What is the drying process duration for kiln-dried Birch logs?

Before looking at the drying process duration for kiln dried Birch logs, let us explain the kiln drying process, along with valuable information on kiln dried birch logs.

What is Kiln Drying?

Kiln drying is a process that is used to reduce the moisture content in firewood. It involves using a kiln that controls humidity, temperature and air circulation, helping to extract the moisture from the wood, providing you with a stable firewood with a moisture content of less than twenty percent.

What is Birch Wood?

Birch is a light red-brown sapwood with a smooth texture. It has a very uniform texture with a subtle grain pattern, and a smooth sheen. It is a hardwood, making it an ideal choice when looking for fuel to warm your home. It is also readily available, all our kiln dried birch logs are Ready to Burn certified for immediate use in the UK.

What is the Kiln Drying Process for Birch?

Birch goes through a number of different steps before it is kiln dried. This requires careful preparation, ensuring the logs all come out with less than twenty percent moisture, so that they are ready to burn in your open fireplace or wood stove without delay.

Selection

The first step in the kiln drying process is sourcing the wood and making a selection. This involves sourcing the highest quality birch wood from sustainable forests.

Sizing

The wood is then cut and organised based on size, ensuring that all logs dry evenly throughout. Remember with seasoned wood, you often experience the sides are dry, while the centre is still brimming with moisture. The kiln drying process ensures the birch logs are evenly dried throughout, improving efficiency.

Loading the Kiln

Once the birch logs have been organised based on size and the moisture content has been checked, they are stacked into the kiln. They are stacked with great care, ensuring excellent air circulation.

Based on the moisture content of the wood right now, they kiln conditions are set. The kiln controls temperature, air flow, and humidity. With birch logs, the process usually invokes starting with a lower temperature and gradually increasing it.

The logs are monitored throughout the drying process and adjusted as and when needed.  Once the desired moisture content has been achieved, a final moisture content check is carried out, ensuring the logs meet the Woodsure Ready to Burn certification, enabling you to purchase these logs with confidence.

Drying Process Duration for Kiln Dried Birch Logs

You are probably expecting the drying process to last at least six months to a year. When you think about it, seasoning wood can take anywhere up to two years and it still doesn’t offer the even low moisture content you find with kiln dried birch logs.

On the other hand, the kiln drying process can take anywhere from two to eight weeks. Depending on the initial moisture content and the size of the logs, it may take less time to complete the drying process. The benefit is that our kiln dried birch logs are always available.

Conclusion

The kiln drying process is a controlled and managed process that can take anywhere from two to eight weeks, depending on the initial moisture content of the wood and the size of the logs. Overall this is considerably faster than seasoning wood, while ensuring it meets the Ready to Burn certification, enabling you to use your birch logs immediately. We sell kiln dried birch logs in a variety of sizes, make your selection today.