A guide For Buying Firewood Logs
Only dry firewood should be burnt - regardless of where you may be burning it. Apart from smoke problems burning firewood logs with a higher moisture content causes pollution, will quickly build up flammable resins in your chimney and is very inefficient.
An ideal percentage in terms of moisture content is less than 20% - ideally 10 to 12 %
When you order your firewood, it is advisable for you to ask the moisture content from the supplier. Unseasoned wood, or green wood as it is referred to in the industry, is generally less expensive than seasoned firewood but it will require you to store it for a year or more before it is ready to burn. One exception is Ash, even when green it doers burn well.
The best way to ascertain the moisture content of your firewood logs is to buy a Moisture Meter- you can then check your wood regularly and as you bring it in to burn you can check it is suitable to burn and will also reduce any 'misunderstandings' on the suitability of the logs you buy in.
Are all firewood logs the same?
Although there is a great deal of opinion from many sources of experts, generally when Firewood logs are seasoned correctly - all varieties perform very well.
Generally though, you should avoid softwoods for burning. They can give off acrid smells and fumes and of course are less prone to seasoning well. Always use hardwood varieties. Buying in slightly larger quantities will ensure that you can purchase at similar prices to softwood.
Buying Firewood Logs
One of the biggest issues firewood Log buyers face is to comprehend the issues of quantity. Because of moisture content and un even cutting and sizes it makes it very difficult to measure the quantity offered in a known methods.
Stacked firewood logs (split or un split) are meant to be measured by volume, usually cubic meters. However, most wood in the UK is bought by "the load", builders bag or net.
Firewood Logs are rarely sold by weight - it varies too much depending on how well it is seasoned, the type of wood and how it has been cut or split.
It is important for the buyer to determine just what quantities they are buying:
Buying a 'load of firewood logs' is a popular way of buying firewood in large quantities but the volume of wood in 'a load' will depend on the vehicle used to deliver the wood. Comparisons can only be made on cost if you have some idea of the volume that is being offered. Any "load" will be a loose load, therefore when stacked in your log store it will look a lot less.
Builders or bulk bags of firewood logs
A builders bag is a handy method of delivering firewood logs as it is easy to handle for both the seller and buyer. A builders bag also gives you a picture of the size or amount of firewood logs you will receive.
Please remember that a builders bag is not a ton of wood as is sometimes described - a ton bag - and it is not a cubic meter of wood> Please remember the wood is loosely stacked inside the large bag - whatever the size and will rarely equally its cubic capacity as advertised.
Overall - ask questions. If you are unsure - go elsewhere or seek advice. Word of mouth is a very popular way in identifying a good supplier of Firewood Logs that sells good quality firewood logs and has a large enough supply of them to sustain your needs.
It is also important that when you have received your firewood logs, you have the ability to preserve the good season firewood logs you have just invested in - imaging buying all of these logs to leave them out in the elements, rot or gain moisture! You should have a dry, well ventilated place to store your logs and keep most of the weather from them. This should also be in a convenient an easily accessible place for you to get them. A Timber Log Store is ideal. There are many available.
One final tool you should invest in for keeping firewood logs, is an axe or hatchet. This will enable you to trim any of the logs which are too big for your needs.