Lighting the fire on a cold evening is one of life’s simple pleasures, but not all firewood burns the same. The type of wood, its moisture content, and even how you store it all affect how efficiently your fire burns.
At McAuley’s, we supply premium kiln-dried and seasoned firewood across Northern Ireland, helping homes and businesses enjoy clean, efficient, and sustainable heat. Here’s what to know when buying and storing firewood this season.
1. Kiln-Dried vs. Seasoned Firewood – What’s the Difference?
Both types will heat your home, but there’s a big difference in performance:
Kiln-dried firewood is dried in controlled conditions to under 20% moisture content. It lights easily, burns hotter, and produces very little smoke or residue — ideal for wood-burning stoves and pizza ovens.
Seasoned firewood is air-dried naturally over time. It’s more affordable, still efficient, and perfect for open fires or mixing with kiln-dried logs.
If you want instant, high-efficiency heat, kiln-dried logs are the best choice.
2. Hardwood or Softwood – Which Is Better?
Hardwoods like ash, oak, and beech are denser and burn longer, giving off more heat — perfect for steady, all-night fires.
Softwoods such as spruce and pine ignite quickly and are great for kindling or shorter fires.
At McAuley’s, we supply a premium hardwood mix, sourced sustainably through our own tree surgery work — no additional trees are cut just for firewood.
3. How to Store Firewood Properly
Even the best logs need proper storage to stay dry and ready to burn. Follow these tips:
Store your wood off the ground to prevent moisture absorption.
Keep it covered on top, but allow air to circulate from the sides.
Stack neatly in a well-ventilated, sheltered spot — a woodshed or covered area works best.
Avoid plastic covers that trap moisture.
With proper storage, your firewood will stay dry, light easily, and last all winter long.
4. Buy Local, Burn Better
When you buy from McAuley’s Firewood, you’re choosing sustainably sourced, locally grown logs from trusted professionals. All wood is processed and kiln-dried right here in Northern Ireland, ensuring quality, consistency, and minimal environmental impact.
Whether you’re heating your home or firing up the pizza oven, our kiln-dried and seasoned firewood delivers dependable warmth you can feel good about.
