Sharing a log delivery with the neighbours is one of the simplest ways to make firewood ordering easier this winter. Two or three households can pool one order, choose a single drop point and split the logs between them. Empress Fencing supplies fencing and timber supplies in Clitheroe, and we deliver kiln dried firewood across the BB postcode area. This guide explains how to organise a shared order, divide a loose pile fairly and keep everyone happy on the drive.
Planning a Shared Firewood Order Between Households
A shared order works best when everyone agrees the details first. That means the product, the drop point, the split and the payment. Once those four things are settled, the delivery itself is quick and straightforward.
Why Neighbours Pool Their Log Orders
Delivery is free on orders over £150 across all BB postcode areas. However, a household with one small stove may not need that much firewood at once. Sharing a log delivery with next door solves that problem neatly. As a result, everyone gets the same kiln dried logs without paying a charge they could have avoided.
There is also a practical benefit. One delivery means one van on the lane rather than three. Furthermore, you only clear the drive once, and only one person needs to be home to meet the driver.
Choosing Between a Loose Load and Builders Bags
Our 1m3 hardwood logs arrive as a loose cubic metre load. The driver tips it straight off the back of the pickup onto your drive. That suits sharing a log delivery where every house sits within barrow distance of one spot.
Alternatively, the builders bag of logs holds around 0.6 cubic metres. Each bag measures roughly 85cm by 85cm by 85cm. Ordering one bag per household keeps the split simple, because each family owns a whole bag. On the other hand, the driver slides each bag off the back rather than lifting it, so it stays where it lands.
Both options are mixed hardwood, kiln dried to under 20% moisture and Ready to Burn certified. The species may include oak, ash, beech, silver birch, sycamore, alder and hornbeam. However, the mix cannot be specified, so every household simply gets the same blend.
Picking One Drop Point for the Whole Street
Sharing a log delivery means choosing one delivery address. Choose the property with the widest, flattest access and the shortest route to the other houses. Ideally, that is a drive or hardstanding rather than a soft grass verge.
Remember that the driver will not deliver into a building. Equally, they cannot lift bags or logs over walls or other obstructions. So, if every house on the row has a stone garden wall, pick the one with an open gateway. Then add a clear note in the order comments box describing exactly where the logs should go.
Terraced streets need extra thought. A tipped pile on a narrow back street can block a neighbour’s car or the bin lorry. In that case, builders bags are often tidier, because they keep the logs contained until each household moves its share.
Sharing a Log Delivery Fairly by the Barrow Load
A loose cubic metre does not divide itself. When sharing a log delivery, the fairest method is to count barrow loads. First, agree on one wheelbarrow for everyone. Next, fill it to the same level each time and take turns.
Keep a tally on a scrap of paper or a phone note. Our logs are cut on average to 8 inches long, with a maximum diameter of 6 inches. Consequently, they settle evenly in a barrow and the loads stay consistent from start to finish.
It also helps to agree who gets the bottom of the pile. That last layer holds more bark and small pieces. Therefore, share it out evenly in the final round rather than leaving it for whoever moves slowest.
Who Stores What and Where
Once the logs are split, each household must keep its own share dry. The logs leave the van dry, but a wet Lancashire autumn can soak an uncovered pile within hours. So, move your share under cover on the same day if you can.
The driver cannot stack logs in your log store, so plan the labour too. Two people with two barrows clear a pile far faster than one. For more tips, read our guide to moving firewood from delivery to store.
If one neighbour has a big store and another has none, a temporary arrangement can work. However, agree it clearly in advance. Otherwise, nobody is quite sure whose logs sit at the front.
Sharing a Log Delivery in Ribble Valley Villages
Sharing a log delivery on village lanes brings its own challenges. Around Chatburn, many cottages sit close to the road with only a small yard behind. Our page on logs for sale Chatburn covers deliveries in and around the village.
Similarly, Downham has narrow lanes beneath Pendle Hill and very little parking. A shared drop at the widest gateway makes sense there. You can find more detail on our logs for sale Downham page.
In both villages, the driver reverses to the most appropriate spot and avoids blocking gates. Nevertheless, a farm track or steep lane may limit where the van can stop. Mention gradients, gates and parked cars in your order notes so the driver can plan ahead.
Settling Up Before the Logs Arrive
Agree the split before you order, not after. Decide whether you are dividing by halves, thirds or whole bags. Then let one person place the order and collect the money from the others. Our delivery charges page explains what applies if the combined order falls short of the threshold.
It also pays to agree a backup plan. For example, who meets the driver if the drop point owner is out? We phone ahead with the delivery day, so pass that message round quickly. Likewise, read our guide to loose tipped logs so everyone knows what to expect.
Finally, keep the arrangement going if it works. Many streets repeat the same shared order every autumn. After the first year, sharing a log delivery becomes a quick message to the group rather than a planning exercise.
Ready to organise a shared order with your neighbours? Call Empress Fencing on 01200 449930 to talk through loose loads, builders bags and drop points. Delivery is free on orders over £150 across all BB postcode areas, and we aim to deliver within 5 working days.
