Welcome Andy8850 another fellow New Jerseyian!! I came across this method as I had some old cinder blocks in the yard and picked up some cheap PS posts at the box store. I went this way so I could get more airflow to the splits as my property has a heavy tree canopy and I don't much sun except for late in the evening. Been working out pretty well so far!
Jim, I'm wondering why you cover that whole stack of wood in the winter? Why not leave it open as it does no harm when you already have it top covered. Without that other covering you still get good air circulation. As for any rain or snow hitting the front, back or sides, a few hours later that moisture is gone. Wood is not a sponge if it is not punky. We have left our wood just top covered for years and years. No problems at all.
That's because very few use them. I can see no advantage at all but one big disadvantage. It has been proven that that stack does nothing to hasten drying but some do like the way they look. But stacking takes much more time and then most find that as they start taking from the stack it looks terrible until it is all gone and also then it needs to be covered anyway.
Maybe he has those nasty Northeaster storms that blow snow and rain sideways like in a hurricane into all the voids in a stack essentially turning the stack into one big giant ice cube that sometimes don't dry out for weeks and even months. Needing a sledge hammer to bust out tonight's firewood is not fun.
I didnt have a picture of another stack of mine Andy8850 This one was a bit hastily done into a hillside. 2x12 slopes downhill to the right and i was too lazy to cut the end pallet. 40x48" pallets with 40" going across and the other end resting on grade. Double row of wood maybe a cord and half overall. Front is ash, sugar maple and cherry. Need some to finish stack.
I am a holszhausen builder. During my Penssylvania trip last week, i was pleased to see two of them in a yard, in the mountain area.
I know a few who like them; mainly just because they like the way it looks. But all agree it is not so good once you start taking wood from them. Then things don't look as good and it should then be covered. I have no problem with those who like them. I've seen some really nice looking ones. Shawn Curry has a nice one and it looks so nice he hates to break it down! lol I've teased him a bit over this.
Andy8850 , welcome aboard! Here are some pix of how I stack. I use cinder blocks (scrounged) as my bases = no rotting pallets. YMMV I have found that my stacking scheme always changes, at least slightly, year to year. Before I move wood to the shed for the next winter, it is stacked in numerous stacks around the property. Sometimes piled...
I tried this one because I thought they looked cool. The beginning and very end were slow but the middle went quick
I don’t stack until it’s in my basement, I guess I’m to lazy... I leave the rest out side in a pile..
buZZsaw BRAD , thanks man. Here is a link to some of the backstory, of sorts. ...And to avoid hijacking the thread. The almost finished woodshed addition... that I couldn't wait to finish before starting to use...
I agree with Backwoods Savage on his points about the holzhausen. I am currently in the process of making three holzhausens (my version). My reason for this is to keep the footprint of my wood stacks to a minimum until I can prepare a more permanent area for my wood stacks (hopefully an open wood shed). I built one last year out of seasoned wood which I used this past winter. I find stacking around the edges somewhat tedious (disadvantage but looks good) but throwing the rest in the center haphazardly goes quickly (advantage, good for odd pieces). Over the winter, as I pulled from the pile, I ensured I covered back up to keep the snow off of it (disadvantage and very annoying). I hope to have some type of roof system over the holzhausen that I plan on drawing from for this upcoming season. I'm also skeptical about the drying time (I guess I will find out during the next few seasons). Above is the holzhausen I plan on pulling from next season. It measures 14 x 10.5 x 5.75 high. The other issue I have is estimating the amount of cords in my pile (maybe someone here could help) since the pile is mostly thrown in haphazardly.
