Oak is probably the most popular wood used for heating in the UK. It offers outstanding burning qualities with a high BTU rating. It is considered one of the best hardwood used for heating UK homes. Oak has a long burn time and is perfect to heat your home on a cold winter night.
As nights grow colder and the desire for a warm fire becomes essential, you need to choose the right kiln dried logs, along with storing them correctly. In order to store oak longs and maintain their quality, there are some tips we have for you to follow.
Understanding Kiln Dried Oak Log Storage
The kiln dried oak logs story doesn’t end when it leaves the kiln, How you store these logs plays a vital role in maintaining their quality, preserving their low moisture content, ensuring a clean and efficient burn with minimal smoke, creosote, and ash.
Protect from the Elements
We ideally recommend our clients purchasing oak kiln dried logs store their logs indoors where possible. Any storage area you select should be dry and protected from the elements, preventing the risk of moisture absorption, ensuring you preserve their burn qualities.
The main focus of storing oak kiln dried logs, is to ensure they are sheltered from the elements. Moisture is their biggest problem, it can undo the benefits gained during the kiln drying process. Use a garage, shed, or covered storage space that protects your logs from excessive humidity, rain, sleet, and snow.
Reduce the Risk of Ground Moisture
Kiln dried oak logs should always be elevated off the ground with good air flow, preventing the risk of them absorbing any ground moisture. Keeping your oak logs off the ground is a very simple, yet highly effective way to reduce the risk of moisture absorption. You can use the palette your wood arrived on, or a raised platform, to keep your logs a few inches from the ground. This also allows for ample air flow, helping maintain their low moisture content of less than twenty percent.
Stack with Care
How you stack your oak logs also plays an important role in maintaining their quality. They should be stacked in a criss-cross pattern with space between each log to allow for air flow. This helps to maintain the low moisture content, while reducing the risk of mould growth.
Use a Cover
If you must store your logs outdoors, ensure that they have a waterproof, yet breathable cover, such as a tarp. This shields the logs from direct rain exposure, preserving their quality. You should place the cover strategically to protect the tops and sides of your log stack. Remove it on warm days to allow any moisture to be absorbed.
Conclusion
Oak kiln dried logs rely on a dry and ventilated storage solution to maintain their quality. If you have purchased our oak logs in bulk, they would have arrived on a palette, which is a great place to start, helping you keep them off the ground. We hope this blog has answered your questions regarding the storage of oak logs to maintain their quality. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact our expert team at Thomson Wood Fuel Ltd today.
