In this day and age, with economic uncertainty and rising energy costs, many people are looking to alternatives for their heat. This has caused a resurgence in the use of woodstoves and outdoor wood furnaces. The new wood heating appliances are more efficient and clean burning than ever. It is imperative, however, that properly seasoned hardwoods be used as fuel in order to achieve the highest efficiency and bang for your buck.
Depending on how seasoned your wood is when you purchase it, it may be necessary to let it continue to let it dry before burning it. The best wood will be dried for over a year. Drying wood is not as simple as throwing a tarp over a heap of logs. Wood should be split-stacked and left to dry in a covered but open space. Covering wood with a tarp to “keep the rain off” is a very bad idea. It keeps the water in the wood from evaporating and causes the wood to dry very slowly. A woodshed is the best option. These usually consist of a roof and three sides. This allows plenty of airflow but keeps off the rain.
If you are planning on using wood as your heating source, you are probably handy and would consider building your own woodshed. Make this process easier with a set of plans and some preliminary planning. Decide where to position your shed based on ease of access. When having firewood delivered you want the delivery truck to be able to get as close to your woodshed as possible. This will make the stacking job easier on you or the delivery man. The woodshed should also be close to where the wood will be burned. Often a compromise has to be reached. I prefer to err on the side of having the wood closer to where it will be used. It may be harder to stack, but this happens once a year and not all year long.
While having a woodshed in itself will help to prevent critters from moving into your wood pile, don’t place the woodshed too close to your house as animals and insects are always a possibility. Building a floor or putting down gravel can help keep unwanted guests out of the woodpile. Digging through a solid floor or several inches of stone is always a deterrent.
Once you decide on the location and design, take your materials list to several suppliers. Do not just rely on the box stores. Often you can build a relationship with your rep at an independent supplier. They are usually more knowledgeable than box store employees and will be happy to answer questions or help out if you hit a snag during your project. Have a good set of woodshed plans and spend some time planning before you start your project. You will save time, money, and a lot of headache during the construction process and for years to come.
For more information on building a woodshed please visit Build Your Own Shed