How to Stack Wood for Seasoning (2024)

Use What’s Naturally Available in Your Yard

There are natural ways to cover your firewood, such as choosing a location between two large trees that create a natural canopy cover to protect the mound. We love natural options! It’s a great way to allow the trees to provide shelter from the elements while also helping dry when the damp weather conditions subside.

Purchase a Modern Wood Cover

If the natural approach is not sufficient for your needs, and you want more than a tarp to cover your logs, there are plenty of other commercial options to choose from on the market. Many of them are surprisingly low cost for the amount of prepared timber they’ll cover.

Pricing Options for Covering Firewood

If you choose to cover your wood stack, then the cost and size of your cover will vary depending on the amount of wood you plan to store. Most residential consumers will not keep a full cord of wood on hand but may have a full face or a half-face cord to cover.

Both cheap fabric covers and high-dollar seasoning sheds are likely UV-treated fabric, and many claim to help you get burnable wood faster than allowing it to dry out naturally.

Wood Stack Covers with Price Estimates

Below you’ll find a chart that covers your estimated costs and considerations when choosing a cover for your wood stack.

Option 1: High-Cost but Affordable

Splurge for the ultimate in firewood seasoning sheds (which is another name for a firewood tent). Which will cost an average of $125-$600 or more depending on the amount of wood, size of frame, and style you choose. However, we found some on sale for as low as $79 so it’s possible to find a good deal!

The smallest options hold up to a ½-cord of wood, while the largest holds up to 7-cords! We’re guessing most seasoned wood burners will opt for the 10x10x8 ft model that holds as much as 3-½ cords.

Option 2: Low-Cost and Affordable

Weather-resistant polyethylene fabric covers are a good fit for the price-conscious consumer. Like what you’d use to cover a BBQ Grill, you can expect to replace it every 2-3 years due to normal wear and tear. These wood rack covers don’t come with a frame like the higher-end sheds.

The fabric simply slides over the top of your rack and protects the logs from rain and moisture. This type of cover may help protect from heavy rain or storms but be careful covering the entire stack and not allowing enough air to flow through.

Option 3: The Cheapest Cover Available

The cheapest option for covering wood is with a standard tarp made of Polyethylene plastic. Expect to pay roughly $10-$80 depending on the size needed, brand of choice, and your personal preference for tarp quality.By far the most popular option. Be prepared to need other supplies to keep the tarp down like bungee cords or blocks.

See this video where he uses ropes and two bricks as weights to hold down the tarp:

Watch as he covers with a plastic tarp using ropes and bricks as weights.

Option 4: Low Cost to Possibly Free (but not available to everyone)

Use any existing open roof structure already constructed on your property. This option obviously won’t work for everyone. If you do have access to an existing open-faced building (even better if it has a slanted roof) this may be your best bet! It could be easily converted to accommodate your new wood-stack. Price varies per situation but could essentially be free.

Another option is to build your own shed with or without a cover. Check out our recent post featuring 10 differentDIY methods for making your own.

Option 5: The Natural Option and 100% FREE

The most natural option is to use mother nature’s canopy as your wood shelter. If you have mature trees in your yard, then this could be an option. This is a 100% natural and FREE way to cover your wood.

It may take much longer to season and risk wood-rotting issues, but to each their own.

The bark on these logs may help protect from moisture but once split, do not let your wood touch the ground.

Use two existing mature trees to protect your woodpile. Using the trunks to hold the pile in place between the trees (like bookends) and allowing the branches, limbs, leaves as a natural shelter. Not to mention the wind helps with open airflow.

If thiscoveringmethod works for you, then go for it!

Just make sure the logs don’t touch the ground, use bricks or pallets to elevate your pile once the woods been chopped and split.

No matter which type of cover you choose, rest assured in just a few months, your seasoned firewood is ready to enjoy!

How to Stack Wood for Seasoning (2024)
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