Treating a log store is a job most owners think about only when the timber starts to look tired. By then, a few seasons of rain and frost have already done their work. As a supplier of fencing and timber supplies in Clitheroe, we sell log stores built from pressure-treated timber. So here is how to keep yours sound for years without spoiling the firewood inside.
What Your Log Store Is Made From
Our log stores are made from rough-sawn, pressure-treated softwood. That treatment gives the timber good protection from the start. Each store has a sloping feather edge board roof and slatted back and sides for airflow. They arrive fully assembled, so you only need to position them.
We sell two sizes. The log store 3×5 is 3ft wide and 5ft high, which suits a small yard. The log store 5×5 is 5ft wide and 5ft high, for households burning through the winter. Both are built the same way and need the same care.
Why the Timber Turns Silver
New pressure-treated timber often has a green or honey tone. Over the first year outdoors, sunlight and rain bleach the surface. Gradually, it weathers to a soft silver grey. That change is natural and is not a sign of rot.
Some owners like the silver look and leave it alone. Others prefer to refresh the colour. Either choice is fine, because treating a log store for colour is purely cosmetic. What matters is that the wood stays sound underneath, especially at the base and the roof.
When Treating a Log Store Makes Sense
The best time for treating a log store is a settled dry spell, ideally when it is nearly empty. Late spring or early summer usually works well. By then, most of the winter’s logs have been burned. The timber has also had a chance to dry out after the wet months.
Choose a water-based exterior wood treatment. These are easier to apply, dry faster and carry less odour than solvent-based products. Apply it on a dry day with no rain forecast for at least a day. Damp timber will not take treatment properly, so patience pays off.
Treating a Log Store on the Outside Only
Firewood should never pick up chemicals from the store it sits in. So when treating a log store, coat only the outer faces. Leave the inside faces of the slats, the floor and the underside of the roof bare. The pressure treatment already protects them.
This matters because logs rest against the inner surfaces for months. Any fresh coating there could transfer to the wood and then into your stove. Equally, avoid oils or creosote-style products anywhere on the store. Burning tainted logs gives off unpleasant smoke and can harm the appliance.
Looking After the Feather Edge Roof
The roof takes most of the weather. Its feather edge boards overlap so rain runs down and off the front. Over time, the lower edges of each board stay wettest. Therefore, give those edges extra attention when treating a log store.
Also, clear moss and leaves from the roof each autumn. Debris holds water against the boards and slows drying. A soft brush is all you need. Our guide to covering a log pile has more on keeping rain off your fuel.
Keep the Base Off the Soil
The base is where log stores usually fail first. If the feet sit on soil or grass, they stay damp all winter. Eventually, the bottom rails soften. Standing the store on paving slabs, gravel or treated bearers stops this.
Our article on getting the log store base right explains the options in detail. A firm, level base also keeps the frame square. That means the slats stay even and the roof keeps shedding water properly.
Placing the Store for Airflow
The slatted back and sides only work if air can reach them. So leave a gap of a few inches between the store and any wall or fence. A store pushed tight against brickwork stays damp at the back. In turn, the logs at the rear dry poorly.
Face the open front away from the prevailing wind where possible. In most of the Ribble Valley, the wettest weather comes from the west. Angling the store away from that direction keeps driving rain off the logs. Browse our log store ideas for layouts that suit different gardens.
Rural Gardens Up the Valley
Village gardens near the Bowland fells get more rain than town yards. Customers in Grindleton often place stores beside a back door for easy winter access. We deliver logs for sale Grindleton to homes that burn wood most evenings. Further up the valley, logs for sale Bolton-by-Bowland often go to farmhouses with open yards.
In those exposed spots, an annual look before treating a log store is worthwhile. Check the roof boards, the base and the corner joints. A few minutes each year keeps the store solid. That way, it lasts as long as the logs you put inside it.
Filling the Store After Delivery
Logs are cut on average to 8 inches long, with a maximum 6 inch diameter. They stack neatly in either store. However, the driver tips the logs and cannot stack them into your store for you. So plan an hour to move them in after delivery.
Our logs arrive Ready to Burn certified, under 20% moisture. Once stacked in a well-treated, well-placed store, they stay that way. The store protects the logs, and the logs reward you with a clean burn.
For a log store, logs or kindling, call us on 01200 449930. We aim to deliver within 5 working days, with free delivery on orders over £150 across all BB postcode areas. Collection from our Clitheroe yard is also available.
