buying logs in cubic mtrs

mikeassured

Hi

I have just had 3 cubic metres of logs delivered.

Having stacked them on a pallet, there is 2.1 cubic metres.

When I queried it with the company, they said that logs are sold in loosely stacked quantities of 3 cubic metres and when customers stack the logs, they then measure around 2 metres because they are tightly stacked.

Does anyone know if this is correct?

Thanks

Sue

Cardew

Suggest you contact the weights and measures department(trading standards?) of local council to see if a cubic metre is an 'official' measurement for logs.

My guess is it isn't. If you cut up, split and stack some large diameter logs, they will be a greater volume than they were originally.

Greenfires

Fairly standard way of selling firewood to be honest - the majority of firewood sold in the UK goes out loosely stacked. It's generally a thankless enough task as it is, but if the seller was expected to stack the logs perfectly in the bag or on the trailer until they occupied exactly a cubic metre and then do the same again at the customers, most dealers would give it up as a bad job. There are some sellers selling "stacked cubic metres" but much of that stuff comes straight in crated from eastern Europe where labour costs are a fraction of what they are here - would you fancy building the equivalent of a dry stone wall out of logs for ten hours a day every day?!!

Wood coming out of the forest is usually sold by the tonne - it could be argued that that's unfair too - as the wood will weigh an awful lot more when freshly harvested as up to 60% of what you're paying for is water!.

One of the reasons some dealers sell by volume like this is that it avoids the problem of what constitutes "a load" A load can be anything - Transit tipper, level, heaped, trailer, big trailer - you name it. Selling by the cubic metre removes this variability, and is supposed to give the customer a better idea of what they're getting. Tables of what volume of cordwood will translate into in the shape of a stack or a loose pile when processed are available quite easily online.

Also, as a side note - this is another benefit of firewood briquettes - you know exactly what you'll get, and the quantity and quality will be exactly the same year after year and load after load.

Gloomendoom

It would be a lot easier if a standard volume measurement, like a cord was used. Then we would all know exactly what we were buying.

I've bought firewood by the cord in France and I understand it is the standard measurement in the US and Canada. Why not here?

Greenfires

Probably because the majority of firewood users wouldn't have a clue what it was mate!

Cubic metre bags are getting quite popular now - but customers should note that your average builders bulk bag IS NOT a cubic metre - they're usually around 0.7 cube instead.

Cubic metres is a pretty good unit I think and easy for people to imagine - or much better than "a load" anyway - which as I said could mean absolutely anything!!

Ectophile

Firewood is normally sold loosely stacked - they just throw it into the back of the truck. By the time you've carefully stacked it in your log store then it will be considerably smaller.

There isn't really any proper standard for firewood.

savemoney

I buy mine in tipper truck load, not sure how many cubic metres I then just stack them on 3 racks I made in a old garage and leave door open when weather is okay. Logs are seasoned though

lovesgshp

They should do it, the way they do here in Italy. Wood is sold by weight, normally Quintalle ( 100kg ) @ a price. You order X times Q and that is what is delivered. Lorry weight + wood weight added. Even places here have pre weighed pallets of wood available if you want to collect it yourself.

Greenfires

In that case though there is a greater incentive than ever to sell the wood wet - customer gets wet wood and pays more for it!

Personally I don't think there's anything wrong with selling by the loose cube - and at least if it comes in a metre bag you can measure the bag if you're that way inclined and make sure you're getting a cube.

lovesgshp

most here is seasoned for a year at least..Never had a problem with unseasoned wood. Our 50 quintale (5000kg) has lasted 7 years so far.

Cardew

Regardless of how wood could/should be sold, the OP feels that he has been ripped off. Notwithstanding how wood can be stacked, if I bought 3 cubic metres and got 2 cubic metres, I would feel the same.

I suspect little can be done about the situation if the supplier plays hard ball.