Fireplaces and everything related to them is very confusing. If you are not aware of it, it can be as painful as beautiful it is. There are plenty of names and terms in the firewood retailer’s market that can leave you in the middle of nowhere in case you have just bought a fireplace or firepit.
Labels like cord, face cord, an eighth of a cord, quarter cord, quarter face, half cords, and face cords are more than enough to make anyone go on dizzy. Another such commonly used term is the ‘rick’ of some wood.
If you have an idea about what the rick of wood is, you will be very well-versed with the different sizes and names attached to firewood.
Figure 1Firewood, how we see it.
So, What Exactly Is the Much-Talked Rick of Wood?
By virtue of measurement, a rick of wood is a mass of wood eight feet in length and four feet in height. It is available in numerous widths depending on the retailer you choose to purchase it from. In local markets, the width varies depending on region, climate, and even supplier.
The rick of wood might as well be referred to as a face cord sometimes. In most cases, you will find a face cord or rick of wood in 12 inches, 16 inches, or 24 inches. This infers that each of the logs will be of the sizes in that pile.
The most common size generally is 16 inches in length.
Why “Rick” Of All the Things in The World?
The Englishmen have a saying where they refer to “rick” as a pile or a stack. It means articles related to the farm like hay, corn, or wood to name a few.
However, it is very prevalent in North America and has stood the test of time in places like Midwest USA.
Before going to the dimensions of the rick of wood it is convenient to know how big a cord of wood can be. Usually, cords of wood tend to be four feet in height, four feet in wide, and about eight feet in length. A part of the entire cord is essentially a rick. In most cases, a cord is about 48 inches in width.
To understand the similarity between ricks and cords, assume that you have a 12-inch-wide rick. That is equivalent to a quarter of a cord. If it is a 16-inch-wide rick, it is equivalent to about a third of a cord of wood. A rick of 24 inches in width equals about half a cord.
For several other reasons it is very essential to know exactly the width of firewood, you need for yourself. Even though there are always measurements to help you, the sizes and volumes can differ due to region and climate.
Roughly How Much Does Rick of Wood Weigh?
There are several factors that decide the weight of the wood. It depends on the size as well as the type of firewood you need to purchase.
Usually, Red and White Oaks comprise the heavier types of wood. There are ricks of wood that can even weigh around 5500 pounds (that is one and a half tonne) that too, in a single chord only.
Spruces are the light types of firewood available in the market. Yet, a full cord will weigh around 2500 pounds (that is nearly a tonne and one-fourth)
Depending on the width of the wood, firewoods can weigh around anywhere in the range of 625 pounds to 3000 pounds. This may vary due to region, climate, and even rainfall.
How Many Pieces of Wood Are There in A Rick?
In most cases, there are around 550 to 650 pieces of seasoned wood. However, they need to be split into a single cord of wood.
How well the wood has been cut and if the wood has been packed tightly determine all this predominantly. In a Rick, you get around 275 to 325 pieces of firewood roughly.
Be very sure to talk to your distributor regarding the type of firewood you want for yourself since the varying lengths can change from region to region. Often there are cases where the buyer ends up getting less than what they wanted simply because of the varying lengths.
Figure 2Ergo, Weighs A Lot More Than We Think
How Much Does A Rick of Wood Cost?
Like every other thing, a Rick of wood’s price depends upon the retailer and the location. A Rick or face cord of Oak can cost you around the range of $150 to $250.
Even the type of wood can determine its price. For example, black Locust cost more than red Oak, Maple, and so on. If the wood is seasoned, how has it been seasoned – air or kiln-dried, the market, all these factors play a role to determine the price of the wood.
Therefore, considering all the points involved, the chance of getting a wide range then a specific price for the same amount of wood is very high. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side you can have a budget towards the higher end of the spectrum. This will make sure that you get the amount of wood you need without being shocked by its cost.
Some people like to pick up their wood themselves to avoid the high delivery charges. This may cost you less but can be very hectic. Not everyone has a pickup truck and can load their firewood on it.
In case you want to get it delivered to you make sure you count a delivery charge of around $1.00 to $2.00 for every mile they must travel.
Still, certain suppliers charge only after a specific number of miles have been traveled to prevent the delivery charge to get out of hand. If it is the first time, you are getting it delivered to you, you should ask them to make this one free. That way you will order from them again.
Moreover, numerous suppliers provide free delivery but before proceeding be sure that you evaluate this cost and compare it with vendors that take a delivery charge. It is better that you pay a delivery charge and have the entire budget known than have additional costs thrown at you out of nowhere.
You can also be made to pay or stacking the supply. Certain vendors charge a stacking fee in the range of $20 to $30 but most do it for free. If you do not want to stack the wood yourself, make sure that you plan and tell your vendor to do so. Some vendors do not even have the stacking option so be sure to do your research before placing your order.
How to Store the Firewood?
Now that you are done with your purchase, storing the firewood properly and protectively is very important. A Rick, cord, or any other measurement firewood is evidently not cheap and the last thing you want is them getting wasted.
Suppose you have them delivered but not stacked in that case, what is next? If you want to split and dry it all you must do next is simply store them where you are comfortable with them.
Please keep in mind to store the firewood conveniently, especially through the winter, and try to cover it to protect it from the cold.
If the firewood that has been delivered to you appears wet, green, or is not split, you have a lot of work to do on your own. First, you should split them into more convenient pieces.
This is mainly done for two reasons: primarily, it makes them easier to carry and, burns better in the flame and for a prolonged time.
If the firewood delivered to you is green or wet, you need to store them somewhere in the open air to dry it. Where and how you choose to pile or stack the firewood plays an important role in deciding how quickly and efficiently the wood dries. it is always better to stack them at someplace higher than the ground level.
It boils down to pallets, logs, and bricks when it comes to keeping your firewood above the ground level. The most widely used, popular, and realistic way to go with is, stacking them row by row. You can choose to simply cross tie them or have stakes at the end of the pile to keep it secure.
However, there is a catch to efficiently cross tie them. While splitting the firewood, trying to make as many square pieces as you can. The square-shaped pieces make the end of the stack stronger than the round or odd-shaped ones.
This will save you a lot of effort and time. Nothing is worse than stacking up all the firewood and watch them fall over simply due to loosely tied ends.
It is also advisable not to stack them in between trees. It may look rigid, but the trees have movement, and it will cause the stacks of firewood to topple over sooner or later.
You can either try the circle piling or the heap piling methods but the best and most reliable way to stop them is the single row stacking method.
If you think that area is a concern, you can stack more than a single row but make sure to leave a good space between each of the rows. This enables air to circulate throughout the surface area of the wood and maintain proper circulation so that the wood can stay dry throughout the time.
If you stack the Woods together very tightly it enables moisture to build in the inner surface is of the wood.
Of course, these are textbook and convenient means of stacking firewood. You are free to create your own way, use your imagination to store your firewood if they are safe and sound. In case you find none of them convenient you can always search and share ways online to stack wood conveniently and efficiently.
Nevertheless, it is always recommended that you stack the firewood neatly and cleanly. not only does it look good, but it also prevents unwanted dust particles to hide in the area.
You do not want your neighbors to be looking at them from the corner of their eyes.
What Exactly Do We Have to Burn?
Please be sure that you burn dry wood. Burning green wood in your fireplace might cause your entire house to fill up with smoke that is not comfortable.
Please be sure to stack your wood methodically. you should be able to get the driest wood before the greener ones.
Maybe rotate the stacks and keep a check on the condition of the wood from time to time. Make sure to burn the oldest pieces in the stock first and foremost to prevent them from rotting while at your store.
Having purchased them for good money, you must be wanting to get through an entire lot of rick and cords without wasting any. After all, they are a piece of nature.
As far as stacking is concerned, you can find holders and racks available in the market at convenient rates. The best part of buying them is their versatility. They can be used both indoors and outdoors so it would not be a problem if you want to store the firewood in your garage or your shed.
If you are planning to keep the firewood in your home, it is better that you keep a small stock that will last for a few days. Having them in a large amount for a long time might cause a lot of pests inside your home.
Besides the insects, the wood shavings and the dirt can cause allergies, especially to kids. Not only that, but the pollen also that gets stuck on the wood can cause infections as well.
You must be knowing by now, that making sure the wood stays dry is of utmost importance. If you have wet wood indoors there is a possibility that the moisture trapped inside is increasing the humidity level indoors. Honestly, that humidity can cause your own home to be uncomfortable to live in.
Conclusion
Now that you are well versed, with the terminology of firewood, their expenses involved as well as their maintenance, you are good to go for the winter. The fireplace in your living room is much more homely and cozy than any other room heater or electricity-dependent air conditioning.
It is not much hard work but making use of the fireplace and firewood needs some work. Be rest assured, it is worth it. Just make sure you have enough to survive throughout the entire winter.
Happy winters!