There are lots of things to consider when choosing and stacking logs, however, so here’s what we’ve learned over the years. You can burn most tree species but some give you a better result than others. Softwoods, such as pine and spruce, catch quickly, so are useful for kindling and the early stages of a fire. Hardwoods, such as oak, beech and ash, burn more slowly and more intensely, so are perfect for kicking out heat once a fire is well established.
Logs must be fully seasoned – dried out so their water content is less than 20% (freshly felled wood is about 50%) – to burn cleanly and efficiently.
As a general rule, leave softwoods to season for a year and hardwoods for two years. Properly seasoned wood makes a lovely “thwack” when knocked together. It also feels lighter with the bark starting to peel away and splits appearing.
If you buy your logs, do so by volume (cubic metres), not weight; that way, you won’t be sold heavy, wet, unseasoned logs. As a rough guide, an average 5kw wood burner for moderate use (weekends and evenings) will probably use about three cubic metres of seasoned logs over winter. Hardwood costs more but will last longer.
Ask how long it’s been seasoned for. You can buy green wood, part-seasoned or fully seasoned logs. If you want to burn now, buy fully seasoned wood or kiln-dried logs. Green wood is cheaper but you’ll have to season it yourself. Invest in a moisture meter to check when your logs are ready to burn – logs must be less than 20% water to burn cleanly, ideally 15 per cent. If you store your logs outside, however, even seasoned firewood will never be drier than around 12-18%, as it absorbs moisture from the air.
Only buy from sustainable, ethical sources. Imports of logs have a heavy carbon footprint and it can be difficult to find out whether the producer is committed to responsible, sustainable woodland management.
When it comes to storing your logs, two things matter. One is airflow and the other is weather protection. Logs will not dry out in a sealed environment, so any log store must have good ventilation. Firewood also needs protection from the rain and snow; although seasoned logs rarely get sodden, constant exposure to water will leave timber prone to rotting. A simple cover on the log store is fine.
With some careful preparation, you’ll have a ready supply of perfectly dry “old wood” to draw on over the coming months. And, with any luck, plenty of old wine and old friends to go with it. As for old authors, they may be a bit trickier to source but, as my husband cheekily reminds me, he’s lucky enough to live with one…
Four of the best firewoods:-
Beech: Very good firewood – burns well with few sparks and one log can last for hours in the fire. Needs two years' seasoning.
Birch: Burns well but quite fast – best mixed with a slower fuel, such as oak. The papery bark is great for kindling. Needs at least a year's seasoning.
Ash: Another excellent hardwood for fires. Burns well with no sparking. Needs at least 18 months' seasoning.
Oak: The king of firewood, oak burns slowly and creates long-lasting heat right through to the embers stage. Needs two years' seasoning.
Remember, for all your timber requirements, look no further than the team at Johnsons. Call us today on 0121 706 0404 or email sales@johnsonstimber.co.uk.