Take a look at this off grid firewood box. I am building this firewood box to keep firewood in right outside the door where it is handy to get to.
This box will have smart siding on it and roofing shingles on the lid when I’m finished. This will protect it from the harsh weather and keep the firewood on the inside dry. I will post more pictures of the finished product once I am finished with it.
Did you know that smart siding has a 50 year warranty?
It’s true! As long as you follow the manufactures instructions and seal all the seams, edges and then paint with a good exterior paint as recommended.
Check out these pictures below of this off grid firewood box. This was done with reclaimed lumber and things I pick up on construction job sites that are being thrown away. Some of it is brand new and maybe has a broken edge or a few nail holes.
Below is photos showing how I used 4×4’s and angle cut the front and rear edges to be able to move it with tractor or pickup if needed. These runners also keep it up off the ground. These 4×4 runners are treated lumber for all kinds of weather.
Why Would You Want An Off Grid Firewood Box?
- Keep your firewood totally dry and out of the elements
- Keeps your place looking nice instead of firewood piles next to your door
- Helps keep rodents out of your firewood
- Many safety reasons
Whether you are building a off grid firewood box, or just a firewood box for other reasons or places, hopefully this post and pictures will help you out.
The dimensions to this box are below here:
- Length is 4′
- Width is 2′
- Front height is 32″ without runners under it
- Back height is 46″
- Flat area across the top is 7″ wide
- Runners are 53″ long
- The lid is 24″ in width so it overhangs the front edge by 2″
I will use Tyvec house wrap over the plywood before putting the smart siding over that. This will add extra protection from moisture and the weather.
I will also use a good quality outdoor seam sealer/caulking to go around all the edges once the smart siding is on. I want this box to be totally sealed from the elements and also to help keep rodents and bugs out of the firewood and inside of box.
The last thing will be to place a thin rubber seal around the entire bottom of the lid/door to help keep sealed from the weather.
Below you will find supply’s used and where to find free stuff, as well as tools used for this project.
Where Can You Find Good Scrap Wood Like This?
Go around and check anywhere there are houses, sheds or barns being put up. Ask the builders if you can take the scraps and throw away piles. Most of them will say yes so they don’t have to pay the expensive dumpster and hauling off fees.
You can also check on Craigslist to see if there is anyone wanting wood scraps and piles hauled off. Sometimes you can get really good stuff there to for no cost.
Some of your scraps might be off sizes, or odd lengths, but you can always find uses for them if you are creative.
Other Supply’s and Tools Used For This Project
- Galvanized nails for outdoor durability 2-1/2″ and 3-1/2″
- Tyvec house wrap
- Durabond liquid nails adhesive and HD outdoor seam sealer
- Outdoor aluminum hinges for lid/door
- Ridgid nail gun
- Speed square
- 4′ long Johnson level
- 2′ long Johnson level
- Dewalt 25′ tape measure
- Carpenters lead pencil
- 5hp Air compressor
- Ridgid miter saw
- Dewalt table saw
- Ridgid skill saw
Notice in the picture below I used the 4X4’s for runners and angle cut the front and rear edges for being able to pull it without it jabbing into the ground. I also used the scrap 4×4’s and split them in half by running them through my table saw and used them for cross braces in between the 4×4’s. Using my scraps wisely to get the most out of them, but also to use this treated lumber for the bottom side where is exposed to the ground.
This is not just an off grid firewood box, it can also be used anywhere else that you would want to. The one I am building here in these photos are for a client of mine for his totally off grid cabin in the woods that I built a few years ago. See photos of this cabin in the woods update here <<. There are many more cabin in the woods update pictures and blog post you can find here at this other blog of mine.
Keeping Your Firewood Dry
If you are relying on wood heat as your only source of heat, then it is vital to find ways to keep your firewood totally dry. There is nothing more frustrating that needed heat and you can’t get the fire to light or burn due to wet wood. Grrrrrrr! That is where this firewood box comes in very useful and worthwhile.
I like this box so well I am building a second one for us to use here at Pin Oaks Farm. This off grid firewood box is perfect for storing a great deal of firewood in to keep completely dry. Keeping your firewood dry is very important when you have to rely totally on it for your main heat source. This firewood box will also help us from moving firewood inside before the ice storm or snow storms.
More pictures coming soon of this off grid firewood box as a finished product. I will also add the total cost (my cost) of building this off grid firewood box. 🙂
Let me know what you think in the comments below. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. Would videos of projects like these be helpful to you? If so, leave comments below letting me know.
Always do your best,
-Mike Pilcher
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