Would you top cover?

[willowMTNman]

New to the forum but longtime lurker. I live at about 4,000ft and we burn between 2 & 3 cord every winter. I have a shed that holds 2 cord, but I also stack about a cord or so under my front porch. I have top covered this wood for the last 7 years since I’ve lived here, but this winter I’ve noticed the top couple rows are a little higher moisture content than the rest. It is obviously covered by the front porch, but snow and rain can still blow in quite frequently.

I started splitting and stacking 2026 wood this morning, and it got me thinking I should ask some of you experts what you would do. Thanks for any and all opinions

 

[stoveliker]

If it's a tarp, condensation might be the problem. Especially if it covers part of the sides at the top.

A board or corrugated roofing panel,.sloped so anything runs off to the outside, I would put it on.

I have noticed big difference in drying speed depending on whether rain hits the wood regularly or never. But your situation may be different given temps and humidity.

 

[willowMTNman]

It’s always been folded up tarps. Not complaining, nothing it much above 10-12% at burn time. I guess the fact I’m an analytics guy just gets the best of me. Some pieces from the very top row under the tarp are 18% or so. Not that that’s a bad thing, but a nearly 10% difference in a few feet really makes me second guess the top cover. I have a bunch of tin roofing leftover from my proper wood shed and another project. Think covering with that with an obvious downhill angle to shed moisture could remedy my issue and get a uniform moisture % top to bottom?

 

[CatfishHunter]

Absolutely you should do that. Since you're an analytics guy you can leave one area with the tarp, most of the others with the metal roofing, and maybe one left naked. Then take measurements and analyze the results.

 

[stoveliker]

I don't think it'll ever be uniform. Conditions are different. Air, son, condensation won't be exactly the same.

I second the trial; only way to find out what works best for you.

 

[Gearhead660]

I top cover all my wood. I also put a pallet on top first to allow air to flow thru over top row and to give a flat surface for whatever I end up covering with.

 

[stoveliker]

^^This

 

[blades]

bing bing bing, spacing the top cover off the stacks for air flow is the proper way.

 

[CatfishHunter]

I use field rocks on top of the pile, then corrugated metal, and a few rocks on top to keep the metal in place.

Now here's another question - how far do you have the top cover extend out? I aim for roughly a foot on each side. It provides some cover from diagonal rain, but still enough space for the early and late day sun to hit the top row. The bottom will still get wet here and there.

 

[Max W]

I’m guessing getting more moisture in wood just beneath a tarp may be in part from moisture condensing on the underside of the tarp not just air movement. We’re storing some of our wood outside for the first time in years now that the woodshed is a car shed/

woodshed. Laid down a few 12ft 2x6 s and boards then some old plywood on top of that then covered by the poly tarp. It’s a little haphazard but should help overall and with those top layers.