In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

I want your input on storage.

Discussion in 'The Wood Pile' started by Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 23, 2023.

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  1. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    This will be a somewhat long post.
    I have always had room in my garage for 1.5 to 2 yrs dry storage. With 2 + yr stuff being piled outside and rotated in.
    I've started a landscape company, and now need my garage for equipment storage and a shop.
    I just had sod ripped up and 60 tons of stone put down originally as trailer storage.
    My new plan is to store all of my wood outside on the concrete pad behind the stone and on my new stone area for drainage.
    I am a piler not a stacker and I don't intend to change this practice.
    It will be uncovered. Where I live gets insanely windy in the winter, tarps literally get shredded within weeks.
    Im working to get on a 3 yr plan with for us will be probably 30+cord.
    To make up for being outside I have decided to start bringing wood into the basement hopefully around .5 to .6 cord at a time to get a final bit of dry.
    My questions
    Outside storage guys, what mc% are you getting after 2 or 3 yrs? My inside 2yr old stuff averages 8 to 11%
    Is storing .5 + cord in my basement for a week or 3 enough time to make up for being stored outside.
    Any comments or input is welcome.
    The pictures are,my current indoor storage.
    My proposed outdoor storage area
    My current outdoor storage
    And my new basement storage that is 28"x14ft if I stack 3ft high this will be over 84cubift of starage IMG_20231223_162528.jpg IMG_20231223_164937.jpg IMG_20231223_155704.jpg IMG_20231223_162818.jpg
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 23, 2023
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  2. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I'd like to give you my comment, but I live in an arid area, the wood seasons by itself snow/rain, or both or none of either. I've seen some really neat things here from others here that use a basement window get the wood in the basement vs carrying it down the stairs.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2023
    wildwest, Dec 23, 2023
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  3. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    I hate piles...
     
    brenndatomu, Dec 23, 2023
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  4. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    Ours are piles most the time, why do they bother you?
     
    wildwest, Dec 23, 2023
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  5. JDU

    JDU

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    All I'd say is a 30 cord pile is huge, and gonna take a lot of space. Good luck.
     
    JDU, Dec 23, 2023
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  6. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    Yessir I figure it'll be the majority of the stone area. I'm hoping I can achieve at least 12 ft tall at the peak
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 23, 2023
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  7. Chud

    Chud

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    :popcorn:
     
    Chud, Dec 23, 2023
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  8. brenndatomu

    brenndatomu

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    The stuff at the bottom never dries well, sometimes is even sopping wet...and it takes up too much room...also looks a mess IMO, and even if you do want to cover it, how? There is no way to "top cover it only" like with stacks...a top covered (sides open) 3 YO (+) stack is how PRIMO firewood is made.
    Hey, you asked...;)
     
    brenndatomu, Dec 23, 2023
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  9. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    :), no worries, I was curious and I did ask.
     
    wildwest, Dec 23, 2023
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  10. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    This is why I want input.
    Piles stored inside dry quit well.
    Eventually if I can afford it would love to get a giant carport or 2 to topcover the giant piles
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 23, 2023
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  11. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

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    PITA from what i hear! :eek: :rofl: :lol:
     
    buZZsaw BRAD, Dec 23, 2023
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  12. yooperdave

    yooperdave

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    ......Brad! :picard:
     
    yooperdave, Dec 23, 2023
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  13. PatrickNY

    PatrickNY

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    PatrickNY, Dec 23, 2023
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  14. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 24, 2023
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  15. jrider

    jrider

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    From my personal experience, wood in a pile dries pretty darn good spring through fall provided it gets full sun and wind exposure. Winter though is a different story. Snow and rain will get down into the pile and it doesn’t dry on the part of the pile that doesn’t get direct sunlight with the sun being much lower in the sky.
    You stated you’ve started a landscaping business and I assume you have some part time help at the least? Have them stack on days you finish up early.
     
    jrider, Dec 24, 2023
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  16. Backwoods Savage

    Backwoods Savage Moderator

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    Piles are a great way to lose some btu value of the wood. brenndatomu made an excellent post.

    I've experimented with top covering and not covering wood and again, without a doubt the uncovered wood lost a lot of btu value.

    For many years our method was to cut in early winter. Split in early spring and stack immediately. Top cover either before heavy fall rains or before the snow flies. Here are some older pictures of some of our wood stacks.

    Christmas-2008d.JPG Getting wood for winter.JPG May 2014-e.JPG Mike Deveraux..JPG Wood-2009c.JPG
     
    Backwoods Savage, Dec 24, 2023
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  17. BC Doug Fir

    BC Doug Fir

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    Two old guys were sitting talking. One said to the other “what do you do for your piles?” The other replied “ not a thing. What have they ever done for me?”
     
    BC Doug Fir, Dec 24, 2023
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  18. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    I had 1 part-time guy this year,I was part-time myself (I'm full time at another company till March 14th2024)
    Next year I go solo I only have 36 accounts now not enough to justify help
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 24, 2023
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  19. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    If your talking about the piles I think you are
    There ain't no pain like em
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 24, 2023
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  20. Dunmyer mowing llc

    Dunmyer mowing llc

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    Backwoods Savage
    You talk btu loss
    Is this from wood going punky?
    Or from higher mc%
    If mc% what kind of difference do you see?
     
    Dunmyer mowing llc, Dec 24, 2023
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