oak, cherry, maple or ash require a storage period of two to four years. Softwoods such as willow, spruce or fir achieve an optimal calorific value after just one year. The reason for the different duration of storage is the species-specific wood density. The higher the fiber content in the wood, the more time it takes for the moisture content to reduce for the best possible heating performance.

    How much firewood can you store in the garden?

    A stack of wood should not be higher than 1.50 m

    In Germany, stacks of wood outdoors are considered a structural system and are subject to the regulations of the state building code. In most federal states it is stipulated that a wood storage facility may accommodate the annual consumption of a private household at most. Depending on the federal state and region, you may store between 20 and 40 cubic meters of firewood per plot of land, provided that the stack does not exceed a height of 1.50 meters.

    Where can I store dry firewood?

    If the moisture level has fallen below 25 percent, you can also store firewood in the house. Even inside the living room you can now stack the logs without hesitation. If you choose a location outside, the dry firewood should be protected from moisture from above and below. Stack the logs on pallets covered with an eco-friendly tarpaulin. A lattice box made of welded wire mesh on a dry base made of stones, Euro pallets (€29.99) or squared timber is well suited for storing wood.

    In what orientation should I store and stack the logs?

    Always stack firewood bark side down. This prevents the logs from rotting. Be sure to point the narrow end of the woodpile to the west, which is the weather side in our regions. If firewood points west with the long side, the logs are exposed to massive weather influences and dry very slowly.

    tips

    Traditionally, the canopy roof of the garden house (€24.90) or residential building serves as a storage place for firewood, preferably on the south side. With this variant, please do not cover with a tarpaulin. A distance of 10 centimeters from the wall guarantees good air circulation. Simple squared timber or wooden pallets serve as protection against moisture from below.

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Garden design