Last Updated on December, 2024
Are you looking for a fast and simple log storage solution? We’ve got two words for you: shipping pallets!
There’s nothing more satisfying than the crackle of burning logs and nothing more disappointing than when your logs fail to catch fire because of dampness.
By gathering your wood in one place, log stores keep firewood in prime condition. They also make it easily accessible while helping you conserve space in your garden or backyard.
The simplicity and versatility of wood pallets make them great for several DIY projects, including creating log stores. UK pallets are typically made from oak and yellow pine, making them strong and affordable.
Pallet stores are also simple to build and provide excellent ventilation and seasoning for your firewood.
Without further ado, let’s see how it’s done so you can get to work!
Quick Summary
- Shipping pallets are a fast, simple, and cost-effective solution for creating DIY log stores, offering excellent ventilation and protection for firewood.
- The process of building a log store from pallets involves five simple steps: choosing a good location, preparing pallets, making a base, assembling the structure, and installing a roof with either sheet metal or shingles.
- Pallet log stores are affordable, easy to build, and help protect firewood from the elements, ensuring it stays dry and seasoned.
How to Make Log Stores Out of Shipping Pallets?
You can complete this project in 5 simple steps. Here is a breakdown of each.
Step 1: Choose a Good Location
It’s important to pick a good site for your project. Consider factors like space, accessibility, and weather protection.
Choose an area that is close to your house with enough room to accommodate the structure. Build it on a flat surface near the front or back door of your home.
If you have a smaller property, you can also build it near a garden fence or a shed. Pick a location that will make it easy to access firewood, particularly in the winter.
Building your log store near your home will also shield it from rain, snowfall, and strong winds. Additionally, most UK residents construct log stores on the south-facing side of their homes, as this exposes the logs to more sunlight.
For added safety, build the structure away from areas where your kids play. The last thing you want is a football or cricket ball damaging your log store.
Lastly, remember to leave a slight gap between your log store and the wall or fence in order to prevent dampness from creeping into the structure and affecting your firewood.
Step 2: Gather and Prepare Your Pallets
The next step is to gather your pallets and prep them for construction.
You will need five pallets to create the base, the rear wall, the two side walls, and the roof of your log store. Having the front of the structure open will maximise air circulation. Try to have 8-10 pallets on hand in case you require a spare.
Standard UK pallets measure 1.2 metres long and 1 metre wide, but the exact size will depend on the size of your structure. If you want a cube shape, get pallets of the same or similar size.
Alternatively, you can get longer pallets for the back and side walls or make your base with two pallets. This will allow for increased storage capacity.
Next, use an electric hand planer to clean the planks on both sides. This will smooth the pallet wood and remove splinters. To finish the cleaning process, sand the pallet wood down with 60-grit sandpaper.
After planing and sanding, apply varnish to the boards. A protective varnish coating will repel moisture and make the pallet wood more durable. It will also add character and make your log store more aesthetically pleasing when the project is finished.
Step 3: Make the Base
The base pallet of your structure must be elevated from the ground. This is a necessary step, as dampness from the earth can cause your firewood to rot.
To ensure that your base remains dry, support the corners of the pallet with four wooden posts, bricks, or cement blocks.
Step 4: Assemble the Log Store
The next step is to start assembling your log store.
Use an electric drill to screw the pallets to the base. After that, drive screws to attach the side and rear pallets at the corners. Place two wooden blocks on top of one of the side pallets, then screw the top one.
Doing this will add height to one side of your structure, creating a slanted roof for rainwater to run off of.
The size of the screws will depend on the integrity and thickness of your wood pieces. 35mm construction screws are usually the way to go with DIY pallet projects. Ensure to pre-drill the pallets at the edges before screwing them together in order to avoid splitting the wood.
Next, fix corner braces to support the structure. If you have junk wood lying around in your shed or garage, you can cut the pieces into long strips to make braces.
Fix them diagonally to the side and rear pallets. You don’t need power tools for this; a regular hammer and metal nails will suffice.
Corner braces will protect your structure’s joints from damage and prevent them from bending or sagging in the middle.
Step 5: Make the Roof
The last step to completing your project is installing the roof.
First, nail a board over the top pallet to cover the gaps between the pallet wood and add roofing felt over it. The felt layer will prevent moisture from rain or snow from getting through the roof and making contact with your firewood. Once you’ve fitted the roofing felt, nail it down with a hammer.
Following that, it’s time to install the last layer of roofing. For this, you can choose between sheet metal or shingles.
If you opt for the former, start by rotating the structure on its side and cutting the sheet metal according to the size of your roof. We recommend using a long piece on either side and three smaller ones for the middle.
Bend the corners of each centre sheet to create ridges. This will create a narrower pathway for rainwater, causing it to travel down your roof instead of flowing over the sides.
Installation will be easier if the sheets are clamped in place, allowing you to screw them on more freely.
Conversely, if you opt for shingles, measure your roof area to determine how many you will need to buy.
Once purchased, fit your shingle over the felt to get an idea of the size. Remove the shingle from the roof and place it on a flat surface, such as a table. Outline the areas to cut on the back. Use a utility knife and straight edge to cut the shingles accordingly.
Next, fix the first course (or row) with steel roofing nails and repeat the process for the rest. Ideally, your shingles should overlap ½” on three sides. If needed, trim them at the edges until they overhang ½”.
While both shingles and sheet metal are excellent at protecting your firewood from rain, the latter is generally considered the superior material for withstanding storms and strong winds. They also have a much longer lifespan.
Read more:
Tools and Materials You Will Need to Build a Log Store Out of Shipping Pallets
Here is a list of what you’ll need for this project.
- Five or more shipping pallets
- Electric hand planer
- Four wooden posts/bricks/concrete blocks
- Cordless drill
- Wooden blocks
- Wooden board
- Construction screws
- Hammer
- Metal nails
- Roofing felt
- Sheet metal/shingles
- Straight edge
- Utility knife
- Steel roofing nails
Conclusion
If you have firewood taking up space in your garage and are up for a fun, engaging project, why not gather some friends and build a storage unit for your logs? You can even get your kids involved to help you make it!
The last thing you want is for the nice, cosy fire you just created to burn up too fast due to damp or unseasoned firewood.
Log stores are essential if you want to preserve your firewood, and pallets are great for constructing them.
When made right, they provide excellent ventilation and keep your wood safe from the elements. What’s more, they are cheap and extremely simple to build, as shown in this article.
By following our easy 5-step guide, you can create a safe storage space for your firewood and prep for the winter season well in advance.
Happy building!