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Explore how to make the most of your timber with our definitive guide on firewood and kindling.
Getting the most out of your wood isn’t just about buying quality logs – it’s also about knowing how to prepare, store and use them effectively. In this guide, we’ll look at the ins and outs of firewood, and explore how to properly store and maintain your timber.
If this is your first time buying logs or kindling, you might be asking yourself “What is seasoned firewood?” To sum it up, seasoning is a process in which freshly cut wood is left to air-dry in order to reduce its moisture content.
It’s a harder job in general to light wood with a high moisture content, and it produces a lot more smoke than dry wood – which is worse for both the environment and your chimney. Wet wood also produces less heat, making it more inefficient overall.
But what content moisture should firewood have? Well, the government and most experts are in agreement that the optimal moisture content for burning wood is 20% or lower. Earnshaws offer both partially seasoned logs or ready-to-burn, kiln-dried logs.
Partially seasoned wood requires some seasoning at home, while ready-to-burn logs are, as the name implies, ready-to-burn. Our kiln-dried hardwood firewood logs have the lowest moisture content of all our firewood, making them great for fire lighting or kindling as they burn fast and hot.
We pride ourselves on only supplying the very best kiln-dried logs – we therefore handpick the best oak logs to supply a high quality long burning log, ideal for either open fires, stoves or pizza ovens.
Proper storage is crucial for maintaining the quality of your firewood. Moisture and firewood aren’t a good combination, so store your wood in an area that’s dry, well-ventilated and sheltered to keep it ready for burning.
If you’re storing wood in a shed or an outbuilding, make sure it’s kept off the ground and protected from the elements. We highly recommend using one of our purpose-built log stores for your wood, as they’re secure and robust, with a rustic charm.
A log store suspends the wood off the ground, which helps mitigate any moisture absorption issues. The roof protects any timber from rainfall, while the sides are left open to help promote airflow and ensure the wood seasons well.
Store your wood away from your firepit or wood burner, and if you’re burning wood inside, only bring in what you plan to use for the next two days. This will help reduce the risk of a fire and keep any pesky insects at bay.
Also remember to store your wood with the newest timber at the bottom of the pile and your oldest at the top, ready to use. This simple organisational step allows more time for your wood to season.
Starting a fire correctly makes all the difference – and it all comes down to kindling. Kindling is the small, dry wood used as the base of a roaring fire. Kindling is a key element of any good fire, igniting, catching the flame and fuelling the larger logs.
Kindling should be arranged in a small pyramid, with some gaps for airflow – and potentially a firelighter if needed. Once your kindling is blazing, add the smaller logs first before gradually building up to the larger pieces of timber.
Our softwood logs, sustainably sourced from our own woodlands, are excellent for getting things going, but they can spark, which means they’re best used in enclosed stoves rather than open fires.
If you’re looking for sustained heat, then switch to hardwood logs. Our air-dried hardwood logs come from a mix of trees, including ash, oak and beech, and each provides long-lasting heat. Different species burn differently – oak and beech are long-lasting slow-burners, while birch wood catches quicker and gives off a brighter flame.
Firewood is the gift that keeps on giving. After you’ve burnt your logs, the ash can actually be incredibly useful – so make sure not to throw it away! Wood ash has a number of practical and creative uses:
• A super-food for your garden and plants
• An eco-friendly pest control product
• A chemical-free cleaning agent
• A non-toxic de-icer
Q: How long does it take to season firewood?
A: It can be tricky to know how long to season firewood for, but we recommend at least three months for our partially seasoned softwoods and six for our hardwoods. When in doubt, look for dark or grey colouring, splits and cracks in the grain, and a hollow sound when you knock two pieces together.
Q: What’s the quickest way to dry out wet firewood?
A: If you’re wondering how to dry out wet firewood fast, there are a few methods that can help speed up the process.
• Split the wood into smaller pieces, like quarters. This will expose more surface area to the air and allow it to dry faster.
• Use a firewood kiln to dry your wood. This typically takes around 6 days.
• Putting your wood in a room with a dehumidifier will help it dry faster.
Q: Is firewood ash good for your garden?
A: Firewood ash can be very beneficial for your garden. It’s chock-full of valuable minerals, like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which can help improve soil quality and promote healthy plant growth.
Remember, however, that the key to anything is moderation. While the answer to “Is firewood ash good for your garden?” is a resounding yes, too much can change the soil’s composition, potentially harming any plants that prefer acidic soil. Be careful not to apply ash from treated or painted wood, as these could contain harmful chemicals.
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