| Reasons for Firewood | | | | works fine. The plastic will act as a vapor barrier |
| There are many reasons for using firewood as a | | | | and keep moisture from beneath the logs while at |
| source of heat and beauty. It has a low cost or | | | | the same time discouraging critters and pests. |
| can even be free if you have your own source. It | | | | Green wood should be loosely stacked in your |
| is a renewable resource and, if properly | | | | firewood shed and left for a season so that air |
| harvested, can be helpful to forests and property | | | | can circulate. This will create dry, clean-burning |
| owners. While most people think of burning wood | | | | firewood. If you buy your wood already seasoned |
| as dirty, the new high efficiency woodstoves and | | | | then keeping it in your woodshed will insure that it |
| outdoor wood furnaces are very clean-burning, | | | | doesn't pick up any moisture from the ground or |
| often reaching over an 80% efficiency rating. It | | | | as a result of rain or snow. |
| doesn't require electricity. On a cold, snowy night | | | | Building and Situating Your Firewood Shed |
| when the power goes out there is nothing nicer | | | | If you do not already have a firewood shed then |
| than a hot fire to huddle around with your family. | | | | building one is the cheapest and best method for |
| The appliances used for burning wood are quite | | | | getting the right result. You can find woodshed |
| numerous these days. From typical iron | | | | plans online pretty easily. Get a package that |
| woodstoves to soapstone and enamel, there are | | | | includes construction directions, several design |
| plenty of attractive choices for burning wood. | | | | choices, and a materials list. This will make getting |
| There is, of course, my favorite: an open fire | | | | materials cheaper and easier. Take your plans and |
| inside an attractive fireplace. Nothing else quite | | | | materials list to several supply yards or box |
| compares. A fire is beautiful, romantic, and - an | | | | stores and get a quote. Often they will compete |
| added bonus - puts off heat. | | | | with each other for your business. Once you buy |
| Firewood Acquisition | | | | your materials, your supplier will likely be very |
| If you don't have firewood on your property, | | | | happy to answer any questions you might have |
| sourcing good wood can be something of a | | | | during the building process. |
| challenge. The best place to start is the classifieds | | | | Firewood Shed Plans |
| in your local paper. Also check the phone book. | | | | When planning the placement of your firewood |
| Where I live it's not uncommon to see dump | | | | shed make sure you think of accessibility. On a |
| trucks full of firewood parked around town with a | | | | cold, snowy night you don't want to have to |
| for sale sign on them. Here's the trick. A lot of | | | | trudge all over the place to get wood. Consider |
| people selling firewood cut, split, and load it in their | | | | the direction weather usually comes from and |
| truck to deliver to you. This wood may be fine | | | | face your opening away from it. Your shed won't |
| wood, but you should not burn it until it has been | | | | do much good if rain and snow is always blowing |
| aged properly for at least one year. A good | | | | inside of it. Remember also that whether you or |
| firewood business will be selling properly aged | | | | someone else is delivering firewood, you will have |
| firewood that is ready to use. | | | | to move it from a vehicle to your storage shed. |
| Firewood Storage and Aging | | | | You have to situate your firewood shed so that |
| Whether you get well seasoned wood or will be | | | | you can fill and empty it with ease. If you don't |
| aging it yourself, you need a proper place to | | | | feel that you can do both of these well, consider |
| store it. Many people just stack their wood and | | | | that filling is done only once, whereas you will be |
| cover it with a tarp. This is one of the worst | | | | getting firewood all winter long. |
| ways to store firewood. The tarp traps moisture | | | | Summary |
| from the wood and the ground and acts like a | | | | Properly aged and stored firewood makes a clean |
| sauna. This keeps the wood from drying in a | | | | and rewarding heat source. It is renewable, |
| reasonable amount of time and can promote rot. | | | | efficient, cost effective, and beautiful. Plan your |
| The best way to store firewood is in a shed. | | | | storage facility well and you will find that you |
| Something simple will do, a roof and three sides | | | | enjoy every aspect of your wood heating |
| works best. This allows for plenty of air exchange | | | | experience. Even if you just burn a small amount |
| and easy access to your stored wood. I | | | | of wood each year for ambiance, having properly |
| recommend installing some kind of a floor; even | | | | dried, easily accessible wood will make building a |
| several inches of gravel with plastic underneath | | | | fire easier and more enjoyable. |