Here’s The Best Way To Stack Wood If You Want Roaring Fires This Winter

Nothing says winter like the snapping and crackling of a roaring fire. For some of us, this serene and comforting scene isn’t so easy to attain. If your fires sound more like a hissing and sputtering or require at least 10 matches before they light up, then chances are you are not storing your wood properly.

Preparing to roast chestnuts over the open fire takes more than simply having some logs piled haphazardly your backyard. There is a method to the madness of stacking wood. Honestly, every year as I’m struggling with my timber, I think, “There’s got to be a better way of doing this.” But, until now I have not taken the time to figure it out.

Well, good job seeking out the answer to one of life’s great mysteries—or perhaps I should say one of life’s necessary practicalities. Either way, thanks to illustrator Ted Slampyak and The Art Of Manilness Blog, the concept has been made clear in six easy-to-follow steps.

As it turns out, stacking and storing firewood isn’t all that complicated. The key piece of advice is to avoid moisture (water and fire do not mix, after all). To keep your wood dry, you want start by choosing a location where your wood pile will be guaranteed plenty of sunlight. Then, elevate the logs to keep any dew from seeping into your stacks. And a final strategy to keep your wood dry is to make sure that when stacking it you leave some room for air to flow between the logs. The temptation will be to make nice, neat tight stacks, but this will hold in moisture and keep the wood from burning properly. So stay strong and stand up against uniformity.

If you follow these guidelines, you are sure to have fires you can be proud of all winter long.