How to Stack Logs

I take a perverse pleasure in everything involved in getting ready for winter, chopping the logs and cutting kindling and then waiting for the first night that is cold enough to justify lighting a fire. Here in Dorset the nights are beginning to get colder and another job on the list is stacking my firewood to make sure it is ready for the fire. 

Firewood just dumped in a heap will not dry and does not burn well.

There is nothing more disappointing than getting a fire going and having it go out. Or worse still creating a smoky smelly fire without any heat, all because of damp logs. Ordering firewood is something owners of log burners and fireplaces are used to, but if it isn't then properly stacked to air and dry, your fire will end in disaster. 

A Pile of Logs Will Not Dry

1. Choose A log Store with Care There are lots of log stores to choose from and inevitably the amount of space you have available will be a determining factor and taking time to consider your purchase will pay dividends. Here at Dorset Log Stores we have a range of log stores of all different sizes and designs to fit into any garden. 
2. Think about where your log store is located To ensure good air flow, your log store should ideally be sited on a concrete or gravel base, avoiding soil and grass. Standing away from walls and garden buildings will further ensure the air can move freely and maximise the drying of your firewood. Exposure to a sunny aspect is always preferable and will also help dry any moist or unseasoned logs. Visit our info page for more advice.
3. Stack logs with maximum ventilation Apart from looking tidy, stacking your logs in neat rows allows you to take advantage of all the space available and more importantly, allows air to circulate enabling logs to dry and season. To ensure proper drying, ventilation is key and our log stores have a ¾" (19mm) gap between each board to ensure an adequate airflow, to remove the moisture from your logs in the shortest possible period. It is always interesting to see how heavy the logs are when they first arrive and how light they have become after they have been seasoned.
4. Be safe When stacking your log store think about protecting your hands from splinters by wearing gloves, and squashed toes by wearing sturdy footwear. To ensure your log pile remains stable, do not stack too high and do not leave spaces large enough for children or pets to crawl between.

The Melbury Log Store

For more information on our log stores, you can leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of the Dorset Log Stores team. 


Thanks for Reading
James

Please Leave Safe

Do you get that sinking feeling when you go to your post box and find that little card from the courier or postie saying that your parcel has been 'left safe' or worse still "undelivered". It's always the same, you pop out for a few minutes to the shop or to walk the dog and that the exact moment they choose to make the delivery. 

Whilst delivery drivers try to find ingenious ways to deliver when we are out, including leaving in the recycling bin, under the wheelbarrow or with a well intentioned neighbour, there is still the frustrated feeling when you can't just come home to find your goods have been safely delivered. 

The Parcel Delivery Hut

I am loathe to mention that Christmas is fast approaching and already the tins of chocolates and seasons greetings cards are beginning to appear on the supermarket shelves, but the reality is that more of us are shopping on-line and will be receiving our shopping by mail this year. If you don't want soggy parcels or to chase around the neighbourhood then Dorset Log Stores have the answer. The Parcel Delivery Hut means never having to wait-in again!

iBin for Parcel Storage

Built to our high standards with quality tanilith-e treated timbers and with either a locking latch or a combination bolt, the parcel delivery hut is a stylish and robust weatherproof store. Supply the courier with the code for the combination bolt and it means that multiple deliveries can be made all day to your Parcel House whilst you are out. 

If you feel like you don't have room for a Parcel Delivery Hut but you still need something that will take care of the 'leave-safe' criteria. Made in the UK, the iBin is 16" x 16" x 28" (h), a lockable tough metal box in a range of colour options. If a signature is required, the iBin has a unique label affixed to the underside of the lid which is accepted as a delivery signature when scanned by the courier.

Once installed, both items offer you a complete solution for all your future home deliveries. Of course if these parcel delivery boxes are too large then perhaps a post box would be more suitable?

For more information on our post and parcel boxes you can leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team. 


Thanks for Reading
James

Recycle Rubbish Rugby

The Rugby World Cup can mean only one thing for some households, having a few mates round and watching the matches. It certainly will in my home. The downside of having all these people around is that there is always plenty of cans and bottles for the recycling (especially if England is winning). 

Having traipsed the wheelie bin down the drive a few times only to find that everyone else seems to be putting out their food waste happens to me more often than you'd think. With handy painted reversible wooden signs on hand to help those mornings where your head is a little more delicate and avoid ending up in the "Sin Bin" with your local authority. 

"Tackling" the fortnightly glass recycling box can be a messy business, especially at this time of year when it can be raining, making carrying it tricky, especially if you are dressed for work. A recycling box store help keeps everything dry and tidy. A removable mid-shelf makes this versatile store useful for two standard size recycling boxes or a mix of the food waste caddy or general paper recycling.

If you’re fed up with the sight of the ugly wheelie bins standing like sentries in the garden, or if you found the bins getting smelly in the hot weather over the summer, check out the full range of our wheelie bin recycling stores.  Each is made to suit the standard 140 or 240 litre bins, or as a combination of wheelie bins and recycling boxes.   

Single Recycling Store

Built in our Dorset workshop, the Dorset Log Stores’ Wheelie Bins are constructed from thick pressure treated Scandinavian redwood timber and are guaranteed for 15 years against fungal attack and rot, so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy six weeks of rugby.  For more information on our stores for sorting out your recycling you can leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team. 


Thanks for Reading
James

Preparing Your Log Store for Winter

As the nights draw in and the evening and early morning temperatures drop, my thoughts turn to topping up my supply of logs, ready for the winter fires and I find myself looking forward once again to the sound of crackling logs and toasty toes.

That said, last year I experienced wasps in the house in December and was horrified to find the incident was repeated a few days later. My discovery was linked to the sleepy creatures hiding out in the log shed. I had neglected to clear it completely the previous year and the dry, split, well seasoned logs were obviously a luxury hibernation location.

Whilst all our log stores are made of Swedish Redwood treated against fungal and insect attack by the Tanalith-E® process (pressure treatment), insects will always make a winter home in a lovely dry environment. Even with a love of insects, I could easily have been stung while sorting and carrying the logs, so this year I will not be making that mistake again!

Okeford Log Store with a Tiled Roof

Using the late summer sunshine, now is the perfect time to clear out your log store before the winter delivery of logs arrives. If possible, it's best to empty the store completely and give all the surfaces a brush to remove any cobwebs, leaves and sleeping insects before stocking up.

The main advantage of clearing the log store and re-stacking the logs is to free up the ventilation again so that air can once again circulate. Wet timber won't burn well in your fireplace, the energy produced will boil off the water from the logs rather than heat your home and more importantly unseasoned logs can clog up your chimney with  soot and could lead to chimney fires. To aid the drying process Dorset Log Stores have a ¾ inch gap between each board to ensure an adequate airflow to remove the moisture from your logs in the shortest possible period. 

Other basic tips to ensure the wood is dry while preparing your logs for storage:

1. Use the summer sun and warm days to your advantage, get your log delivery or chopping logs on a dry day.
2. Chop or split your logs into smaller pieces to increase the surface area - see our 'How to Chop a Log' guide.
3. Use a purpose built log store with good circulation to keep your logs off the ground and to dry them quicker.
4. Position the log store away from walls to avoid damp and in a sunny aspect if possible.
5. Cover exposed logs in case of driving rain or snow.

For more information about the construction of our log stores and visit Dorset Log Stores or give us a call on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team. 

Thanks for Reading
James

10 Top Tips for Creating a Romantic Fireplace

There is nothing more lovely to us at Dorset Log Stores than the crackling sound of logs burning on an open fire or in a log burner. I've watched enough movies and television to know that there is an element of romance in a roaring fire, whether in the home or snuggled in the corner of a pub or restaurant.

A Roaring Fire for a Night of Romance

The reality, however, is that any home owner needs to take a more pragmatic approach to create this illusion for oneself. Especially when it comes to thinking of safety too, fires are hot remember. The surrounding area must be free from flammables and the fire itself should have a clean hearth and a fireguard always helps prevent burnt toes (and other parts). 

Nevertheless a romantic ambience can still be achieved depending on your required style and here at Dorset Log Stores we can help you to create the romance with our gorgeous and stylish fireside accessories, buckets and baskets.  

1. Make sure your fireside tools are readily to hand. Companion sets are a great way to save space.  A small shovel for clearing the ashes and a brush for keeping the area tidy compliment the necessary and practical tongs and poker. You don't want your fire to go out mid-romance.
2. Think about what colour scheme would suit your room. Perhaps you have a particular colour or style of door handles, light fittings or other accessories in the room that you wish to match up with. Would brushed steel, wooden or black metal look best with the room? Choose the one that will look the best.
3. Choose carefully. Dependent on the amount and shape of space you have available choose an appropriate log basket. You don't want a huge log basket next to a little fire.
4. What is your fuel of choice?  Will you be burning logs that will sit comfortably in a basket or would a coal scuttle be more appropriate?
5. Will you need a bucket?  Emptying the ash from the hearth is a regular job so it is handy to keep a bucket near by.  Dorset Log Stores have buckets of varying shapes and types from small enamel buckets to more sizeable polished brass and copper scuttle shapes for keeping the fireside clean and tidy.
6. Topping up Kindling needn't be a chore.  Stylish boxes and baskets compliment any fireplace and make useful access to kindling, fire lighters and paper. Don't let lighting the fire become a chore and ruin the mood.
7. Matches don't have to be in a tatty box. Match holders are available in various finishes and keep your matches safe and dry and look great. Equally you wont have to annoyingly hunt for the "special place" you last left them to keep them safe.
8. What type of basket?  Aside from the shape and size, baskets take on a slightly different style based on their material, willow, ash, wicker, rattan, wrought iron or even brass effect. Either way be sure to select a log basket that matches the room.
9. You'll need a fire guard.  From spitting logs to bedtime routines, an open fire should never be left alone without a guard. Having one in place all the time is usually a good idea. Avoiding singed toes (and more important other parts) is always important. 
10. Are your logs dry?  Having a log store close to the house is the most convenient way of storing your fuel. Wet logs are not going to light and soon your whole evening of romance will be ruined. 
    
    

    

    Dorset Log Stores range of Log Stores

Asking our Dorset Log Stores' Team for their most popular romantic tip, they agree that lighting a fragrant candle or oil burner will cover up the smoky smell of a newly lit fire and makes a lovely addition to any evening, romantic or otherwise! 

If you have your own romantic tip for a roaring fire why not share it in the comments below, or if you have a question about our range of log stores and fireside accessories you can phone on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team. 

Thanks for Reading
James

How to sweep a chimney

Although winter is still some way off, the days are starting to get shorter and have reminded us that soon we will be wanting to light the fire of an eveing. Our previous blog 'Chimney Sweeping - Why Do I Need To Sweep My Chimney'  showed why it is important to sweep your chimney and this week we are going to give a rough guide on how to do it.  

If you have ever watched a chimney sweep in action, aside from Bert from Mary Poppins, you will realize that being prepared and having everything you need before you start is the key to getting the job done. An annual sweep is usually within the capabilities of most DIYers and should be done prior to lighting your fire for the first time that season.

How to Sweep Your Chimney

The following is a guide to How To Sweep Your Chimney:

1.  Prepare everything you need in advance, this may involve shopping for some of the more specific tools.

An Emptied Chimney Flew

• A Chimney brush - there are many types of brush on the market both wire and plastic available in a variety of shapes and sizes and you will need to buy the right size to match your chimney. Measuring the sides of the chimney from the bottom will help you make this decision. 
• Brush rods, extension pipes or weighted rope - Depending on the method of cleaning (see below) bottom up or top down. You may need to estimate the height of the chimney, in this case it is best to over-estimate.
• Stiff wire brush - A small hand held brush, used for DIY tasks.
• Tarpaulin, blanket or dust sheet - to cover furnishings and floor.
• Dustpan, Brush & Metal Bucket - to collect the debris.
• Torch
• Gloves, dust mask and goggles - Long rubber gloves will suffice.
• Ladder - if using the top down method.

2. Before you begin.

• Prepare your house - Cover all nearby furnishings with your dust sheets.
• Dress in appropriate clothing as this can be a messy job.
• Check for animals - Using your torch, look up the chimney to check for birds or squirrels that may be lodged there.
• Remove the damper - Usually a wiggle is all that is required. Brush with wire brush and set aside.

3.  Decide which method of Chimney Sweeping works best for your situation.

• Bottom up - Rod up. 

Working from the fireplace opening inside the house. Assemble the brush and one section of pipe. Attach the first piece of pipe to the brush. Insert the brush into the chimney through the fireplace. Use slow and gentle up and down motions to scrub the chimney/flue clean. Add another section of pipe to enable you to extend the brush further up the chimney. Continue until the brush feels no resistance or pops out the top.

• Top Down - Rod Down

This method requires that you be on the roof and access the chimney from the exterior. The first piece of pipe is attached to the brush and inserted into the chimney, using the same technique as above. The benefit of this method is that the open fireplace can be screened off with tarpaulin and tape so dust inside the home is kept to a minimum. Care needs to be taken while working at height.

• Top Down - Rope and Weight

This method also requires you to be on the roof but there are no rods or extensions involved. Instead a weighted brush is attached to a rope and lowered into the chimney, pulling and lowering to gently scrub the chimney.

A Roaring Fire

• Top Down - Pulley / Dual Line System

This method requires two people, a brush and two lengths of rope. One person takes the brush and rope on to the roof and lowers it into the chimney, the 2nd person grabs the rope from the fireplace inside the house and each takes it in turn to pull the brush up and down the chimney. The downside to this method is that the fireplace is open and can be messy.

4.  Finish the Job

The grate and lower portion of the chimney will benefit from a brush. A final sweep with the dustpan and brush or even a vacuum to ensure all debris has been removed will leave the fire ready for use.  

After all this effort you want to make sure that the fireplace is looking its best. Dorset Log Stores offer a great range of fireside accessories to suit open fires and log burners. Of course now is the time to order in your logs before the rush and we have an excellent range of log stores to store your winter firewood and kindling in as well as a stylish range of log baskets for inside the house.

If you have any questions about our log stores, why not give us a call on 01300 345916 to talk to a member of the Dorset Log Stores team. 

Thanks for Reading

James 

Garden Stores for the Allotment

The Sentry Box with removable shelf

It is usually at this time of the year that I find myself making daily trips to the allotment to keep up with the watering and the bean picking. August is always the month where I find little time to do all the jobs necessary, but "grow" increasingly aware that the days are beginning to get shorter and the evening require a jumper. But still I cannot resist staying out just a little bit longer, planning and scheming for the winter.

Storage has always been a problem at the allotment, the kids have their spare wellies here and there is a growing collection of garden tools that need to be kept safe, out of the weather and locked away. As with many Council run allotments, there are rules about sheds and what is allowed, most councils will only accept structures which can later be removed.  

The Dorset Log Stores range of garden storage ideas is of increasing interest to gardeners and allotment owners.  Built for a tough life outdoors, our range of Garden Stores offer a durable and stylish solution for the garden or allotment.

The Sentry Box is our most popular garden tool store. This stylish store is approximately 6ft tall by 2ft wide and the removable internal shelf makes this a flexible space for storing a range of tools and gardening items. The secure lockable hasp and staple make this a strong safe store for keeping all your important tools, boots and bits-n-bobs in. 

Garden Store for the small space

For the smaller space the Short Garden Store, at a compact 4ft, 6in high by 5ft wide, is perfect for small gardens or allotments. The cupboard with a movable shelf is perfect for storing tools and the open space is useful for storing garden chairs, pots or winter logs. A taller version is available standing at 6ft high and has space for everything from even the most clutter filled garden.

To find out more about our range of Garden Stores, call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team or leave a comment below.


Thanks for Reading
James

Fire Pits and Chimeneas in the Garden

There is much to be said about a gas heater in the garden to keep warm when the sun goes down but for us at Dorset Log Stores, we prefer to use real wood to create the camp-fire ambience that draws guests to an intimate surrounding. It appears we are not alone, fire pits and chimeneas are becoming ever popular, and often felt to be safer than the traditional bonfire which may spread in dry weather.

Open fire roasting

The various designs involve everything from a moveable burner to a more permanent home-built affair and can create an atmospheric focal area for socialising outside, especially when it is just too nice an evening to be indoors. Plus there is something hugely satisfying about poking the fire with a stick, in a caveman kind of way. It can also be tempting to roast a few marshmallows or toast some bread over an open fire and our open fire roasting tool set is ideal for this. Created from wrought iron, the tools are designed for the outdoors and have long handles to avoid burnt fingers, in the quest for the sweet smoked taste of a fire cooked burger!

Sometimes it can be frustrating when the fire won’t light but if you follow our tips for lighting a BBQ in our earlier post, you should have not any need of accelerants. Of course it helps if the logs that you are burning are dry! Dorset Log Stores provide a vast array of quality purpose and custom built log stores to help you with the storage of wood for seasoning. For a full guide to the types of wood and how they burn, check out our wood burning guide to help you decide which to burn outside and which to keep in reserve for the cold winter ahead.

Okeford Log Store

If you have any questions about the log stores that we make, why not leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team. 


Thanks for reading
James

Simple BBQ recipes

As barbecues can sometimes be a little impromptu, we have prepared our favourite, simple recipes that don't require a special trip to the shop or any fancy cooking skills!

Check out our previous blog for the Dorset Log Stores’ top 10 BBQ tips.

Image via Shutterstock

Simple Marinade

You can make a marinade out of any flavours you like, from curried, to hot chilli, lime to BBQ. Here is our quick marinade that uses many kitchen staples and is good for most meat and fish

You will need:

1/3 cup Soy Sauce

2-3 tablespoons Honey

1 ½ teaspoons Ground or 2 tablespoons of grated ginger

1 Garlic clove or 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder

1 large or 2 small Onions, finely chopped

2-3 tablespoons white vinegar or sherry

½ cup vegetable oil 

Ground black pepper

Method:

Just mix it all up together! Add meat or vegetables and marinade in fridge overnight.

This makes an ideal marinade on its own or you can add chillies to heat it up a bit! Try adding lime for fish or replace the white vinegar with apple cider for pork! Works best if you can marinade for 4 hours or more.

Barbecued Dessert

No matter what age you are, the following is a very simple recipe that is fun to make and perfect for BBQs.

You will need:
Silver foil
Bananas
Mars Bar or similar

Method:
Peel a banana, slice in half lengthways. Cut a Mars Bar into chunks and insert between the two halves of the banana. Wrap the whole thing in silver foil, ensuring that there are no open edges. Place on BBQ once all meat and veg have been cooked and leave on the low heat for about 15-20 mins. Serve straight from the foil or top with cream, crème fraiche, or ice cream. Enjoy!
We know how the British weather can have it's own plan, so be prepared with our range of wellie boot stands and stores. Many a time my dad has stood out in the rain under his umbrella faithfully barbecuing, while the family sat safe and dry inside.  

With the with the promise of hottest summer on record, we are thinking it should be safe to put the wellies away and get the BBQ out. 

Wellie Boot Store

Let us know your BBQ recipe ideas in the comments below. If you have any questions about our log stores you can call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our Dorset Log Stores' team.


Thanks for reading.
James

10 Tips for the Perfect Barbecue!

The sun is out and so is the barbecue! Here are Dorset Log Stores’ top 10 barbecue tips to make sure your guests have a great time and you enjoy it too!

Little Okeford Log Store

1. Site your barbecue on a level surface, up wind to avoid smoke and any hot ash causing problems.  Ideally, you want to have a couple of items on the barbecue by the time your guests arrive to get those lovely cooking smells creating ambiance as against the smoky fumes of a newly lit barbecue. To do this though, allow plenty of time, you are looking to have white hot coals not flames! 
2. Ensure your barbecue coals are dry.  There are plenty of gas barbecues on the market but in our opinion, it has to be charcoal – How else do you get that lovely smoky flavour? For the best flavour and about an hours burning use lump wood charcoal. To give that extra special flavour, consider adding Apple, Oak, or Chicory wood chips to your BBQ.  Keep everything dry and to hand with our Little Okeford Log Store which will fit nicely into most gardens. A great way to keep the barbecue items together in the summer and the perfect log or wellie boot store in the winter.
3. Light your barbecue in advance of your guests arriving.  Fire lighters have their place but you don’t want the taste of accelerators in your food! Be patient and make sure you have the following to hand: several pages of newspaper, kindling, long matches or gas lighter and dry charcoal. Scrunch up the newspaper, and top with a handful of dry kindling and a few chunks of charcoal. Carefully light the paper and wait for the flame. Once the wood kindling is well alight, add some more charcoal. You will probably have to wait for about 20 minutes until the flames die down and the charcoals begin producing even heat.
4. Get the tools ready.  How often have you dropped a sausage down the grills into the coals? Our recommendation is to make sure you have a good set of tongs, a fish-slice (not plastic) and an oven glove or thick tea-towel. Having foil dishes and plates to hand is a good idea too.
5. Prepare everything in advance, as much as you can.  Nothing worse than facing a whole load of washing up when your guests have gone. You want to enjoy your evening as much as they do. Prepare your meats as soon as you can, marinade for a few hours or ideally in the fridge overnight. Prepare your side dishes, drinks and desserts in advance. 
6. Stay with your BBQ.  Work out how to organise your workspace – keep raw food separate from cooked food and ensure you have enough space to work so you can stay with your BBQ. 
7. Use basic ingredients.  Now is the time of the year that vegetables and fruit are in abundance try some corn on the cob on the BBQ, or involve your younger guests in creating fun kebabs using colourful tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and peppers or perhaps some fruit as a dessert.  Do wash your fruit and veg especially if your are cooking with the skins on.  
8. Add seasoning.  Don’t forget to add seasoning, salt and pepper or better still, marinade meats such as chicken and fish the night before. Maybe have a go at making your own burgers – it’s fun and easy and you can add any seasoning you wish! If there’s no time to marinade in advance, all is not lost – brush with your chosen marinade as you cook! 
9. Temperature Control.  To begin with it is likely that the barbecue will be screaming hot! To help yourself with temperature control, you might like to move most of the coals to one side, making a ‘hot’ cooking side, with the other side being cooler and suited to the lower temperature cooking. Another great tip to avoid under cooking is to make sure you take your meats out of the fridge about 20 mins before cooking to allow them to be a room temperature and cook evenly. 
10. Test and Rest.  Cremating sausages and poisoning your friends is not what you want from your entertainment experience so it is always good to slice your meats to test for readiness. You are looking for the juices to run clear and for there to be no pink bits. For fish, press with a fork, if the flesh comes apart, it’s done! To keep things warm and moist place on a foil tray and cover in foil.

Most of all, whether you are having a barbecue, a BBQ or a barbeque, enjoy yourself!

High Wootton Log Store

If you have any questions about our garden stores, why not leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916 to speak to a member of our team.

Thanks for Reading
James

May Day, A Garden Spring Clean and a Hedgehog

May Day Bank Holiday always provides the perfect opportunity to get out into the garden and have a really good tidy up. With all the April showers everything is a luscious green, the grass is just the right length to get your first decent mow on it and you have three whole days to potter to and fro among the flowerbeds.

My Recycling Store

A little job I always like to get done over the May Day Bank Holiday is to clear out the log store and give it a real good tidy. All of our log stores here at Dorset Log Stores are made from Tanalith-E pressure treated timbers, which puts them good against fungus and rot for up to fifteen years, but to keep my log store in tip-top condition and to make sure I get the most from my firewood, I like to empty any remaining firewood out, and give the whole log store a real good sweep out.

Never having been a fan of being too cold, my fire place has been roaring all winter long and my fire poker has seen so much use it has nearly worn down to a fire nub and my log store is nearly empty. Giving my log store a clean out now and re-stacking my fire wood will mean that when I order in my logs for next winter, which I always like to do during summer, they are nicely seasoned for when Jack Frost a comes knocking at my door.

You might be asking where the hedgehog comes into this garden spring clean that  I have so carefully planned for May Day Bank Holiday? Well the other night I happened to spy a prickly pal making his way into a gap between the logs that are currently stacked up nicely. I think he has made a little home in there so I will carefully, this weekend, so as not to scare him/her, be making a little hedgehog house next to my recycling store over by the compost heap and then transferring said "hodgeheg" to it's new home.

May Day Bank Holiday provides an ideal opportunity to get out in the garden and if you have a list of little jobs you want to get done, now is a great time to get your log store all ready for whatever the weather might throw at us over the next 8 months, whether it's logs for your chimenea on lazy warm summer evenings or keeping toes warm come November.

If you have any questions about our log stores why not leave a comment below or call us on 01300 345916


Thanks for Reading
James

Chimney Sweeping - Why do I need to Sweep my Chimney

Here at Dorset Log Stores we love a good fire. Crackling logs from the log store. The lumping sound of coal in the bucket. The log burner going in the winter, the chiminea in the summer and a barbecue any time we can find an excuse to. However, after a winter of roaring fires and toasty toes one thing you will need to look at is sweeping your chimney.

But why do you need to get your chimney swept? Well there are a few reasons as to why it is important.

Some Very Grand Chimneys

1. Chimneys need a free flow of air through them to allow the gasses released when wood is burnt, to escape. If the chimney is blocked then these gasses can cause health issues through you breathing them in as they build up in your home. 
2. Burning fires leads to an accumulation of soot and creosote, which is sticky and flammable. Chimney fires can cause property damage, crack chimney pots and in the worst cases burn down your house. 
3. Every time the fire burns, soot builds up in the chimney. Sometimes this can cause a plug, meaning the smoke has nowhere to escape but back out into your home, causing smoke damage to your property and great discomfort to yourself. 

How often you sweep your chimney depends on how often you have your fire burning, what sort of of fuel you are burning. However giving it a good clean out before and after the cold months of winter when it has been in most use, is usually enough.

Dorset Log Stores has a range of log stores and fireside accessories to keep your fire burning brightly all through the winter. 

Next time the blog will look at some hints and tips on sweeping your chimney and if you have any questions about our log stores, why not give us a call on 01300 345916 to talk to a member of our team. 

Thanks for Reading

James 

The Dorset Log Stores Shop

It's cold, It's wet and it's miserable. It is February I suppose, you expect a little wind and rain in February. Only a little mind you. Although if you ask me, it seems here in Dorset we seem to be getting a little more than our fair share of the rain and the cold.

Luckily inside the Dorset Log Stores Shop, with a roaring log burner and a nice cup of coffee, there could be penguins walking past the window for all the difference it would make. In fact on cold days like this, when the wind is howling and the rain going sideways, the fire is lit first thing in the morning and shut down as the shop closes up for the night.

Fireside Accessories

As well as our roaring fire, we also have shelves of wonderful fireside accessories to suit any style of living room or kitchen. With a choice of antique brass finishes, black iron or steel and wood the many different varieties on display will be sure to catch your eye.

Coal Buckets 

Equally our huge log basket pile is over flowing with potential carriers for your logs. With wicker, rattan, willow and ash baskets in every shape, size and style you can think of, your fire side wont look quite so lonely as it roars away.

Log Baskets

Also new into Dorset Log Stores is the wonderful collection of Poppy Forge Welly Boot Stands and Boot Scrapers. Being the outdoorsy sort, their is nothing worse than damp welly boots in the morning, or when you have to dash out to the log store for a fresh supply of firewood. All Poppy Forge items are made from black powder coated steel and designed, with their simple elegance to last for many many years.

With my Hinton Log Store freshly stacked with a supply of fire wood for the day, the kettle boiling and log burner roaring, the Dorset Log Stores Shop is ready for any sort of cold, wet weather that might come its way.

Why not visit our shop to see some of our lovely items in person, as well as a selection of our lovely timber log stores and Wheelie Bin and Recycling Stores on display. The shop is open

Monday to Friday - 9:00 till 17:00
Saturday - 9:00 till 16:00
Sunday - Closed (Sorry)

We look forward to seeing you.


Thanks for Reading
James

Top Tips for Keeping a Fire Going

In the age old choice of hot and cold, personally I like the cold. Clear, crisp mornings, with the ground covered with crunchy frozen grass and your breath hanging in the air behind you like a steam train from a painting by Monet, that's how I like it.

This love of the cold does come with one severe proviso, a rather important yet simple one, a fire. There is nothing better after having spent all day out in the cold, than settling down in front of a nice warm fire and enjoying that sensation of heat seeping into the body.

A Roaring Fire at DLS HQ

Maintaining a good fire is pretty easy, so here are some top tips for keeping a fire going.

1. Make sure you're using good dry kindling. This is the base of your fire. If you use damp kindling your fire will never get going properly. For the best kindling, use small thin pieces of wood to really get your fire off to a roaring start. 
2. Use dry wood. The drier the wood the better, more efficient and hotter your fire is going to be. If you use wet logs the fire will expend all its energy burning the moisture out of them and so will eventually go out, causing a lot of smoke along the way. Seasoned firewood that has been properly stored in a log store is best. 
3. A fire needs oxygen to keep burning. Make sure that the fire has plenty of ventilation. If you are using a log burner make sure the ventilation grids are open at the bottom to begin with to draw air in and get your fire going. 
4. Be sure to maintain your fire. You will need to feed the fire with new wood to keep it burning through the night. You might have to move your logs around using a poker, or re-position them to keep the fire burning well. 
5. Finally, only burn wood or coal on your fire. Do not put plastic bottles et cetera on your fire, it will only end up putting the fire out and causing it to smoke.

Of course you should always be careful around a fire, but a properly maintained fire can keep your toes warm and your fingers from turning blue. Which is why here at Dorset Log Stores, we prefer a little bit of cold weather, followed by a cup of tea in front of the fire. Perfect.

To talk to a member of the Dorset Log Stores Team about our log stores or the best way to store your fire wood, why not leave a comment or call us on 01300 345229. 

Thanks for Reading

James

The Big Garden Bird Watch

Teak Surrey Bird Table

This coming weekend will see my nose firmly pressed up against the glass of the conservatory window, pen and clipboard in hand, ready for the 2015 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. Minor ornithologist that I am, i.e I enjoy staring at the window watching the blue tits and sparrows while I should be working, I have partaken in this wild bird census for the last few years, and have recorded the visitors to our corner of Dorset diligently.

In preparation for making sure that my bird watching would be successful, I have been paying some attention to my two bird tables today. Giving them a good scrub and clean off to make sure that they are as inviting as possible for the little feathery friends that frequent my garden.

Dorset Log Stores sell beautiful bird tables, made in the finest quality teak, coming in two simple and elegant designs, the Surrey and the Sussex bird tables. Made by Westminster teak, renowned for their quality teak furniture, these bird tables are made from sustainable sources. Complete with a drainage hole in the feeding plinth, these bird tables look wonderful in the garden as the wild birds flutter to and fro.

Kent Bird House

If you are looking to attract more birds to your garden in the long term, you will want to hang one of our superb teak bird houses. With the same simple classic designs and superb quality, the bird boxes come in two varieties. The Kent Bird House is designed for fixing to a wall, fence or tree and also comes with a large side door for doing the annual clean. The Devon Bird House is a solid bird house, that arrives with a bracket, for placing on aaccess door for cleaning out the bird box at the end of the season and is a bird house to be seen and not hidden in a tree. Both Teak Bird Houses will be great for attracting many birds to your garden in the following years.
wall or fence. It equally comes with an


With my preparations done, my bird tables cleaned and stocked with feeds and my binoculars firmly pressed to the bridge of my nose, I am all ready for this weekends RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. All that is left is to make a flask of tea.

If you would like to talk to us about our bird tables why not leave a comment below or phone 01300 345916 to speak to a member of the Dorset Log Stores team.


Thanks for Reading
James