10 Creative Ways to Store Firewood

Without a canopy

The main rule when storing firewood is to place it above the ground surface, using a pallet, logs, pipes or bricks as a foundation for the first row. If you put firewood on the ground, it will absorb moisture. The place should be well ventilated, not in a lowland.

When building a woodpile in an open space, it is necessary to give it stability. Vertical pipes or reinforcement should be installed on the sides of the structure.

Another way to strengthen the structure is to build supports from strong wooden beams and cinder blocks.

If you want to stack firewood outside without a canopy, prepare sheets of metal, slate or waterproof film. In sunny weather the fuel will dry well, but in bad weather it is necessary to cover it, protecting it from rain and snow.

In a cage

This method of stacking is suitable for long, even firewood: each upper layer of logs should be laid perpendicular to the lower one, that is, crosswise. Experts believe that this method allows the fuel to be stored longer due to good air circulation.

The photo shows firewood stacked in a cage. Slate and pallets serve as pallets. Firewood in a woodpile dries well, since it is on the sunny side.

The method of stacking firewood in a cage is suitable for constructing “well” woodpiles, which serve as reliable supports. Firewood stacked on top of each other (i.e. parallel) is unstable, and the destruction of the woodpile threatens to damage the material and waste effort. Cross-shaped wells on the sides or inside the stacks give them stability.

In the woodshed

If you have a special structure for storing firewood, stacking a woodpile with your own hands is the easiest task.

A properly built woodshed should consist of two parts: one section for consumable, already dry fuel, and the second for preparing, drying and protecting logs from bad weather.

The photo shows an example of a stylish and practical woodshed – gaps are left between the planks, which allow the wood to dry faster. The roof is arranged in a single-pitched manner, so during rain or melting snow, water flows back.

The storage can be either separate or close to the house. Firewood in the woodpile is stacked in piles, with the thick end facing you, to create a slope. The main advantage of a woodshed is its practicality, since the structure protects the fuel from rain and provides stability: the logs rest on the side and back walls.

Near the wall

Not having a separate woodshed, many owners of village and summer cottages prefer to store fuel near the wall. This method is convenient because one side has a strong support, and the rest are open for ventilation. The walls of a house or barn are often used as a base. A small woodpile can also be stacked near a bathhouse to have fuel supplies nearby.

The photo shows a wall-mounted woodpile, arranged under the stairs. Thanks to this solution, the firewood is protected and the space is used as rationally as possible.

Before stacking firewood in a wall-mounted woodpile, we recommend insulating it in any suitable way: insulation will protect the wall from insects and rodents that can move into the house from the wood material.

Near the fence

In a similar way, you can stack firewood in a woodpile near the fence. In this case, the owner of the fence must determine the degree of benefit of this option and the possible risks. If the fence is unstable, a high woodpile can break the structure.

The wood will be dry if you leave a few centimeters between it and the fence. The same rule should be followed if you need to stack the woodpile in two rows. For stability, it is worth using strong stakes on the sides, and if you were unable to prepare them, stacking the firewood in a cage will help.

The photo shows a fence with built-in niches for firewood. The woodpile is not only part of the fence, but also adds decorativeness to the design.

Closed

In addition to the standard woodshed with walls and a roof, there are more original closed structures for preparing and storing fuel for the winter.

A simple structure in the form of a hut reliably protects from rain and gives the garden plot originality. Such a structure can be erected with your own hands. The only downside is the relatively small capacity of the woodshed.

In one of the episodes of the “Dachny Otvet” program, designers turned a woodpile into a real decoration of the site, incorporating it into a summer kitchen project. The woodshed is equipped near the fence and has triangular niches made of pine boards. The design looks very impressive, while remaining practical and functional, as it serves both for cooking and heating.

Round

A round woodshed adds sophistication to the area and fits harmoniously into any landscape design. The design can be solid or divided by shelves on which firewood, chips and board trimmings are placed. A round woodpile is well protected from moisture by its shape.

In addition to ready-made products, summer residents often use homemade ones. firewood sheds from metal 200-liter barrels, sawing them into three parts, painting and placing fuel in them. The lightweight structure can be fixed to the wall, making a compact mini-firewood shed: in a small area, this is an excellent solution that will save space.

In the photo, a hanging firewood shed for small scraps, made by hand.

Hexagonal

An even more modern closed structure in the form of honeycombs, which looks expensive and aesthetically pleasing. The architectural form of such a woodpile gives the territory nobility and demonstrates the excellent taste of its owners.

The advantage of the structure is its compactness – the hexagons can be installed on top of each other and have any number of niches, thanks to which you can achieve the desired capacity and optimal dimensions.

Purchased “honeycombs” are made of steel, but the structure can be made independently and treated with protective impregnations. Stacking logs in such a woodpile is not difficult.

Haystack

The stack of logs in the form of a lush haystack is an alternative to the previous woodpile. With this option, you need to stack the firewood in a circle in a stacking manner, maintaining a slight slope so that the water flows out. A round stack of woodpile is reliable, roomy and looks very aesthetically pleasing.

To stack chopped firewood in a stack, you need to arrange drainage from tree bark or gravel for the first row. To make the round stack look neat, we recommend installing a crosspiece in the center. Firewood should be stacked in rings, using logs placed crosswise as supports and guides for the slope.

The insides of the stack can be randomly filled with wood: as the height increases, the logs will provide stability and save space.

Little House

The round woodpile in the form of a haystack has another subtype – a little house. It is distinguished by vertical walls, laid out according to the same pattern as in the previous paragraph, and a conical roof on top.

To ensure reliable storage of fuel, it is important to stack firewood correctly, that is, with an overlap. The roof, like a canopy, should protect from precipitation. Beginners should start with low buildings.