How to Stack Firewood

Knowing how to stack firewood properly will ensure that you’re maximises the use of space as well as ensuring that wetter or fresh wood has optimum chance of drying out before being used. There are many ways of stack wood, however this ‘how to’ explains the traditional tower method.

Photo Credit: Designlazy.com

Steps

1- Decide how you want it look. Check out pictures of log piles online and evaluate your preferences against the space you have available. Plan accordingly.

2- Choose the most uniform pieces for the end towers. Making stable end towers is crucial. A little wobble in an end tower can be disastrous and so it’s essential to find the right pieces for your end towers. Heavy and regularly sized pieces are worth hunting through your pile for.

3- Construct the end towers using a 2×2 or 3×3 approach (depending on the length of the chopped wood). The basic structure will look like a solid tower of jenga i.e. ¾ pieces laying one way, and then 3-4 pieces laying at 90 degrees on top. It’s best to allow theI prefer the pieces to fit together nicely on their own, as they’ll be more likely to withstand the slight shifting that will go on underneath the pile as the ground freezes and thaws.

4- Fill in the gaps. In between the towers, lay logs from the tower ‘bookends’ inwards. Each piece should be laying in exactly the same direction where is they were to roll out of place they would be stopped by the towers.

5- Determine the size of stacks. Stacks can vary in size and still remain stable. Build to the size of the space that is a6vailable, but do not allow more than 20 feet between each supporting tower.

6-Take wood from the center stack. When you’re ready to use the logs, take the wood from the stack downwards and outwards, leaving the towers until last.

Tips

Be patient building the towers for each end. Not only are they incredibly aesthetically pleasing, but they’re also what will be keeping the entire structure from spilling out.