Beta Beta — hiring neighbors on Papalocal is new; what you see here is real, and it's still growing.
Firewood stacking Beta
When the firewood load lands in your driveway, a neighbor carries it and stacks it neatly where you want it, off the ground and ready for winter.
- How often
- Fall
- Where the work happens
- Outdoors
- Who it suits
- Often a good fit for a responsible teen
These open your Papalocal account. You'll be asked to log in or sign up first.
A firewood delivery usually arrives as a heap on the driveway, and someone has to move every piece. Firewood stacking means carrying or wheeling it to the rack, shed or side yard, stacking it tight and level so it dries and does not topple, and raking up the bark left behind.
Wood-stove and fireplace owners, people who just had a tree taken down and split, and anyone who cannot spend an afternoon lifting want the help. It usually comes once in the fall and sometimes again in midwinter.
It is honest physical work that a strong teen with a parent's okay can do well, and a neighbor can come the same day the wood is dropped instead of letting it sit.
Also called: firewood stacking service, stack my firewood, wood stacking help, stack a cord of wood, move firewood to the shed, split wood stacking.
What's usually included
- Moving wood from the delivery pile to where it will be stacked
- Stacking on a rack, pallets or rails so it sits off the ground
- Building a tight, level, stable stack
- Bringing a smaller supply up to the porch or by the back door
- Covering the top, if you want it covered
- Raking up bark and chips from the drop spot
What to ask before you hire
- How much wood, and where exactly should it go?
- Is there a rack or pallets, or should they build a base?
- Do you want a small supply by the door?
- Is there a wheelbarrow or garden cart they can use?
- Should the top be covered with a tarp or left open?
Staying safe
- Wear thick gloves, since split wood throws splinters and woodpiles can hide spiders, wasps and the occasional snake.
- Lift with your legs and carry loads small enough to see over.
- Ask the owner where the stack goes, and do not lean it against the siding.
- Stop building once a stack gets tall enough to tip, and start a second row instead.
Firewood stacking by town
Questions people ask
Why does firewood need to be stacked off the ground?
Wood sitting on dirt pulls up moisture, rots and draws bugs. A rack, pallets or a pair of rails let air move underneath.
How long does it take to stack a delivery?
It depends on how much wood there is and how far it has to go. Ask the neighbor to look at the pile and the spot and give you an estimate before starting.
Can a teen stack firewood for us?
Yes, it is good outdoor work for a teen with a parent's okay. Splitting with an axe or running a log splitter is a different job and belongs with an adult.
Should the woodpile be covered?
Many people cover only the top so rain stays off while air still moves through the sides. Wrapping the whole stack can trap moisture.
Thinking of offering this yourself?
- Thick work gloves, a wheelbarrow or garden cart, sturdy boots and a strong back are the whole toolkit.
- Stack bark side up on top, criss-cross the ends so they stay put, and always keep the stack off the bare ground.
- Price by the load or the hour depending on how far the wood has to travel, and ask neighbors what they would expect to pay for an afternoon of carrying.
- Customers who burn wood get a delivery every fall, so ask when the next one is coming.
- Leave the drop spot cleaner than you found it.
