How should firewood be stacked and stored?
Stack it off the ground on pallets or rails, in a single row with the split faces exposed to sun and wind, well away from the house. Keep rows a hand's width apart for airflow, cover only the top so rain sheds off while the sides breathe, and store the bulk a good distance from siding to keep pests and moisture off your home.
Off the ground, single row
Get the wood up off the dirt first — pallets, scrap lumber, or metal rails all work — so ground moisture can't wick back up into a stack you worked to dry. Build it as a single row with the split faces open to the air, not a deep block; a wide, packed pile traps damp air in its core where wood never fully dries.
Pick the sunniest, breeziest spot on the property, ideally facing south and out from under the tree canopy that shades so many WNC lots. Single-row stacks in a sunny, windy spot routinely dry months faster than the same wood piled deep in the shade.
Give it air, cover only the top
Airflow is what carries moisture away, so leave a hand's width between rows and don't wrap the pile tight. When you cover it, cover only the top foot — a tarp, a scrap of metal roofing, or a proper woodshed roof — so rain and our summer downpours shed off while the sides stay open to breathe.
A tarp pulled down over the sides does the opposite of what you want, sealing humidity in and turning good wood mildewy and punky.
Keep it away from the house
Stack the bulk of your wood a good distance from siding and foundation — a woodpile against the house is an invitation to termites, carpenter ants, and mice, and it holds moisture against your walls. Keep only a few days' worth on the porch or in a rack near the door.
Bring indoor wood in shortly before you burn it so any hitchhiking bugs don't settle in. Do that, and a stack seasoned right will hold for a couple of years. Call (828) 545-0525 with questions about your setup.
Related questions
- Should firewood be covered with a tarp?
- Can I store firewood inside the house or garage?
- Will a firewood pile near the house attract termites or other pests?
- How can I make firewood season faster?
- Does seasoned firewood go bad or rot if it's stored for several years?
- How do I know if my house has natural gas or propane?
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