Choosing a log store

Split logs stacked under cover in a timber log store.

Short answer: A good log store has a roof that overhangs the front, open or slatted sides, a raised floor and pressure-treated or naturally durable timber. Most wood takes about two years to season, so size the store for this year's logs and next year's.

By the Yard & Field team

Updated

A log store has two jobs: keep the rain off and let the air through. Wood that stays damp burns badly, smokes and tars up the chimney.

Why dry wood matters

Freshly cut wood can be more than half water. It needs to dry, or season, until its moisture content is 20% or less before it burns well. Firewood sold in small bags is often marked “Ready to Burn”, which means it has already been dried to that level.

What not to burn

Never burn pressure-treated, painted or varnished wood, pallets, chipboard, plywood or MDF. They give off harmful fumes when they burn, so offcuts from a treated shed or fence don't belong in the stove either.

If you live in a smoke control area, there are extra rules on what you can burn and which stoves you can use. Your council can tell you whether you do.

What to look for

  • A roof that overhangs the front, to keep off driving rain.
  • Open or slatted sides, so air can move through the stack.
  • A raised floor, so logs sit off the wet ground.
  • Pressure-treated or naturally durable timber, as the store itself sits outside all year.

Open front or doors?

An open front gives the best airflow for wood that's still seasoning. Doors or a fabric cover look tidier and keep off the worst of the weather, but leave gaps for air. Many people season new wood in an open store and keep a small, covered store near the door for wood that's ready to burn.

How big?

Size the store by how much you burn in a winter, with room for next year's load while it seasons.

Where to put it

  • Somewhere sunny and breezy, away from damp corners.
  • A short gap from the house wall, so air moves round the back.
  • On a firm, level surface.

See also: will it fit? and choosing a garden shed.

Please note: this guide is general advice. Check with your council whether you live in a smoke control area, and follow your stove maker's instructions on what it can burn.

Sources for this guide

The pages we checked this guide's facts against, so you can read them for yourself. A link here isn't a recommendation.