Log Rack

Regardless of the season, it is never too early to start thinking about next year's log rack. Why is it never too early? Let us investigate the facts:

1. You burn natural logs in your fireplace during the winter, using a natural and cost efficient means to keep your home warm.2. You use logs for the barbeque every year, to give your food a deeper flavor.3. During those cool fall evenings, there's nothing more entertaining than singing your favorite songs off-key around a nice warm fire?powered by logs.

No matter where you live or the season, it is unavoidable – you probably use logs for many different reasons. And where better to hold all your logs than in a log rack! You may be thinking to yourself: “Why do I need a log rack? The wood pile works just fine!” But what you don't probably don't know is the fact that your good old wood pile is eroding the quality of your fancy logs. That's right – by leaving them in a pile, you are welcoming all kinds of pests, spiders, rodents, and even mold and rot. This results in letter quality wood, leaving you buying logs throughout the season. In other words: you are effectively burning money. And in these economic times, who wants to do that?

So what can a log rack do for you? First off, look at the obvious advantage: keeping your logs organized in a nice stack makes it easier for you to evaluate your needs. Instead of buying all the wood you can find when it is at a good price (and having too much), you've got a visual guide as to how much you actually need to get through the season. Not to mention a good, solid log rack will keep your wood organized, making it easier to find the perfect shaped logs for a long time to come.

In addition to being a space saver and great organizational tool, log racks help to keep your wood off the cold, wet ground, where bugs and pests love to organize. If they find your dry logs, they'll be more than happy to build their nests and homes there. The result is wood that is eaten away, and a starting place for rot to grow, resulting in logs that only have half the fuel inside them than they normally would. A log rack will keep your logs free of bugs, pests, and rot by keeping them off the ground and semi-sheltered from those who want to destroy your hard-earned investment.

In addition, many log racks come with coverings to put over them. This will protect your logs and wood from the elements, especially the moisture rain and humidity brings. By keeping your fire wood covered, you will be proactively preventing the growth of mold. Keeping mold and moss off your logs preserves the flavor and integrity of the wood, retaining its sweet smell and value of barbequing. Why settle for logs that will only give a sample of the flavor your summer grilling could have, when you could invest in a cover that will keep your logs fresh all season long?

While it may seem like a trivial and even frivolous investment, log racks are one of the best investments you can make to your outdoor arsenal. By keeping your logs protected throughout the seasons, you will be ensuring you get the full value and joy out of your firewood throughout the year.

No one can deny the hypnotic charm of an ambient fire. That?s one reason why so many people these days own fireplaces and fire pits. Others in rural areas and on beachfront properties often opt for the traditional bonfire setting. Both fun and functional, whatever your reasons for owning one and wherever you live, you?ve most probably also invested in a sturdy log rack for convenience when bringing in more firewood. What you may not have considered, though, is how log rack covers are equally important to keep the fire going. Don?t let damp logs turn your cookout into a wet blanket.

Aside from the obvious purpose of keeping wood dry, log rack covers also serve a few other useful purposes. Dry firewood is important for complete combustion, and it also cuts down on the amount of smoke produced. On top of that, covers help prevent insect infestations, not to mention a number of other creepy crawlers (like snakes!) who love nothing better than to make their homes in piles of wood.

There isn?t much variation when it comes to material out of which log rack covers are made. Obviously, you?re going to need something which is durable, waterproof and relatively flexible. That being said, vinyl and reinforced canvas are perfect materials. Covers come in a variety of sizes that are fitted to snugly surround most standard sized log racks. For larger racks and log piles, you may just have to use a tarp to cover everything. A good idea in that case is to weight the edges of the tarp to keep it from flying off or from anything getting underneath.

As far as design goes, you tend to see a lot of log rack covers with a front flap opening. Easier than a zipper or having to take the whole cover off when you?ve got an armful of logs, the front flap design is convenient to work. Some models of cover do not actually cover the entire rack, but rather fit around the top of racks to cover the uppermost regions of the log pile. If you?re in a more urban setting, especially with a log rack that?s against a building or away from wooded area, this may be all you?ll need. Remember that although the lower wood might get damp if it is both windy and raining, you?ll still only be pulling wood from the top of the pile (the dry wood). So unless you?re throwing a mighty sized bonfire, the top row of wood is probably all that you?ll need. In addition to shape, log rack covers come in a few different color choices, but mainly stick to muted earth tones or black. Obviously, a bright yellow or pink block of color in the backyard might be considered somewhat garish.

Woodhaven is one especially popular brand of log racks and log rack covers. Their metal outdoor racks are rectangular in shape with a black powder coating, and come in a variety of sizes, able to hold between 1/8 and a full cord of wood. All of their models come with matching log rack covers which are black and fit tightly over the top portion of racks. Made from a commercial grade canvas, they?re practically invincible to the normal wear and tear from outside usage.

Typically any piece of firewood over 8 inches in diameter should be split. Firewood should be split as soon as possible after it is cut. It is much easier to split green wood than seasoned wood. It is best to select a good hard wood verses a soft wood like pine to burn.

Place your firewood rack 20 to 25 feet from your home or any building if possible. Firewood attracts many insects such as ants and termites. Keeping a proper distance from any structures will keep the insects from entering your home. A log rack should be designed to keep your firewood off the ground. When firewood sits on the ground it takes longer to season and it tends to attract mice and snakes looking for a home. Stack your firewood allowing air to circulate around the logs but most of the moisture will be drawn from the cut ends verses the split sides. It is not recommended to cover your firewood during the seasoning, this can trap moisture in and will delay the drying time and could cause mold and fungus to grow. Once your firewood is seasoned cover the top layers during fall rains and winter snow. This will allow you to grab dry wood from the top while air circulates through the rest of your firewood

Seasoned firewood will have checks and cracks and weigh much less than fresh cut firewood. Over 50% of the weight in fresh cut wood is moisture. Seasoning of firewood is important for several reasons. When firewood is burned any excess moisture has to be “cooked” out of the wood. This excess moisture escapes as smoke. If your fireplace doesn't draft very well the smoke could come back into your room. Burning firewood that isn't seasoned uses all the heat from the fire to “cook” out the excess moisture and doesn't produce heat for your home. Seasoned wood will ignite and burn much easier and cause fewer problems with condensation and creosote. Continue Article

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As the winter approaches, you find yourself with a bit of a problem on your hands: you have all the wood you will ever need for home heating and grilling out. But with the snow flurries starting to gently sprinkle the countryside, you find that you've nowhere to keep the logs organized. Surly, you can put them in a pile. But is that really the best option overall? You can put them near the house, but do you want a random pile of logs bringing down the beauty of your house? Moreover, do you want a self-constructed hotel for pests ready to infest your home as well? Alas, now is the time to face reality, and break down & purchase a log rack.

While a log rack has advantages that well outweigh the absolute cost, who knows which one to choose? While a well-built rack can protect your logs from bugs and rot, how do you know which choice is perfect for your needs? Should you go with wood, or should you go with metal? Will a rectangular shaped rack work best, or would a more ornate round rack work better for you? And exactly how big should it be? What would the advantages of a bigger rack be, if there really are any?

A log rack should be the perfect home for your heating & cooking investment, but only if you purchase the right one for your needs. If you buy one that is too small, you are risking some of your logs to the elements and the growth of rot. Buy a log rack that is simply too big, and you will have a surplus on space with nothing to put there. By knowing what you need before you go to buy it, you will ensure the best value in the right investment.

To figure out what log rack works for you, let us start with size. Taking an honest assessment of the wood you will be using throughout the year will give you a basis on how big your rack should be. Are you fond of burning logs in your fireplace? Do you have lots of barbecues throughout the summer, and feed your grill with pleasant burning oak and cedar? If you use wood throughout the year, and you are constantly replenishing your supplies, you will need a bigger wood rack. If you only burn wood on rare occasions (such as the occasional fire pit sing along), you will be best served by buying a smaller log rack.

Now that you have assessed the size you need to purchase, it is time to figure out what materials your log rack should be constructed of. There are many different types of racks to choose from, made of all kinds of materials. From wood to metal, log racks come in a multitude of builds, shapes, and sizes. If you are looking for a small, rustic log rack that will compliment the outdoor theme of your patio furniture, you may want to select a wood rack. If you decide to purchase a wooden rack, always select one that is resistant to the weather and pets, either by composition or by treatment. Cedar is an excellent choice, because it is naturally resistant to nature. Other racks can be treated with paints and stains in order to make them more durable regardless of the season.

If you're looking for a larger log rack that will hold a half cord or more, you should consider buying a large metal rack. When treated correctly, a metal rack will stand up to the moisture, dirt, and debris better than any other material you can find on the market. But make sure that your metal rack is treated with a paint or coating that protects it from the seasons.

Buying a log rack does not have to be a drawn-out process full of agony and misinformation. By knowing what you need before you buy, you will be assured the best investment for your dollar – resulting in a solid rack that will protect your wood investment for years to come!

Joe Cortez is a freelance writer with diverse interests including home and garden, outdoor furniture and backyard living, with an inherent interest in log racks As a media professional, his work has been featured on CNN, the CBS Evening News, and ABC News. He writes for In Style Patio

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Log racks are one of the fireplace accessories you do not want to be without. They are functional, decorative, and complete your fireplace set. There are many styles, colors, and types of log racks to choose from to fit in with any of your decor.

Stack With Style

Log racks bring a sense of order to your hearth. They neatly consolidate the logs and actually put them on display. It is just a nice sight to have a fire roaring with a stack of wood on deck ready for the fire.

Wood racks do this with style especially when they match or compliment the rest of your fireplaces accessories. You can find log racks made of: copper, bronze, brass, stainless steel, pewter, wrought iron along with other finishes.

Their styles also vary from straight forward to fancy with scroll work and other designs.

Preserve Your Logs

You will find indoor and outdoor racks. It is very important to keep your logs off the ground and floor to keep them from decaying and getting infested with insects.

It is a waste of time and money when the wood you bought or worked so hard to cut and split rots away. Avoid frustration by storing and curing your logs on a rack.

Log Carriers

We all know what it like to have to brush yourself off after carrying in an arm load of firewood. If this is you, try a log rack with a log carrier.

Simply load the log carrier with firewood and carry it inside by the handles. Set the log carrier in the log rack and you do not have the mess of setting the logs down.

You also do not need to cradle the logs in your arms getting bark and wood all over your shirt with the use of a log carrier. The debris from the logs stays in the log carrier. Simply dump it out and you are ready for another load.

Log Baskets

Log baskets are great for carrying kindling and other small loads of wood. Once again, load it up, carry it inside by the handle, set it down and you are done. No mess.

Log Rack With Wheels

Log carriers and log baskets make carrying firewood much easier. However, you still need to pick the load up. If you are tired of carrying loads of wood, try a wood rack with wheels. Load the rack up and wheel it to the fire. The wood is carried in and stacked in the same process.

Log Hoops

Log hoops are a great way to stack a lot of firewood in a small amount of space. The circular shape allows the wood to be stacked very efficiently with the continuous sides rather than two wobbly end posts.

As you can see there are many chooses when it comes to log racks. Whatever type you choose, make sure that it fulfills your needs. Make the chore of firewood easier and cleaner with a log rack.

AJ Drake webmaster of http://www.fireplacescreensandaccessories.com.

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