10 ideas for stacking firewood

Without canopy

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

When building a woodpile in an open space, it is necessary to give it stability. Vertical pipes or fittings 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 outdoors without a canopy, prepare sheets of metal, slate, or a 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.

Cage

This method of stacking is suitable for long, even firewood: each top layer of logs must be laid perpendicular to the bottom, that is, crosswise. Experts believe that this way the fuel is stored longer due to good air circulation.

In the photo there is firewood laid in a crate. Slate and pallets are used as pallets. The firewood in the woodpile dries well, as it is on the sunny side.

The method of stacking firewood in a crate is suitable for the construction of "wells" woodpiles, which serve as reliable supports. Firewood stacked on top of each other (that is, in parallel) is unstable, and the destruction of the woodpile threatens to damage the material and waste energy. 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 the woodpile with your own hands is the easiest task.

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

The photo shows an example of a stylish and practical wood log - there are gaps between the planks that allow the wood to dry faster. The roof is built in a lean-to manner, so when it rains or melts the snow, the water flows back.

The storage can be either separately or not far from the house. Firewood in a woodpile is stacked in piles, with the thick end facing itself, to create a slope. The main advantage of the wood log is its practicality, since the construction protects the fuel from rain and provides it with stability: the logs rest on the side and rear walls.

Near the wall

Without a separate firebox, many village and country house owners prefer to store fuel near the wall. This method is convenient in that one side has a strong support, and the rest are open for ventilation. The walls of a house or barn... A small woodpile can be stacked near the bathhouse to have fuel supplies nearby.

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

Before laying firewood in a woodpile against the wall, we advise you to insulate it in any suitable way: the insulation will protect the wall from insects and rodents that can move into the house made of wood material.

Near the fence

In a similar way, you can stack firewood in a woodpile near fence... In this case, the owner of the fence must himself determine the degree of benefit of this option and the possible risks. If the fence is unstable, a tall 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 fold the woodpile in two rows. For stability, it is worth using strong stakes on the sides, and if it was not possible to prepare them, laying firewood in a crate will help.

In the photo there is 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 fire box with walls and a roof, there are more original closed structures for preparing and storing fuel for the winter.

An uncomplicated building in the form of a hut reliably protects from the rain and gives the personal plot of originality. Such a structure can be built with your own hands. The only drawback is the relatively small capacity of the woodshed.

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

Round

A wood log in the form of a circle gives the site a sophistication and harmoniously fits into any landscape design. The structure can be solid or divided by shelves, on which firewood, chips and cut boards are stacked. Round woodpile is well protected from moisture by its shape.

In addition to finished products, summer residents often use homemade firewoods from metal 200-liter barrels, sawing them into three parts, painting and putting fuel in them. The lightweight structure can be fixed on the wall by making a compact mini-wood log: on small area this is a great solution that will save space.

In the photo, a do-it-yourself hanging wood log for small scraps.

Hexagonal

An even more modern closed building in the form of a honeycomb, 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.

Plus the building is in its compactness - Hexagons can be installed on top of each other and have any number of niches, so you can achieve the required 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 firebox is not difficult.

Stozhkom

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

To stack chopped wood with a stack, you need to arrange a drainage from tree bark or gravel for the first row. To make the round woodpile look neat, we recommend installing a cross in the center. You need to fold the firewood in rings, using the logs placed across, as supports and guides for the slope.

The insides of the shovel can be randomly filled with wood: when increasing the height, the chocks will provide stability and save space.

Small house

A round woodpile in the form of a stack has another subspecies - a house.It is distinguished by vertical walls, laid in the same way as in the previous paragraph, and a conical roof on top.

To ensure reliable storage of fuel, it is important to fold the wood correctly, that is, with an overlap. The roof, like a canopy, must protect against precipitation. It is better for beginners to start with low buildings.

Photo gallery

The listed methods of stacking firewood differ among themselves in the amount of material used, placement, labor costs. Today, woodcutters have one more interesting function - a decorative one. They have interesting architectural forms, laid out in the form of a spiral, balls, animals, paintings and outbuildings.

To build such compositions, you need to have a lot of experience, since the decorative laying of firewood in a woodpile requires patience and artistic taste. You can find unusual options for woodpiles in our photo gallery.