Firewood
There’s nothing like the warm glow of a wood fire, and no other heat source warms a home and makes it cozy quite like a real fire. But for many people, finding a reliable source of wood can be difficult, which is why most people will buy from the same supplier every year once they find a good company. As anyone who’s struggled to find a supplier can tell you, bad wood doesn’t burn, doesn’t heat your house properly, and it’s usually overpriced and not ready to use. On the other hand, a company with good firewood for sale will have a decent mixture of dry wood that’s fairly priced and ready to burn, making it ideal for your fireplace, woodstove, or fire pit.
Seasoned Wood from a Firewood Company Who Cares
In order for wood to burn properly, it needs to have been seasoned first. But don’t think that just because someone has firewood for sale that the wood is ready to burn because not everyone cares enough to take the time to do this right.
The seasoning process is a long one. When wood is freshly cut from a tree, it contains roughly 50 percent water, and this high moisture content means the wood will smoke a lot but won’t burn. Seasoning wood is the process of drying it out to remove some of this moisture because dry wood burns much better than wet wood. Once the tree has been cut down, the trunk is bucked and cut into smaller pieces, and these pieces are then left in the warm sun to dry for several months.
Tip: Next time you go to buy firewood, ask how long it’s been seasoned. For the best burn, wood needs to be seasoned for at least six months, and sometimes as long as a year.
Hardwood
Hardwood trees are those that reproduce using seeds that are protected by a covering, such as fruit or a shell. These types of trees typically have denser wood and produce a longer burn and more heat. Some of the more popular hardwood species include:
- Ash
- Birch
- Maple
- Oak
- Apple
- Hickory
Softwood
Softwood trees, on the other hand, reproduce using seeds that aren’t protected by any sort of covering. The wood from softwoods is usually, but not always, less dense than that from hardwood trees, so it produces a faster burn and a shorter-lasting heat. Common softwoods are conifers like:
- Pine
- Cedar
- Fir
- Spruce
- Yew
Most people claim that hardwood is better for fires, but when you’re looking to buy firewood for sale for your own hearth, it really comes down to the type of heat you want. Softwoods that don’t create as much heat are great for warmer nights, spring, and fall, while hardwoods can be better for cold nights and winter.
If you care what kind of wood you get for your fireplace, ask the firewood company what kind of wood they sell, and whether it’s sold separately or mixed. And don’t forget to ask about the seasoning, because no matter what type of firewood you want, it needs to be dry if you want it to burn. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to the type of wood you buy, but being properly seasoned is a must for hardwoods or softwoods of any species.
Ted Foley - Owner
ISA Certified Arborist #
WI-0979A