Hi, I'm new here and very new to heating my house with wood. I just got my first wood stove right before this winter and had to very quickly make something to store my wood. Especially after the last big storm, I noticed there would be some snow on the wood even with the roof over it. Should I be worried about this making it too wet or preventing it from being seasoned? There was a lot more snow on it right after the blizzard, but it seems to have mostly melted off.
Don't worry too much. Despite popular opinion, wood doesn't soak up water like a sponge. Once the wood is dry surface moisture evaporates fairly quickly. Surface moisture over and over on dry wood will cause rot.
Knock off what snow you can and don’t worry about the remainder, it won’t be enough to cause you any problems. Welcome to FHC! Great first post, we love pictures.
I like the shed...but personally, I'd add onto the height to be able to stack wood clear to the roof. Any moisture/snow that blows in through the slats in the side will be largely inconsequential...as long as it's not blowing rain in on the wood that you are taking to burn immediately...if it is wet from that scenario, then a day or two near the stove will have it dried out again (as long as it already dried clear through...as in 3 year plan-CSS'd...hint hint )
Welcome to FHC blakableh !! Stay active and you will learn a lot here. That is not a bad setup you have. That pile is pretty well protected. Wood is off the ground....plenty of airflow...solid and large top cover. I would not be worried at all about the little bit of snow that can get in there.
Welcome to the forum. Regarding snow on your splits, as others before me have said, I wouldn't worry about a bit of snow getting on your splits, surface moisture is different than internal moisture. I've been using this shed for 16 years and as you can see in the pictures, snow obviously gets blown in from time to time. The only option to prevent that would be to put solid walls around the sides and that would pretty much negate the airflow (although I have seen people put up plastic sheeting or tarps on the sides of their shed during the winter...something I never thought was necessary). I've never had an issue with the snow that has been blown in and just knock it off when picking up the end pieces. If you're going to experience a warm up in temperatures and plan on using those splits any time soon, just blow the snow off with a leaf blower.
Snow won't soak dry hardwoods. If there is any punk to the wood that changes. Punky sapwood will hold moisture for a bit.
Very nice woodshed, another winner picture. Looks like all White Pine from the board colors and I like the old saws and flag too!
You might lose a couple days of drying time at most, hardly anything in the grand scheme. Due to cellular structures being compromised, well seasoned wood dries back out again pretty darn quick compsred to how long green wood takes and green wood likely isn't uptaking for the same cellular reasons.
I think you have a great start there blakableh No reason for concern imo, about the snow. Your top cover will keep the majority of precip off your stacks. I too would pack that sucker full. As mentioned, the 3 year plan is a game changer. It really keeps the build up of creosote in your flue at bay. Keep the pics coming!
