A Quick Guide to Choosing the Right Firewood

Although we tend to use firewood more throughout the winter, summer is the best time to start collecting and storing it. If you’ve recently had a wood burner installed or you’re looking for the best stockist of firewood in Shropshire, we can help. In this post, our team will give you their top tips for choosing the right firewood and what you should look for in a local supplier.

The Best Wood Types for Burning

In general, hardwood is best for burning. It contains very little resin and will burn for longer than softwood alternatives. However, many softwoods are also used for firewood.

So, what type is best? In our opinion, locally-sourced wood is always king, no matter what type it is. But if you’re curious about which types of wood burn best, here’s a quick breakdown.

Oak

This is a hardwood that burns for a long time because of how dense it is. It gives off very little smoke and works well if you’re looking for something that will smoulder overnight.

Ash

Another hardwood, ash gives off signature bright flames and lasts for a long time. It gives off good heat but burns more intensely than alternatives. Ash also gives off little smoke, so it’s another good option for wood burners.

Birch

This one is a hot-burning hardwood, so will burn more quickly than the others. However, if you have the option of controlling the burn rate, you can make it last much longer by tamping it down. 

Hawthorn

Next up, hawthorn. This is another hardwood that has a stead burn rate. It gives a nice, consistent heat, but it’s very tough to split, so you’ll want to buy it pre-cut.

Beech

Finally, beech is a hardwood that burns hot and quickly. It’s difficult to keep it burning, so you’ll need more for longer periods. However, it has a nice, clean burn, so produces very little smoke.

What to Avoid When Collecting Firewood

There are certain types of wood that aren’t suitable for firewood and should be avoided. Here is a quick list of things to avoid:

• Pressure-treated or painted wood: these both release harmful chemicals when burned, which is particularly dangerous for indoor wood burners.
• Driftwood: if the wood has been exposed to the sea, it will have absorbed chlorine, which is harmful to breathe in when burned. Not to mention it will retain moisture, making it hard to burn.
• Rotten wood: this will produce a lot of smoke, which is particularly dangerous indoors.

Order Locally Sourced Firewood in Shropshire

As tree surgeons in Shropshire, we end up with a lot of leftover wood on our hands. Rather than sending it to the landfill, we dry it out so it’s seasoned beautifully and provide a free delivery service in Shropshire and beyond.

With affordable prices and a quality, locally-sourced product, we deliver firewood to homeowners and businesses throughout Shropshire. Call us today to arrange a free delivery: 01746 766 038