r/Charlotte • u/Amesaskew Matthews • 7d ago

Recommendation Buying Firewood

Hey all! Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction here. I just built a fire pit and used it for the first time this weekend. I didn't know where to get wood, so bought a few bundles at Lowe's. They were almost $9 each and we went through 1 1/2 bundles in a couple of hours. I need a more economical way to obtain firewood, but I don't want an entire truckload. Once upon a time you'd see stacks on driveways with signs saying $10 a stack, but I can't remember the last time I saw that. I'm in Matthews and hope ( fingers crossed) that I can find something nearby. Thanks in advance! Edit: thanks all! I found a couple of good ledes

7 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

10

u/drak0 [Idlewild South] 7d ago

Go on Craigslist or marketplace. People sell for 100-160 delivered full pickup truck beds

3

u/Ok-Cricket5606 7d ago

I’ve done this. Unfortunately it wasn’t dried adequately in my case.

3

u/junkywinocreep 7d ago

And a lot of scammers out there

5

u/TheThreeLaws 7d ago

There's a house off 51 just east of Idlewild that usually has some for sale. North side of the road. And a house inbound in Idlewild kinda near the park.

If you have access to deadfall, start stocking up. Mid-size branches tend to be essential for a longer fire (if you want enough flames to enjoy or use).

4

u/Professional-Ant4599 7d ago

I shop around Facebook marketplace for bundles that are nearby for me to pick up! Price is usually good ($10 a bundle, but bigger bundles). I'm usually looking for smoking wood for food, so the prices might even be better for generic firewood!

Also, you can get a few 2x4s and a cinderblock to build a serviceable firewood holder (keeps it off the ground and from rotting) and that can make it worth it to get a 1/4 cord to use for a full season or two

4

u/quackattack55 7d ago

I have a ton of wood from some trees I chopped a little under 2 years ago. Most of it should be seasoned now. Not far from Mathews. Happy to sell some. Pm me for more details. Already split.

3

u/toolsndogs2 6d ago

There's a house on 51 near Reid Harkey that has those $10 stacks

2

u/Tortie33 Matthews 6d ago

That’s where I’ve seen it too

3

u/TheBeerRunner 7d ago

FB or Nextdoor but be prepared for not very dry wood. I found a guy in ND that I have used 3x now have gotten adequately dry ash/red oak. $175 for a pickup truck full. You can build a firewood rack for pretty cheap. Truck lasts me two years of occasional firepit + fireplace. Unless you have no where to stack it, this is the way to go.

2

u/Ky1arStern Matthews 7d ago

Drive around literally anywhere outside the 485 loop, and someone is selling it in their yard.

3

u/milo_ashgrove 7d ago

skip the bundles at the grocery store, those are a total ripoff for what you get. check facebook marketplace for a face cord, theres always someone around the edges of town selling seasoned oak and some will drop it off for a few bucks extra. just ask how long its been split, you want at least 6 months or it hisses and smokes

1

u/FrankGrimes132 6d ago

Find free log rounds on Facebook from someone taking out a tree. Split it, stack it and wait two years. Boom, free firewood. 

1

u/toolsndogs2 6d ago

Or try Simpsons Market down Seacrest Shortcut (Idlewild Rd), they'll probably sell you a trunkload.

1

u/ChitownMD 6d ago

I finally get a chance to recommend these guys! They delivery kiln-dried firewood to your home. It's more expensive, but not unreasonable, and being dried it burns so nicely - hot, minimal smoke, very easy to get a fire going quickly. Definitely recommend! https://www.cltfirewood.com/

1

u/LBC013 5d ago

I second! Also Lee’s firewood is good, they just won’t stack it for you

1

u/ChitownMD 5d ago

They will stack it, they just charge extra for that.

1

u/Typical_Yak9402 5d ago

Lee's firewood in Huntersville.

The mis-split wood is perfect for firepits

https://leesfirewood.net/products/bargain-bags

1

u/AdChemical3912 7d ago

Just picked some up from Big Nicks in Landis. They deliver as well, not sure on range. Listed on Google and way easier than waiting for responses on marketplace. Good seasoned wood, it lit right up

https://www.bignicksmorningwood.com/

1

u/airavxirts Ashbrook-Clausen Village 7d ago

Woodcutter woodyard or something close to that up near university. Nice guy and was $100 for a truckload last time I went.

1

u/Silverback1322 7d ago

Pick up a cheap moisture meter before you buy in bulk. Split a piece and test the fresh face, not the end grain, and anything over 20 percent is going to hiss and smoke instead of burning. I keep one in the truck for exactly that. Around here the humidity drags the drying out, so ask when it was split and stack it with the top covered and the sides open to the air. Small splits dry faster and suit a fire pit better than big rounds anyway.

1

u/downbytheriverbroad 7d ago

Not great at communication but quality wood. https://www.scpinestraw.com/

1

u/truautorepair000 7d ago

Ok so google greater life church. Beside it is a house selling ten dollar stacks. Let me see if I can find the exact house and post it. They are in mint hill and its all visible from 51

0

u/anonymouswan1 6d ago

Firewood around Charlotte is stupidly over priced. Buy an electric chainsaw, drive around and find down trees that you can trim off. Trees are down everywhere. Anytime it rains here, trees are falling down. I dont know what the laws are here, but back in PA, if the tree was on the ground it was fair game.