THE IMPORTANCE OF PURCHASING SEASONED LOGS AND HOW TO TELL IF THEY’VE BEEN SEASONED

When it comes to buying firewood there are several things that you need to consider, such as the type of wood that you buy and the size of the logs. Nevertheless, one of the main things that you need to make sure you do is determine that the wood is seasoned. For those of you who are unaware, seasoned logs are wood that has been cut and left to air dry for a minimum for six months. On the other hand, wood which has been freshly cut and is not seasoned is commonly known as green wood.

The difference between seasoned wood and green wood is the mass amount of moisture which can be found in the latter. Up to 50% of freshly cut wood can be filled with moisture content, however seasoned wood will possess much less than half of this amount. A lot of people, who do not know much about the two types of wood, tend to end up buying green wood because it is a lot cheaper. However, once they get it on their fireplace or stove and try to light it they see the mistake that they have made.

This is because green wood is extremely difficult to light. Moreover, all of the energy is utilised in order to dry the wood rather than to light the fire. Thus you never really get a full fire going. Nevertheless, if you do manage to get a fire blazing, then it can actually be potentially very dangerous. This is because creosote can form when temperatures drop too low and if ignited then this can cause a dangerous fire.

When it comes to determining whether logs are seasoned are not it can actually be something which is rather difficult to decipher. Nevertheless, there are a few telling signs that you can look out for. The first thing to look out for is the colour of the wood. Seasoned logs tend to be a bit greyer in colour in comparison to wood which has been freshly cut. If the wood appears particularly light or bright, then it has a chance to be green wood.

In addition to this, seasoned wood has what is known as “checks”, this basically means cracks in the wood. Cracks are an indication that the wood has dried because when wood dries it shrinks and thus cracks are formed. You should also consider the fact that seasoned logs will be a lot lighter than green wood as well. This is because all of the excess water will have evaporated and thus that weight will not be dragging the wood down.

The points mentioned should go a long way to helping you determine whether the wood you are considering or have purchased is seasoned or not. Nevertheless, if you are still unsure then it is best to ask a professional in order to put your mind at ease. Most of the time, if a company is reputable and has a credible reputation then it is likely that the only wood that they will sell will be seasoned logs. Thus seeking a top quality company is always a great place to start.

Author bio –Olus is a green waste recycling, compost and topsoil expert company. They have an admirable ethos and sell a vast range of products; from seasoned logs to plant pots