You've ordered the good stuff. Kiln-dried oak, maybe a rack of hickory for the cold nights. It arrives stacked, dry, and ready to burn. Then you leave it outside for three weeks in an Atlanta October — and by the time you actually want a fire, you're wondering why it's not lighting the way it should.
This is one of the most common firewood mistakes Atlanta homeowners make, and it's not for lack of care. It's simply that nobody explains the storage side of the equation. Everyone focuses on what wood to buy. Almost nobody talks about what happens to that wood between delivery and your fireplace.
At Retro Firewood, we've thought a lot about this. Here's how to store your firewood in Atlanta — and what most people get wrong.
Why Storage Matters More in Atlanta Than Almost Anywhere Else
Atlanta sits in a humid subtropical climate. We average over 50 inches of rain per year, our summers are punishingly humid, and even our relatively mild winters come with their share of damp, overcast days. That humidity is a constant threat to firewood quality.
Even kiln-dried firewood — which has had its moisture content driven down to 20% or below — can begin to reabsorb atmospheric moisture if stored improperly. We're not talking about it becoming unusable overnight. But over weeks and months of exposure to Atlanta's humidity, improperly stored firewood gradually gets wetter. And wetter wood means harder starts, more smoke, and less heat.
The goal of good firewood storage is simple: protect your investment. You paid for dry wood. Store it in a way that keeps it dry.
The Biggest Mistake: Storing Firewood Directly on the Ground
If there's one thing to take away from this entire post, it's this: never store firewood directly on the ground.
Ground contact is where firewood goes to die. Here's what happens when logs sit on soil or concrete:
Moisture wicks up from below. Even on a dry day, soil holds moisture. Logs sitting on the ground absorb that moisture from the bottom up, particularly the bottom layer of any stack.
Insects move in. The ground is where termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles live. Firewood stacked directly on soil gives them immediate, easy access. In Atlanta, where termites are an especially active concern, this is not a theoretical risk — it's a near-certainty over any extended period.
Airflow is eliminated. Firewood needs airflow around it to stay dry. Logs stacked directly on the ground have zero airflow underneath, creating the damp, stagnant conditions that encourage mold and rot.
The fix is simple: keep your firewood elevated. This can be as simple as a pair of two-by-fours laid parallel on the ground as a base, or as refined as a proper firewood rack. The key is getting the bottom layer of wood off the ground entirely.
Retro Firewood delivers every rack pre-stacked, which handles this automatically — the rack itself keeps your wood off the ground from day one.
Where to Store Your Firewood in Atlanta
Location matters. Here's how to think through your options:
Covered Outdoor Storage: The Standard for Most Atlanta Homeowners
The vast majority of Atlanta homeowners store their firewood outside, and that's completely fine — as long as it's covered and elevated. A simple tarp or a purpose-built firewood cover that goes over the top of the stack (not wrapped all the way down the sides) is all you need.
Why just the top? Because completely wrapping your firewood in a tarp traps humidity inside the stack. You want rain and direct sun exposure protected, but you want air to move freely around the sides. A cover that protects the top and lets the sides breathe is the right setup.
In terms of placement, choose a spot that:
- Gets good shade during summer months (direct sun bakes the top layer, while interior logs stay cool and damp — temperature variation causes moisture migration inside the pile)
- Isn't directly against your house (more on that below)
- Has decent air movement — don't store wood in a low-lying corner where air stagnates
Against the House: Convenient, But Risky
It's tempting to stack firewood right outside your back door. Convenient in the winter, easy to grab a few logs without walking across the yard in the cold. We get it.
The problem is that firewood stored directly against your home — touching your siding or flush against your foundation — creates a pest pathway into your house. Even kiln-dried wood, which is clean when delivered, can become colonized over time if it's in contact with the ground or sitting in a humid corner. Termites are particularly adept at finding routes from an outdoor woodpile into a home's structure.
The rule of thumb is to keep firewood at least 5 feet from your home's exterior. If that's not practical, store a small working stack close to the door and keep the main supply further away. Close enough to be convenient, far enough to be safe.
Garage or Covered Shed: The Best Option If You Have It
A garage or covered shed offers the ideal storage environment: protection from rain and direct humidity, good temperature stability, and built-in airflow if the space has ventilation. Firewood stored in a proper shed will maintain its moisture content almost indefinitely.
If you're storing wood in a garage, the same principles apply — elevated off the concrete floor (concrete wicks moisture), away from walls, and in a spot where air can move around the pile. Don't stack it too deep; a stack that's two feet wide or less is ideal for airflow.
One Atlanta-specific note: be mindful of bringing large quantities of wood into a fully enclosed garage if you've had any previous pest issues. A sealed space with firewood is a comfortable environment for insects to establish themselves.
How Long Can You Store Firewood in Atlanta?
Kiln-dried firewood stored properly — elevated, covered on top, with good airflow — will remain in excellent condition for one to two fire seasons. If you're storing it outside in Atlanta's climate, aim to use it within 12 months of delivery for optimal performance. After 12–18 months of outdoor storage, even well-managed wood will begin to show minor quality degradation.
Green or partially seasoned wood is a different story — it continues to dry (if properly stored) and shouldn't be burned until it reaches the right moisture level. But if you're buying from Retro Firewood, this isn't a consideration you need to make. The wood is ready to burn when it arrives.
What to Do With the Bottom of the Stack
The bottom layer of any firewood pile takes the most abuse — it's closest to the ground, gets the least airflow, and accumulates the most moisture. Here's how to manage it:
Keep an eye on the bottom row. If you notice the bark on bottom logs starting to feel soft, crumbling, or showing signs of mold, those logs have taken on moisture. Use them first — if they're only slightly damp, a fire that's already going strong will dry them out once they're on. If they've progressed to visible rot or are actively moldy, remove them from the pile.
When taking wood to use, work from the top and sides of the pile rather than digging into the bottom. The top logs, which have had the best airflow and the least ground exposure, are typically the driest.
Stacking: The Right Way vs. The Lazy Way
The way you stack firewood affects how well it stores. A few principles worth following:
Log-cabin style stacks are the most stable. Alternating logs 90 degrees on each layer creates a self-supporting structure that doesn't lean or topple. This is especially important in Atlanta where summer storms can hit a woodpile with real force.
Don't stack too tall. A stack higher than four feet becomes unstable and is difficult to access safely. For most Atlanta homes, a standard firewood rack holds a cord or partial cord at a manageable height.
Leave a small gap between the wall (if wall-stacked) and the logs. If you're stacking against a fence or outbuilding wall, a two-inch gap between the wall and the back of the pile allows air to move through.
Bark side up on the top layer. If you're not using a cover, orient the top layer with bark facing up — bark is naturally water-resistant and will shed rain better than exposed wood grain.
The Short Version
Store your firewood elevated off the ground, covered on top but open on the sides, and at least five feet from your home's exterior. In Atlanta's humid climate, these three things are the difference between dry wood that burns beautifully and wood that fights you every time you try to light it.
Retro Firewood delivers every rack pre-stacked in Atlanta — which means you start in the right position from the moment it arrives. Your only job is keeping it that way.
Ready to Order?
We deliver kiln-dried oak, hickory, and cherry firewood throughout Atlanta, Buckhead, Alpharetta, Marietta, Roswell, and the North Georgia mountains — free delivery, pre-stacked exactly where you want it.
- Oak — $225/rack. The steady, reliable burn. Long-lasting, mild aroma, consistent heat.
- Hickory — $250/rack. The powerhouse. Hotter and longer than almost any hardwood.
- Cherry — $275/rack. The atmosphere wood. Beautiful flame, warm glow, mild sweet aroma.