Thread: Storing the stash outside...protecting it?

Ev, I think you'd be well advised to seal the ends as well- it can't hurt. Plastic that is not black would be my preference if it gets any sun, and perhaps build up a secondary layer of shade cloth (thicker the better) with a decent air gap to the main stash.

Maybe spray the stack with surface spray to keep unfriendlies away. I used spray from Aldi which was as I recall about $4 per tall (black) can.

Other than that, you already know that it'll be a royal PITA

You could always individually wrap each piece in plastic.....

Its all good stuff. Not exactly zebrano or ebony, but good enough to look after.

My BIL is a bug dude, so he has a Wagon Full Of Death I can utilise.

OK, some non-black plastic, so think shade cloth. All very doable.

I'll grab a can of end sealer from Monaro Timber too. They sell the goop everyone here talks about (name defies me ATM). I have an old deep fry pan full of wax did all the logs with that... not a single crack AT ALL! Magic

Keep it up off the ground on bearers that are level and spaced under your stickers, and have enough daylight under the stack that you can spray the bearers regularly to keep termites out.

On the top of your stack put another row of bearers lined up with the stickers... 4 to 6" high (but more is better). Then cap the stack off with a bit of old roofing iron and put weights on top to hold the iron down. Ideally those top bearers and the iron should extend out from the stack enough to protect it a little but don't fret too much.

The top row of bearers allows airflow between the timber and the cover sheet (be it iron or plastic)... no air flow there puts too much heat into the top of the stack with resulting problems. Don't worry about the sides of the stack weathering or getting wet, but if you overdry a stack of timber by getting too much heat into it you're creating problems for yourself later... case hardening, collapse etc

any room left under your house ?

I've attempted such temporary sort of shelters in the past and they've always stuffed up in some way. And it makes the place look like its owned by white trash. Not that I have a problem with being white trash. Probably am white trash. Truth is I don't really know what it means…so no offence to those who proudly see themselves as white trash ok.

In any case ruff setups like that make the back yard look like a tip, and I don't live alone.

Mostly summer reveals the problems……. intense midday heat cracking boards.
storms coming through throwing coverings everywhere.

…maybe cover with plastic, and when it rains, the plastic sags and water finds its way in. Water and heat in there means mould starts up before I know it.

and then theres often poor accessibility with ruff setups, which defeats the purpose of keeping any of it. Because then its gets lost and forgotten.

Try and do it properly. maybe Cemented poles to a high ceiling (plenty of ventilation to off dust and heat) beams and lots of corro iron.

just an opinion. I'm not an expert covering expert. 5cents worth.

I've got a bit under the house (pretty easy to get to, but not too practical as the ground to floor gap is only about 70cm).

I've also had a 6x7m carport added to the front of the shed. I've found the rafters of it to be a very handy place to store boards. I was worried about it getting too hot up there (its very close to the colorbond roof), but its gone through 2 summers without any damage that I can see. Fingers crossed....

Long term I plan to build a timber rack down the side of the shed and put a skillion roof over it (from the shed to the fence).

Nathan.

Rain isn't the problem, it will dry off if they boards are stickered well, sun can be harsh on some timbers, even one day can cause cracking so protection from sun is key.
So choose a shady area, place bearers so the boards are on a level base, if they are prone to white ants, treat the ground under the bearers.
Each layer should be stickered to allow air flow ,even for dry timber, otherwise if if they get wet they will end to go mouldy or rot where timbers touch.

Black plastic is OK, but is easily holed and an lets water onto the stack, use two layers. Corrugated iron is best, but leave a gap of around 50-100mm using old boards on top above the top good board to allow heat out, leaves are bad as they remain wet and can cause rot within a year or two, so clean them away every 6 months or so.
After 2-3 years, check the stack to see if water is pooling anywhere.
Regards
Greg

Originally Posted by Greg Ward

Rain isn't the problem, it will dry off if they boards are stickered well, sun can be harsh on some timbers, even one day can cause cracking so protection from sun is key.
So choose a shady area, place bearers so the boards are on a level base, if they are prone to white ants, treat the ground under the bearers.
Each layer should be stickered to allow air flow ,even for dry timber, otherwise if if they get wet they will end to go mouldy or rot where timbers touch.

Black plastic is OK, but is easily holed and an lets water onto the stack, use two layers. Corrugated iron is best, but leave a gap of around 50-100mm using old boards on top above the top good board to allow heat out, leaves are bad as they remain wet and can cause rot within a year or two, so clean them away every 6 months or so.
After 2-3 years, check the stack to see if water is pooling anywhere.
Regards
Greg

Great advice, thanks Greg.

With your recommendation of corrugated iron, I assume that my method of storing boards in the rafters of the carport is ok? They are at least 100mm from the Colorbond roof. So direct sunlight, rather than heat is bad for timber?


Thanks for the tips!


Nathan.