Ideas for stylish ways to store logs near the fireplace.

tired_dad

Gotta new fireplace and inset stove coming in a few weeks. First time with a wood burner (it's a multifuel).

Need some ideas on keeping wood near the fireplace and keeping the room looking nice.

PS : also looking for a good supplier of kiln dried logs in Kent.

alleycat`

Have a look on "arbtalk" for firewood information.
Probably have to google it.

There are also a few people from Kent and the surrounding area on the "alternative fuel" board on here.

I'm too far oop north.

I store logs in a wooden box inside the house, isn't exactly sexy mind you.

Rest live in a hand built log store outside to dry out.

maninthestreet

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LOG-STORAGE-BEAUTIFUL-HAND-CRAFTED-LOG-STORE-FOR-FIREPLACE-/170867734774?pt=UK_HG_FireplacesMantelpieces_RL&hash=item27c882b8f6

jap200

tired_dad wrote: »

Gotta new fireplace and inset stove coming in a few weeks. First time with a wood burner (it's a multifuel).

Need some ideas on keeping wood near the fireplace and keeping the room looking nice.

PS : also looking for a good supplier of kiln dried logs in Kent.

Hello - I'm also in Kent and have had a woodburner for about 5 years. We have two covered log stores outside (made from a selection of old pallets taken apart) and a v. large square basket to store logs near the fireplace. The shape suits our space better than a round basket. We got the basket from a local garden centre - the ones that used to be branded Wyevale.

As for kiln-dried logs we have not found anything affordable. However, as long as you order logs well in advance (order now for next winter) and store them with plenty of air, but without driving rain on them (outside is fine) you will be fine with normal logs.

I suggest getting two large baskets, one to keep next to the fire for use and the other to keep by the backdoor/garage or somewhere else dry (heated is better too). You can then keep swapping the baskets over so that you have one drying out for a few days before it takes its place by the fire.

If you are anywhere near Canterbury I can give you the details of our log supplier.

tired_dad

Thanks, seen online suppliers selling seasoned wood. Is this usually ok to go straight on the fire? Presumably leaving 2 summers is for freshly cut wood?

Sorry for the noobyisms but I'm totally new to the world of wood burning.

Shimmyhill

Depends on the supplier - i bought some seasoned hardwood and while it wasn't green it wasn't ready to go on the burner - its gone into a logstore and should be done for winter - the supplier seasons it in large logs and then cuts/splits when ordered and since going into my store the logs have cracked showing they are drying out.

Invest in a moister meter - few quid on ebay, split a log and get a reading from the middle, you want under 20%

How long you season wow depends on what type of wood it is and when it was chopped down!

alleycat`

Really depends on the wood and how "seasoned" it really is.

If you are concerned you can get a wood moisture meter to check how well it is seasoned from places like ebay/Amazon for not a huge amount of outlay.

Usually splitting a piece down the center will allow you to get a feel for how "dry it is".

Aim for 20% or lower before you use it and you should be ok.

You might also consider a stove pipe thermometer to guide you on running it at the optimum temp.

Now is usually an ideal time to get it in (if you have a place to store it) as prices go up come winter and it becomes harder to find stuff that is "properly" seasoned.

Edit: cross posted shimmy, basically what they said

tiff

If you have to carry the logs any distance from outside to your fire, we have found using a large plastic "trug" with handles has been really handy. They are lightweight and flexible and hold as much as a basket. We have to carry our logs from downstairs in the kitchen up to the living room, so we then empty the logs into the basket.

We got this log basket from John Lewis to hold the logs by the fire. Found this to be a good price as baskets are expensive for some reason.

aarchk

We use the JohnLewis log basket too! Have a basic log store outside built from bits of fencing (by the previous owners of the house). We have a couple of the wooden crates wine comes in to store kindling both inside the log store and inside the living room, I like these boxes as a little more unusual than a basket.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-French-Wine-Boxes-Beatutiful-for-Storage-Planters-Shelving-and-more-/320927689438?pt=UK_Bedroom_Furniture&hash=item4ab8c7eade

have to point out I got these free from a friend who has a posh restaurant... Also use them in the shed for garden tools!

edited to add, my wood comes free from my husbands farm.

abwsco

Never mind baskets for wood my advice would be to start looking for free wood now:) You'll soon find yourself looking out for skips, tree surgeons or listening for the sound of chainsaws -lols

Seriously though you'll be amazed at how much wood you can actually go through. We bought 2 cubic metres of semi seasoned wood from http://www.turfandstuff.com/ last year. Cheapest I could find (even compared to local suppliers) and they were great to deal with. We've also built three wood stores from used pallets and have loads of free wood in the garage as well. A 40+ year old apple tree is there waiting to be chainsawed up.

Back to your original question we too have a large wicker basket for the logs and a smaller one for kindling.

rustyboy21

No One has really answered your question of a nice way to store your logs near your fireplace, so I will have a go

http://www.panik-design.com/acatalog/Blomus___Andre_Gilli___Log_Basket.html

Costs a lot to hold about 5 minutes worth of logs, but hey ho , there you go !

You can get some nice wicker baskets to store them in, some are huge. There were quite a few at the hearth and home exhibition last month, so must be the lattest craze.

Remember to burn seasoned wood, take no notice to anyone who says ok to burn wet wood. You will be sorry.