The glow of a wood-burning fire is incredibly comforting. The warmth of a wood burning fire is a welcome sight during the cold winter months. It provides flickering lights and gentle crackling noises to calm the spirit. Wood smoke has a distinct scent that is associated with winter. However, it’s vital to select the right wood to burn in order to get the perfect fire.
Ash
Ash logs provide a steady flame and a lot of heat, even when they are still green. Ash logs will also burn well on their own, so you won’t have to mix them. Ash is one of the most popular choices for wood-burning fires.
Oak
Oak grows very slowly, only 3cm per year. It should be aged for at least two years to reach its peak. As it is dense, it burns slowly. It would be best to combine with wood that burns faster. Its slow burning nature is ideal if you want to keep a fire low all night.
Birch
Birch is a wood that burns very quickly, but produces a lot of heat. Combining it with a slower burning wood like oak, for example, can be beneficial. It can be burned in its unseasoned form, but it can lead to an accumulation of sap in the chimney. Peeling off the bark of birch trees can be used as a fire lighter.
Beech
Beech is a great wood to burn. The wood should be dried completely first, as it contains a lot of water. It should be seasoned for about 3 years before use. It can be burned on its own without mixing.
Cherry
Cherry has a strong heat output and is slow burning. The cherry wood also emits a wonderful aroma. As long as the wood is well-seasoned, bark strips can be used to light a fire.
Sycamore
The Sycamore tree has a single season and a medium level of heat production. For Timber Merchants Southampton, go to Timbco
How do you stack wood the best?
Keep logs away from dampness or water. Logs should ideally be stored off the ground so that they can receive airflow around them.
One side of the logs must be left open when covering them in polythene to allow for breathing. Otherwise the logs may sweat.
Start at the outer edge of the log and work your way inwards. Avoid sloping and keep the logs level. For example, you can create corners by laying one log at a 90 degree angle to the next layer.
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