Somewhere, I remember discussing the top covering I began using, and promised an update. Beginning 2021 I began using 6mil plastic sheeting. I buy the 10x25 roll, cut it in half the long way, a 4' and a 6' strip. The 4' x 25' strip has been going under the pile, and the 6'x25' on top. The 4mil does not hold up as a top cover, even a whole sheet doubled. The 6 mil has been holding up much better. After a year it only has slight tears and teeny holes. As we've discussed about oak, it takes a lot of time for it to give up water, and a long time to take on water. So, those teeny holes, the few there are, don't matter too much. I also have been tying paracord over the stacks, as it looks neater than pallets, lumber pieces etc that decorate some stacks. The paracord has a tendency to pull down on the plastic, esp. if it pulls the plastic between logs. The only disappointing failure, was the white plastic I used, also 6 mil. That stuff weakened, tore and pulled apart drastically. The black, zero pulls, shreds, tears. 6mil with lumber, logs, pallets.... 6mil with paracord....
Most of my stacks are covered with 16mil 6x20, 4x20 waterproof tarps They have been holding up well, but they are spendy. Tried cheaper thinner tarps, but they tear easily and are pretty much ragged sieves after a year. Recently I got some 10mil 6x30 that are a little cheaper, but don’t know if they be as durable as 16mil.
Looks good. Always jealous of other hoarder's stacks as they look so much nicer than my mess. I was gifted some rubber roofing that is the bomb.
I use 6mil as well. 10x25' roll. Cut it up to fit my stacks. Lasts about a year but I turn over all my wood each year so it works for me. Tried tarps but they don't last much longer.
Hey all, glad it’s working for you to varying degrees. If you have the opp to scrounge some rubber roofing the peril ends. Be it new scraps from a large commercial job or used removed for replacement, it is wonderful, pliable and does not crack or dry out. All I have is 5 10’ long, 24” wide pieces and it makes a world of difference. I use 24” to cover single row 16” stacks. The rest of my stacks currently are covered by galvanized metal roofing and its a pain to keep weighted down. Do a diligent search for rubber roofing and you’ll be glad you did. I’m convinced the heat the black rubber draws from the sun aids in drying too. Happy hoarding and I trust this finds you all well.
For some reason I don't know why I never thought of this but a while back I saw a flatbed truck tarped down and it started the smoke in the head. Called up a trucking friend of mine and asked him what he or his buddies do with their old tarps. They throw them out according to him so.. As fate would have it, they were throwing one away and one was in the dumpster already. I skipped the dumpster because he brought the other one over. It's about 40ish feet long 8 in the middle and the sides are about 4 feet each. (if I recall, I did a quick measurement, and than folded it back up) I should have took a picture than but I didn't.. but this is what it looks like basically The tarps will be bad on the ends but should be solid in the middle. Unless you run a 40 plus foot long stack the ends shouldn't matter anyway. my stacks usually are large enough for a 20 foot tarp to cover them. It's heavy so the wind shouldn't grab it too easily and it should provide plenty of years of coverage I think. So I'm extending a stack out to take advantage of the length of this. You could probably cut it in half as well, hit the ends with a torch to keep it from tearing/fraying or flex seal it.
Sirchopsalot thanks for sharing. You lay a sheet of plastic down instead of something, like a pallet? Are pallets good to stack wood on? If so, Home Depot and Lowe's have scrap pallets often. If they aren't painted or branded otherwise, they are usually tossed.
I have been putting plastic on the ground, then pallets. Pallets do ensure circulation, and I assume plastic keeps moisture to a minimum. Not much here is perfectly level, so I don't think there are puddles and lakes under the stacks. Far as pallets being good to stack on, i quit using other methods of keeping wood off the ground. Pallets are generally cheap or free, and a row can be added to by adding pallets. 27 cord stacked on those things. There are some that are really thin on the decking, they sag pretty quick. Sca
Couple months back i got the okay from the pro desk at Lowe's to help myself to pallets in back of the store. Found some beauties including a 16'x12" one. I frequent there for work and will make a stop in back almost every trip now. Nice to cherry pick (no pun intended) them for size and quality.
Another note on using paracord to secure the plastic: I have the paracord tied directly to the pallets. Sometimes looped around the decking, other times I.drilled a hole in the pallet. I dont really want to drive pegs or put in screw eyes, but something like that might work. The paracord, tied down low, has survived repeated attacks from the weed wacker. Zero wear and tear so far. Sca
Another update. While the paracord was rather tidy looking, we plastic-topped our latest stack, and weighted it with splits. I initially didn't want to use splits as that is our heat source, and soaking them in water on top just didn't sit right. The paracord also cut into the stacks, pulling plastic down in with it. Picture wood stacks with dozens of wedgies. I wouldn't like that either. Next time around, if I ever go back to 4x5.5 stacks, I might find longer poles to run down the top of the stack (2x3's?) and tie against those, so the paracord doesn't cut in and damage the plastic as the stacks move and dry.
Down here, I could find bamboo. I see it in certain places; where landowners have let it propagate without controlling it, they grow uber tall, 2-3" diameter and they're strong. Think fishing poles gone wild. Those biguns could hold a whale. If you could get real long scrap 1x2's, they would be better aesthetically, as they would weather to the color of firewood. I don't like the look of big firewood chunks, splits, tires, whatever on top of covers on stacks. For my eye, a beautiful stack of wood is ruined with that. Uniform splits atop looks a little better; those splits would dry in days in a dry environment if rain gets them wet. I always wondered about billboard material. I bought one as a giant tarp and it's thick, very hardy, has the graphic on the front and is black on back. Could be cut to fit. That is, if it's not too expensive.
Maybe was on here, also have heard if you know a pool supplier, old pool liners are supposed to be heavy and can be trimmed to fit the stack.
check cl and market place in search of old pools with the tin outer wall , you'll at times find them for free . the tin is often 4' wide and many feet long. it makes good shed roofing or stack covers.
What about putting pallets on top of your stacks, and then running the tarp/plastic cover/whatever over the pallets and then tying the material down with paracord? I don't remember who posted this a while back on another forum post (would like to give them credit) however I tried it last fall and it definitely gives a cleaner look. Not the best pictures (below), however the center portion has pallets on top of the red oak splits and then the tarp over the pallets. If I tied the tarp down with paracord (as opposed to the random chunks/uglies holding it down now), it would present a flat, neat appearance. (Disregard the ends as those were premade pallet bins and I didn't have pallets on top of those.)
If any of you guys do your own brakes, brake rotors make for a nice weight. Saves having to waste wood. They are low enough profile (and paintable) too that it isn't "distracting" for the ones who want a neat appearance.
Wow, a bunch of great alternatives! Never thought of using old pool tin. I could find a lot of use for that sort of thing. We have plenty of billboard companies here, I really should try getting some of their scraps. I like the idea of pallets on top, except not one of my rows is 4' wide. At some point pallets would have to be lifted off the top, and perhaps not by me if I'm pushing up daisies. Long poles along the top would create channels, but good tie down points. I suppose too, the wood that are weights, will season. When the stack is used, those somewhat seasoned splits could be restacked in a covered spot. Lotsa good ideas here.
