Logs for Wood Burner - Left out in the garden for months

[Notyetthere]

We had a tree cut down in spring last year and at the time I told the tree surgeons to leave to the wood in the hopes that we would install a log burner in the next couple of years giving us a nice ready stash of seasoned wood that would last us a good few years.

Fast forward to now, the logs are still in a pile in a corner of the garden as left by the surgeons, with ivy and brambles starting to surround them which has prompted me to get off my arse and prepare the logs properly in a log store, cut the bigger stumps into smaller ones to fit into a wood burner. Am I too late? Do you reckon I would still be able to get any useable logs out of this pile? DFIL mentioned getting the axes, and all the equipment and helping me prepare it for log storing but I have told him to hold off until I can see if the logs are still viable.

Yes the logs will be useable, generally speaking wood needs to 'season' outside for 12-18mo for the moisture content to drop before you use them, you'll get a much hotter, cleaner burn then. So you've done most of the seasoning already.

After you've chopped the logs, stack them so the air can circulate, cover the top of the log pile with plastic to keep the rain/snow off the logs, and then I'd probably leave the logs a few months to dry out further before using them. It might be worth stacking them on an old pallet(s) if you can get hold of one as then means the air can circulate under the bottom of the stack too.

We chop all our own logs from trees/timber we've cleared (we live on a farm) and it's very satisfying job to do - my husband always says it warms you twice - once when you chop it and once when you burn it!

Our logburner is our main form of heating, no central heating sadly, and it is an absolute godsend!

@ SilveryMountainStream thank you for your very detailed response!

We basically left the wood in the pile that the tree surgeons threw them in, they have been exposed to the elements the whole time.

I can definitely get hold of palettes, DFIL gets lots at work.

DH isn't very keen on any of this but I am. He isn't very keen on a log burner either as he says they are hard work but I am sure it will be very rewarding. I will prepare the wood and even if we don't install the wood burner, the fire pit will have a constant supply for 20 years.

We used to stack our wood along a the fenceline and leave it for a year or so and it would burn lovely. Seasoned wood burns nicely, fresh just smokes a lot and goes out easily, no use at all.

They do say three years to allow the water out and to season . but I use after a year . you can usually tell when they are ready when the ends start to split or buy a damp meter less than 20% recommended before burning .splitting the logs into half or quarters depending how big they are helps the drying out process .keeping them dry helps with a board on top just to keep the rain off and then I store them next to stove for a week before burning to dry them out and have them stacked on both sides and then alternate between stack . we have a free supply of fallen trees to chop up
It takes a lot of effort to get a winter supply ready we get through about four tonne if you had to buy your looking a £70-100 per tonne bag and some are not suitable for burning straight away because they are not seasoned . oak and beech is good pine burns quick doesn't give much heat off .

What kind of tree are they from? Some wood is better than others (more worth the effort of chopping etc). Some can even be harmful.

Can you borrow a moisture meter from someone to test one? A neighbour with a wood burner might have one. If they’re below 20% they’re good to burn. If not, store them somewhere dry and with good air circulation until they are.

@TowerRingInferno it is an oak that was cut down. Yes some of the wood has started to split. I ought to cover it though and very soon. I will pop out and take a photo of the pile when DD goes down for a nap.

My dh built a wood store using pallets for our fuel x

Oak is excellent but takes ages to be dry enough, 2 years or more. You’ve definitely not left it too late and it may need longer yet.

Please, please don't use them until they are sufficiently dried out. You'll get very little heat, and generate a much higher level of smoke and pollutants. Your neighbours will not thank you for this - especially if they have asthma or put their washing outside.

We have three pallet wide log store, with a sloping roof covered in felt.

Once a wood burner is fitted they are very little work.
A small amount of ash to remove from the burner.
A yearly chimney sweep.
A carbon monoxide monitor.

If the wood hasn't been covered it will count as completely unseasoned. You need to keep it somewhere dry and well ventilated, probabpy 2 years for oak.

DEFRA advice here...

All, thank you for the advice. It gives me hope that I haven't ruined the pile of wood. Yet.

We haven't fitted the wood burner yet and probably not for another couple of years but in the meantime, I ought to prepare the fuel for it.

Returning to this thread to give an update.

Thank you all for the advice you gave me. I inspected the pile of wood and concluded that most of it wasnt mouldy or turned to mulch. Lots of the ones at the top of the pile were nice and dry with promising cracks allover.

Armed with an 8lb log splitting axe, a 14lb sledgehammer and a hand grenade wedge I went to work. I already had a hand mallet to place the wedge into the logs for splitting.

I watched a few youtube videos on how to use the three tools and then ensured toddler was a good distance away in the house. DH with a beer in hand at the window with the toddler watched on. I found a log with no knots, lots of splits and proceeded. DH has helped a couple of times but it's really my thing. He is getting more and more interested though. It could be the lovely weather and being out in the garden that is doing the trick.

It wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be. It seems that the weight of the sledgehammer does most of splitting and the axe is also quite weighty finishes the logs off into smaller logs without my need to throw them hard. I just need the strength to lift both and drop. It is hard work but I'm loving it. It's very satisfying when you see a nice little pile of pieces ready to be stacked.

Some log rounds are already quite well seasoned going by how dry they are and how quickly they split. However, others are still need to dry out more so I will season them for another 12-18months.

I have also learnt that even the logs that are nicely dry and lots of cracks are difficult to split if they have a knot. Those are the ones that small strips came off the outside so now a pile of kindling has started to build up. We are going to borrow a mechanised log splitter for these knotted ones but that is not particularly urgent as there are so many others to get through.

Thank you all for your advice.