Timber-Made Log Stores: Perfect Winter Gardening Project

At HSW Timber in Kent, we understand that winter marks a crucial shift in gardening focus. While the soil rests, attention naturally turns to maintenance, planning, and preparation for the following year. Among the most rewarding and practical winter projects is constructing a dedicated, timber-made log store. It’s not just a functional necessity for those with wood burners or open fires; it is a vital piece of garden infrastructure that benefits from being built during the quiet months, ensuring you have perfectly seasoned wood ready for next year's cold snap.

The principal reason for building a robust log store is the need for proper seasoning. Freshly cut wood, known as 'green wood', can contain up to 60% moisture. Burning this wood is inefficient—much of the heat produced is wasted simply boiling off the residual water. It also leads to excessive smoke, which can damage flues and chimneys due to creosote build-up.

Properly seasoned wood, which typically takes between six months and a year to dry, has a moisture content below 20%. A dedicated timber log store is the best way to achieve this. By constructing your store now, you create the ideal environment for any new logs you acquire over the winter, ensuring they will be perfectly ready for the next heating season.

A log store must achieve two essential, slightly contradictory goals: protection from rain and maximum airflow. This is where the choice of timber and design becomes paramount, and where our expertise at HSW Timber comes into play.

• The Roof: The roof needs to be robust and fully weatherproof. We recommend using either pressure-treated feather edge boards or OSB/plywood overlaid with felt or shingles. The roof should have a slight pitch and an overhang to prevent rainwater splashing onto the stored logs.

• The Sides and Back: The sides are crucial for promoting airflow. Instead of solid timber cladding, which would trap moisture, a good log store utilises horizontal battens or slats with gaps left between them. This slatted design allows air to circulate freely—essential for wicking away moisture—while still offering protection from heavy rain. We supply high-quality, pressure-treated timber battens (such as 50mm x 25mm) which are ideal for this application, offering longevity in a constantly damp-exposed environment.

• The Base: Logs should never sit directly on the ground, as capillary action will draw moisture straight back into the wood. The base of the store should be raised using pressure-treated timber bearers or posts, creating a small air gap. This elevates the logs and also encourages air to move up through the stack.

Practical Timber Supplies in Kent for Longevity

For a structure that will spend its entire life exposed to the elements, durability is key. We highly recommend using pressure-treated softwoods for the entire frame of your log store. The chemical treatment (often green or brown) infuses the timber with preservative, offering superior resistance against rot, decay, and insect attack.

Our stock of treated structural timber is perfect for creating the upright posts and the main supporting frame. This grade of timber guarantees the necessary strength to hold a substantial weight of stacked logs, preventing the structure from bowing or collapsing.

Building a timber log store now capitalises on the quiet season, allowing you the necessary time to measure, cut, and construct without the pressure of gardening duties. It’s a project that delivers immediate, tangible benefits—a neat, tidy space and, most importantly, the promise of a warm, efficient fire next winter. Visit HSW Timber today; we can supply all the robust, treated timber and materials you need to complete this essential winter project.