What do you guys cover your stacks with?

[oldspark]

I top cover my firewood with firewood.

 

[DaveGunter]

As you all know, I just finished my first stack. Its 30 feet long and 4 feet high, double rowed because I dont have alot of room. Where do you all get your covering for the tops of the stacks? Thanks!

I "tent cover" using 6 mil plastic sheeting attached to a frame made out of small diameter spruce. Breathing room underneath, solar warming effect, dry all the time, and the runoff doesn't run down the side of the stack. The cross members of the frame that go through the stack really help stabilize the double row, the weight of the stack on the cross member as well as the weight of the outside rails help hold down the tent, which so far haven't budged to 60mph winds. In bright sun it gets pretty hot under there, this weekend it was 45 degrees outside and I got 80 degrees on the top split of the stack with my laser thermometer. The first picture shows the back stack covered and the front stack with just the frame awaiting the covering. Stacks are N/S double row 18" splits on pallets 4-5 feet high and 65 feet long, about 6 feet between stacks, would have liked more space between stacks, but that is all the space I had, maybe 7 cords in each stack. Back stack is all spruce, front stack is mixed hardwood, a lot of birch and red maple. All bucked and split by hand. I would like to add a few vents along the top rail, maybe just a slit in the plastic every few feet, but I am worried that will make it easier for the plastic to rip. I also have two other single row stacks on spruce logs instead of pallets, maybe another 1.5 cords, covered the same way, they are not nearly as stable, due to being single row. I had one go over in wind, which when it is one continuous frame for the stack, it takes the whole stack over, that got re-stacked double row on pallets. I had a stack go over on top of a family dog when I was a kid, so I am kind of sensitive to the stack being stable as possible. Uglies bin in front, a great idea I got from this site, I used to just throw them in between the stacks, but for more ventilation decided to make a bin.

 

[gzecc]

I "tent cover" using 6 mil plastic sheeting attached to a frame made out of small diameter spruce. Breathing room underneath, solar warming effect, dry all the time, and the runoff doesn't run down the side of the stack. The cross members of the frame that go through the stack really help stabilize the double row, the weight of the stack on the cross member as well as the weight of the outside rails help hold down the tent, which so far haven't budged to 60mph winds. In bright sun it gets pretty hot under there, this weekend it was 45 degrees outside and I got 80 degrees on the top split of the stack with my laser thermometer. The first picture shows the back stack covered and the front stack with just the frame awaiting the covering. Stacks are N/S double row 18" splits on pallets 4-5 feet high and 65 feet long, about 6 feet between stacks, would have liked more space between stacks, but that is all the space I had, maybe 7 cords in each stack. Back stack is all spruce, front stack is mixed hardwood, a lot of birch and red maple. All bucked and split by hand. I would like to add a few vents along the top rail, maybe just a slit in the plastic every few feet, but I am worried that will make it easier for the plastic to rip. I also have two other single row stacks on spruce logs instead of pallets, maybe another 1.5 cords, covered the same way, they are not nearly as stable, due to being single row. I had one go over in wind, which when it is one continuous frame for the stack, it takes the whole stack over, that got re-stacked double row on pallets. I had a stack go over on top of a family dog when I was a kid, so I am kind of sensitive to the stack being stable as possible. Uglies bin in front, a great idea I got from this site, I used to just throw them in between the stacks, but for more ventilation decided to make a bin.

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That is impressive!

 

[weatherguy]

Dave G, thats is pretty cool, I get some great ideas from this site

 

[swagler85]

Here's my new method, I still have some stacks left from last year that aren't on pallets. Those are covered with rubber roofing (see background) and my new method covering with lumber covers. They're nice being 5' wide, I just cut a 3' piece and stapled it on.

 

[ArsenalDon]

When Harbor Freight puts on their tarp sales.....great deals to be had

 

[Backwoods Savage]

I "tent cover" using 6 mil plastic sheeting attached to a frame made out of small diameter spruce. Breathing room underneath, solar warming effect, dry all the time, and the runoff doesn't run down the side of the stack. The cross members of the frame that go through the stack really help stabilize the double row, the weight of the stack on the cross member as well as the weight of the outside rails help hold down the tent, which so far haven't budged to 60mph winds. In bright sun it gets pretty hot under there, this weekend it was 45 degrees outside and I got 80 degrees on the top split of the stack with my laser thermometer. The first picture shows the back stack covered and the front stack with just the frame awaiting the covering. Stacks are N/S double row 18" splits on pallets 4-5 feet high and 65 feet long, about 6 feet between stacks, would have liked more space between stacks, but that is all the space I had, maybe 7 cords in each stack. Back stack is all spruce, front stack is mixed hardwood, a lot of birch and red maple. All bucked and split by hand. I would like to add a few vents along the top rail, maybe just a slit in the plastic every few feet, but I am worried that will make it easier for the plastic to rip. I also have two other single row stacks on spruce logs instead of pallets, maybe another 1.5 cords, covered the same way, they are not nearly as stable, due to being single row. I had one go over in wind, which when it is one continuous frame for the stack, it takes the whole stack over, that got re-stacked double row on pallets. I had a stack go over on top of a family dog when I was a kid, so I am kind of sensitive to the stack being stable as possible. Uglies bin in front, a great idea I got from this site, I used to just throw them in between the stacks, but for more ventilation decided to make a bin.

That's impressive Dave. Very nice work.

 

[ailanthus]

I just picked up a truckload of lumber covers from a contractor. Look forward to using them on my pallet racks

I have a couple of stacks top-covered with those & they seem really resilient - we had some pretty major winds over the past year & no signs of wear. I've gotten a few more since then, but I think I'll leave the rest of my stacks uncovered & use the lumber covers in the garden (great for watermelons & sweet potatoes, etc)

 

[husky345 vermont resolute]

As you all know, I just finished my first stack. Its 30 feet long and 4 feet high, double rowed because I dont have alot of room. Where do you all get your covering for the tops of the stacks? Thanks!

a friend works at a place that makes metal roofing. it is three foot wide and i got him to cut it 54 inces long. works great. i put some ash splits on top so it wont blow away. sick of tarps they get water in them then freeze just a pain in the ass. u cant go wrong with the metal roofing

 

[hickoryhoarder]

As you all know, I just finished my first stack. Its 30 feet long and 4 feet high, double rowed because I dont have alot of room. Where do you all get your covering for the tops of the stacks? Thanks!

That is quite a stack. I don't cover mine at all. I keep about two months worth under the roof overhang in winter.

 

[jeffesonm]

I got some epdm rubber roofing off craigslist cheap... way more durable than tarps or poly and heavy enough that a split on top every few feet keeps it from blowing off.

 

[hickoryhoarder]

I got some epdm rubber roofing off craigslist cheap... way more durable than tarps or poly and heavy enough that a split on top every few feet keeps it from blowing off.

Sounds like a very good idea. I like uncovered, but that would be my first choice of a cover.

 

[Mass. Wine Guy]

I also got some lumber cover tarps form a local lumber yard. They're free and made of very tough material. You may need to tinker with the size a little, but it's worth every penny.