Plastic under pallets of stacked wood? I am just thinking it might reduce moisture in the bottom of the stack. But, then any water from a storm might just sit on top of it and add moisture to the stack. Opinions??
I put old tarps under the pallets that I stack my wood on. I've found that the pallets last a lot longer as they're not absorbing moisture from the ground. I also punch a few holes in the tarp with a screwdriver in the low spots so that any water that might seep through can drain a bit. Top cover and everything stays dry as a bone. So far I haven't noticed any issues with the setup.
I would drill holes in the pallets for drainage and screw wooden cleats on the pallet so the wood doesn’t sit on the plastic. I like plenty of ventilation and to get the wood 12” off of the ground.
Or simply cut a couple small saplings or limbs. Lay 2 of them down and stack on them. They work great and are a dollar saver too. That's all that is under this pile.
The break with ground contact might help with pallet longevity. A ground cloth might help with weeds a little bit keeping it neater-looking. Some critters like it too. So there's that. If you're only concerned with the firewood staying dry then a couple inches off the ground is good enough, unless you are abnormally wet soggy ground the pile of firewood with or without a top cover is going to keep the ground under fairly dry most of the time.
I've been putting my pallets on those half cinderblocks you can get the home center for a little over a dollar each. Works really well and the pallets seem to hold up well. I've used two per pallet/skid. However, if the pallets are cracked or weak, you may get a bow in the center.
A while back I came across the verticals from pallet rack shelving. Why they were cut apart I have no idea. They make the best stringers. I level them for a flat stacking deck. They add several inches of airspace under. The ground stays very dry. My pallets last a very long time.
