A well-built firewood stack does two things at the same time: it keeps wood accessible through a Canadian winter, and it continues the drying process that began when the wood was split. A poorly arranged pile does neither — logs shift and fall, and moisture becomes trapped rather than escaping.
The fundamentals are straightforward. The goal is a stable structure with consistent airflow through the pile, elevated off the ground, and protected from direct precipitation on top.
Row Stacking
The most common approach for volumes between one and four cords is the linear row stack — parallel rows of split wood arranged with the cut faces forward and backward, and a consistent gap between pieces. Split pieces stack more reliably than rounds because the flat cut faces create stable contact points.
End Support Options
Freestanding row stacks depend on the end columns for stability. Without support, the stacked wood leans inward from both ends as the pile settles. Three methods are commonly used:
- Crib ends: Alternating the end pieces at 90° to the main stack direction, interlocked like log cabin corners. This is the most stable method for long stacks, but it requires splitting pieces to consistent lengths.
- Stacked posts: Vertical posts driven into the ground at each end, holding the stack in compression. Metal T-posts or treated 4×4 lumber. Posts must be set deep enough to resist lateral load — 45 to 60 cm into firm ground.
- Commercial firewood brackets: Steel brackets that hold pairs of opposing posts. These can be repositioned each season as needs change.
Base Layer
The bottom layer of any stack should be elevated off bare soil. Pallets, pressure-treated lumber rails, concrete blocks, or dedicated firewood rack feet all work. The goal is a few centimetres of clearance so air can move under the stack and the bottom layer stays dry.
The bottom layer is also where the least desirable pieces go — twisted, knotted, or partially rotted wood that you may burn last or discard. The best pieces go in the middle and upper layers where they stay driest.
Round Stacking (Holz Hausen)
The round stack — sometimes called a holz hausen or wood hive — arranges split pieces in a circle, bark outward, with a hollow centre that acts as a chimney. A finished round stack sheds rain from its domed top and dries efficiently due to the airflow through the centre.
It requires more care to build and takes more time to load and unload than a row stack, making it better suited to storage wood that won't be accessed frequently during the heating season. Round stacks are self-supporting once the outer ring is established at each layer, so no posts or crib ends are needed.
Size Reference
A standard Canadian cord measures 1.2 m × 1.2 m × 2.4 m (4 ft × 4 ft × 8 ft) of tightly stacked wood. A face cord — a single row of wood 1.2 m high and 2.4 m long — is roughly one-third of a full cord depending on log length. Knowing which unit is being used when buying or estimating consumption matters.
Choosing a Site
The stack's location affects both drying rate and convenience. Key considerations:
- Sun and wind exposure: A south- or west-facing location with some wind exposure dries wood faster. Dense shade keeps the wood cool and damp longer.
- Distance from structures: Wood stacked against house walls creates a direct path for carpenter ants, mice, and wood-boring insects to the structure. Most pest control guidance recommends a minimum of 30 cm clearance from any building.
- Access in winter: A stack located 15 metres from the door in an open area becomes difficult to access after a significant snowfall. If a path needs to be shovelled to reach the wood, that path will need shovelling repeatedly. Proximity balanced against pest and moisture risk is a practical calculation for each property.
- Ground stability: Avoid low spots where water pools or frost heave is severe. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles shift the ground under heavy stacks, tilting rows and eventually causing collapse.
How Many Rows
Single-row stacks up to about 1.5 metres high are stable without extensive support and are easy to manage. Multi-row stacks arranged in parallel — with a gap between rows — dry better than a single deep pile because air moves through the gaps between rows as well as within each row. The gap should be at least 20–30 cm, enough to allow airflow but not so wide it wastes the available space.
Covering the Stack
The top needs protection from rain; the sides should remain open. Options for the top cover include:
- A length of metal roofing or corrugated polycarbonate, angled slightly so water runs off rather than pooling
- A purpose-built firewood shed with an open front
- A heavy-duty tarp secured at the top only, with the bottom edges left open to allow airflow from below
Tarps wrapped tightly around the entire stack trap moisture inside and can result in the outer layers staying wet or developing mould, even when the interior wood was well-dried.
The British Columbia Wildfire Service notes that firewood stored near structures during wildfire season should be in a covered shed with a metal roof where possible, and moved to a non-combustible storage area when fire risk is elevated.