Last updated on March 29th, 2023
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More and more homeowners now have a wood-burning stove fitted in their homes, myself included, (as pictured below) and with the ever-increasing prices of gas and electric, it is becoming a very viable option to start heating homes by burning firewood, especially if you have access to cheap or even free logs like I do.
Whether you split your own logs using one of the many affordable log splitters like this one I use, purchase your logs in small quantities or in bulk, one problem many people experience is how do you store all these logs so that they are properly seasoned and burn efficiently.
In short, you need to keep them dry, out of the rain and most importantly well aired. To achieve this, the best way is to get yourself a good quality, sturdy log store.
There are so many different designs available, some of which are badly designed and built from inferior cheap wood with not enough ventilation, these factors are especially common with imports. For this reason, it is important to know what makes a good log store that will last.
Further down in our guide we explain exactly what makes a good log store and take an even closer look at four of the best log stores currently available from some of the best log store manufacturers who only use the best materials when making their log stores.
BEST PICK
Check out my review of the best metal firewood storage racks for indoor and outdoor use
The top 4 best log stores to purchase which we have reviewed
- Cottesmore 5ft Log Store – BEST PICK
- Normanton log store
- Charles Bentley Small Log Store
- Easipet log store
TOP 4 BEST LOG STORE REVIEWS
1. Cottesmore Pressure Treated Log Store By Rutland Country Garden Furniture
BEST PICK
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The Cottesmore 4ft Log Store is manufactured by The Rutland Country Garden Furniture and is one of 16 log stores they manufacture. This model is their best selling log store, probably due to its ideal size and the one I decided to try out for myself, so the photograph above is my actual log store.
They have been manufacturing the very best wooden products since 2012 from their workshop based in the South Lincolnshire countryside so you can be assured that you are not purchasing a cheap Chinese product that simply won’t last the length of time.
They have quickly become one of the leading manufacturers of top quality log stores and in this review I hope to help you understand why. The short answer is that quite simply, they use the very best materials including the screws, they don’t round off with a cordless drill so that’s a good start.
So the first thing to note is the customer service was fantastic. The tracking code didn’t work and they quickly sent the correct tracking number for Tuffnels and it arrived the next day so we were already off to a good start.
So it comes wrapped only in shrink wrap, however, they do add cardboard around the edges (as pictured below) of the fragile roof, so everything arrived to us in perfect condition.
The Cottesmore 4ft log store has a double bay, open-fronted design with the additional option to add doors should you wish to. However, the thing is, I personally don’t think that you should put doors on it. This is because it blocks the airflow, which I think is more important than stopping a little rain from wetting the outside of a few pieces of firewood.
Remember the process of seasoning the wood is to dry the inside to a moisture content of less than 20%. This needs good airflow and once dry, a little rain blowing in won’t increase the moisture content inside and the outside will quickly dry again.
This log store is made from the very best ‘pressure treated timber’ that protects the wood from rot and fungus attack for up to 15 years. The timber is also sourced from FSC approved sustainable sources and this helps to protect the environment, so I can be assured I am also doing my bit for the environment.
It is constructed using 3 x 3″ posts that ensure it is very sturdy and the sides are made from a good quality thick timber with gapped sides. I think this design is better as again, it helps to improve the airflow.
To match the treated timber, all the fixtures are heavy duty and corrosion treated and this ensures it stays tightly fixed together.
Unlike many other models, it comes with very easy to follow, colour instructions (when they arrive).
In my case, the instructions were missing but the issue was quickly fixed as you can download them directly from their website. I will include these below in case you need them.
So finally we are onto building the log store. In total it took me around 30 minutes using a cordless screwdriver that I was also taking the opportunity to review at the same time, you can see my article on this here. As well as the cordless screwdrive, I was also testing out a new Ryobi drill so used this too during construction, but the electric screwdriver is all you will need.
Basically, you attach the left side panel to one of the back panels using three 65mm screws, then you attach the centre 3×3 post (the longest one, and of these there are two) to the back panel before adding the second back panel to the other side of the post.
After this, you simply add the right-side panel screw it into position and then lift the roof into position and screw that into place.
Finally, you place the front post into position (as shown below) and screw it into position, place the latter floor panel inside and it is ready to use.
That’s it, here are some final pictures of the finished log store.
The all important dimensions:
- Length 150cm
- Depth: 80cm
- Height: 127cm
- Capacity: 0.9 square meter
My Conclusion
The Cottesmore 4ft Log Store, is ‘British workmanship’ at its very best and it is easy to see why it has become one of the best selling log stores in Amazon with excellent customer reviews. I think the build quality and how easy it is to assemble just makes it one of the best log stores available.
Overall, it is very sturdy and I would think it is large enough for most homeowners, even those with smaller gardens, but at the same time providing you with enough space to hold a decent amount of logs.
It does come flat packed, (as do most models) but it does come with an excellent set of colour instructions that are very easy to follow. Don’t forget if they are missing like mine were, you can just print them off with the link I have provided above, or go directly to their website for a copy.
One person can easily put it together as I did. Sometimes when building flat-pack products, you could do with a second pair of hands to hold pieces in position but with this model, I didn’t feel this was needed. This is certainly true for the size I purchased, however, for the larger versions you might need a second pair of hands
Overall I am happy with the new log store and will have to see how long it lasts but I’m confident that I will still have it many years from now. Really impressed with the quality and how easy it was to build.
Compare the best prices from available sellers below
Read next: Best paint to spruce up and add protection to your log store
2. Easipet 4FT Log Store
BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
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The Easipet log store is designed to offer exceptional value for money for homeowners looking to invest in a log store on a budget.
It is manufactured from treated fir and plywood before being finished with a waterproof stain that helps to protect it from the outside elements and the worst of the British weather.
The floor is raised and the three slatted sides help to improve air circulation to keep the logs free from damp and this helps to season the logs at a faster rate.
The roof is felted to protect it from the rain.
Comes flat packed with easy to follow instructions.
The all important dimensions:
- Width 116cm
- Depth: 64cm
- Height: 123cm
Conclusion
If you are looking for a good quality log store but on a budget, then this ‘Easipet log store’ offers great value for money.
It’s well made, very easy to put together and looks the part, I suspect they are actually imports from China but either way they have done an excellent job of manufacturing a log store that offers great value.
It will take you around 20 minutes to put together. If you are no stranger to building flat-pack furniture etc then you will probably have it put together in as little as 10 minutes. There are a series of coach bolts that fix it all together and every section slots together nicely.
In regards to the timber, it is better than other budget log stores we have researched, however, to keep it looking good and protect it from the weather, we strongly advise that you paint it with wood preserve once a year.
Overall, it does not match the quality of the British made ‘Cottesmore Log Store’ but it still offers excellent value for a budget log store that is nicely put together.
If you are on a budget but need a bigger log store, consider buying two of them, as some customers have remarked on doing so in the many excellent reviews on Amazon.co.uk, which you can read here.
Compare the best prices from available sellers below
Read next: What moisture content should firewood be and how to test
3. Normanton Pressure Treated Log Store
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The Normanton log store is another model that is manufactured by The Rutland Country Garden Furniture, but it is a larger version of my best pick.
Just like our top pick, the ‘Cottesmore’ model, this Normanton log store is a double bay, open-fronted design with the option to add doors if you prefer. It has an extra-large cubic capacity of 1.5 cubic meters so you can store even more wood and this reduces the need to top up over the winter months as much.
Just like all of the log stores ‘Rutland Country Garden Furniture’ manufacture, it is made from ‘pressure treated timber’ that will last up to 15 years.
Again the posts are constructed using 3 x 3″ timber that ensure it is very sturdy and the sides are made from a featheredge board so that the rain runs off the sides of the log store.
All the fixings are made from heavy-duty, corrosion treated materials so they hold all the sections together securely for the lifetime of the log store
Comes with very easy to follow colour instructions.
Comes flat packed.
The all important dimensions:
- Width 230cm
- Depth: 80cm
- Height: 125cm
- Extra Large Capacity: 1.5 square meter
Conclusion
Again the workmanship and quality are excellent, but this is to be expected. It is a decent size and will hold a good amount of logs, probably around a ton once stacked in rows.
It is fairly easy to put together and the instructions are very clear and easy to follow which is always a bonus. At 75kg it is very heavy (as you would expect for such a large wood store) and ideally, you will need two people to put it together, especially if you are going to move it into place once built.
Compare the best prices from available sellers below
Read next: How to light a wood-burning stove every time
4. Charles Bentley Small Log Store
BEST SMALL LOG STORE
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The Charles Bentley Small Log Store is one of the smallest log stores we have reviewed. It has been manufactured from pressure-treated wood, the slatted sides and back ensure good airflow around the logs and this, in turn, helps to prevent fungal infection and dampness.
As with all good designs, it has a raised floor to allow air to go under the logs to help keep them dry.
The total weight is 29kg.
Comes flat packed.
The all important dimensions:
- Width 117cm
- Depth: 56cm
- Height: 152cm
- Capacity: 0.76m3
Conclusion
If you are looking for a small log store that has been manufactured to the highest of standards but still offers great value for money then this could be a good candidate.
When it arrives, all the sections come assembled, so all you really need to do is fix each side together and then nail on the back slats. It is fairly straightforward but the instructions could be better.
To fix it together, it is difficult on your own and you really need two people as it makes aligning all the sections up much easier.
On Amazon, this has some amazing reviews and is probably the best-rated log store available, with the high quality and the amazing price it is easy to see why many people have chosen this model for their log storage.
One great feature that we really like is that you can fit the kindling shelf at any height you want, this is great as not everyone will want to fit the shelf at the same height.
The only downside is that some people might find with this log store is that the roof slants towards the back. A potential issue that this could cause is if you place it against your house or shed the water will run down the wall (or shed) if placed right up against it and could cause damp issues. Not a major issue for most, but worth taking into consideration.
Overall, great quality at an even better price. If you are after a quality log store but only need a small one then this should do the job perfectly.
Compare the best prices from available sellers below
What to take into consideration when buying a log store
If you have invested in a wood-burning stove, then I’m sure you plan on using it for many years to come. With this in mind, it only makes sense to invest in a log store that has been made to last, and with some expected to last as long as 15 years, you can rest assured you will only need to invest in one, the once.
Below are a few important pointers to take into consideration when purchasing a log store for storing your logs.
- What size log store should you buy? – It is difficult to know what size log store you should invest in. But as a general rule, buy the biggest one you can afford and fit in the area you plan on storing your logs. It is better to have empty space, than run out of space and have nowhere to store all your excess logs. You never really hear people complaining about buying one that was too big, but you do commonly hear homeowners complaining about them not having enough storage space, so don’t make the same mistake.
- Type of timber used – If there is one point to take into consideration, then this is it. Make sure the log store you invest in is made from pressure treated timber (also known as tanalised) and ideally from an FSC approved sustainable source. This is important as the wood has been treated to protect it from the worst of the British weather, will not rot and should last up to 15 years. If it does not say it’s made from pressure-treated or tanalised wood, then it probably isn’t and will last a couple of years (if you are lucky) before falling apart. We cannot stress this enough, pressure-treated wood is a must. All the log stores we recommend are made from treated timber.
- Best design – The whole idea is to keep your logs dry and this is where a good design comes in. Ideally, it should have a open front with a large roof overlap to avoid the rain dripping in. The floor should be elevated to reduce the risk of ground damp and have gaps between the slats to allow the air to circulate. The wall should also have gaps and some of the best designs have slatted walls so that the rain runs down and away from the wall but the air can still circulate. If you plan on putting your log store against the house then we advise you get one where the roof ‘slants outwards’, away from the house, this will prevent the rain from running off the log store against your house. This is also important as it has been known to cause damp problems.
BEST PICK
Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
