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Fireplace Rack Buyer's Guide

Getting the perfect fireplace rack is not only a great organizational choice, it also can bring your fireplace set up to the next level stylistically.

 

A beautiful crackling wood fireplace is the piece de resistance of your living space. Or maybe your outdoor fireplace is the ideal gathering place whenever your friends come over. Either way, there are not too many things that are more pleasurable than an authentic wood fire. 

A big component that makes wood fires function, is the wood. And unfortunately wood takes up a fair amount of space. Getting a fireplace log rack is incredibly important to ensure you have a place to safely store your firewood, so it is kept dry, and ready for whenever you next decide to light up your superior fireplace. 

 

The Types

The biggest difference between fireplace racks that need to be considered, is if your fireplace wood rack will be kept indoors or outdoors. This will decide the size and material you will need to consider for your rack. 

Indoors: Indoor wood racks tend to be smaller and more decorative. For an indoor fireplace rack, you don’t need to be as concerned about the material the rack is made from, because it won’t be withstanding the outside elements. Some indoor fireplace racks include a space for logs to be stored as well as fireplace tools, kindling, and newspaper. 

Outdoors: Outdoor fireplace racks are generally much larger and used for the long-term storage of firewood. When purchasing an outdoor rack it is important to consider the material the rack is built from, and decide if that material will do well to withstand the elements in your climate. It is also important to make sure there is a gap between the ground and the bottom of the logs. Airflow in your fireplace pile is important because it will reduce mold and mildew and promote curing.

 

Styles

Both indoors and outdoors fireplace racks come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match your style preferences. This is not an exhaustive list of every possible style of firewood rack, but there is a list 

Basket: A basket is typically only used for indoor purposes. There is a limited amount of air circulation for your woodpile within a basket, so it should be kept in an area where there is no chance water will get into your firewood. Baskets can be made from a thick sturdy cloth, like canvas, or a fibrous material like wicker. Baskets are a nice way to keep the style of your room intact without chopped logs getting in the way and have a place to retrieve firewood at a moment’s notice. 

Hoop: A hoop design is a clean and modern firewood rack. It consists of two hoops attached at the top and separated at the bottom creating a platform for the logs to rest. The hoop design is elevated off the ground allowing airflow to reduce mold and mildew. The hoop design is smaller and can be used inside or outdoors. 

Crescent: A crescent shape is a wide U-shape that has the wood resting in the center. This style is also very modern and sleek, usually, with two parallel bars forming the U. Some designs come with a rounded upside-down U in the center of this rack that creates an individual compartment for smaller kindling wood chunks to be kept separate from larger logs. A crescent style also allows for a lot of airflow under the woodpile and is ideal for either indoor or outdoor usage. 

Rectangle: The most common shape for a fireplace rack is a rectangle. Used for both indoor and outdoor racks, this style can be decorated with ornate sides, or be very simple and sleek. 

Adjustable: Adjustable fireplace racks are typically styles for outdoor fire racks and can be elongated if more space is needed for your firewood. If you live in a place with hot summers and cold winters, such as the DMV area, you can shrink the firewood rack in the hot summer when you’re likely to have less fire and expand the rack in the winter when you need to stock up on firewood for your crackling jolly winter flame. 

Shed: A shed is an outdoor firewood rack for wood that is ideal for holding large quantities of firewood, and for protecting the firewood from the elements. Sheds can come in a variety of sizes, such as a low shed perfect for stacking a single stack of wood, or larger sheds that are big enough for a person to walk into and will store several shelves of wood. If you live in a place with heavy rainfall or large amounts of snow, a shed may be the ideal choice for you to protect your stash of firewood. 

Bench: A bench is another outdoor fireplace storage unit. It is like a mini, long rectangular shed. A long bench is used for extra seating, or a plant shelf, and underneath, a storage area for firewood. Make sure to have a small lip for the logs to sit on top of, under the bench so they will have a small area for air to flow under the logs, and keep them off the ground. 

 

The Materials

Steel: Steel is one of the most common, and the most durable materials to build a fireplace rack. If you intend to use your rack outdoors, ensure the steel has a powder finish to ensure it will not rust over time. If you are using the rack indoors it doesn’t matter how the steel is finished, and many fireplace racks that are built to be kept indoors are painted with acrylic, offering a larger range of color options.

Wrought iron: Wrought iron can be a haunting and elegant material to create a sturdy fireplace rack. The most durable option and is typically used indoors because of the possibility for rust. 

Aluminum: a lighter-weight metal that will not rust. It is not quite as sturdy as its steel and iron counterparts, and not quite as common for a building material. 

Wood: Many basic firewood racks, for both indoors and outdoors, are created from wood. It is almost always the building material for firewood sheds or benches. Wood is an inexpensive material and is most often used in DIY firewood racks. 

Canvas: Canvas is used for indoor basket “racks.” Outdoors Canvas is better suited to act as a cover for firewood, rather than being a holding container. Canvas will not allow air circulation in your woodpile, but it will protect the top layer of your wood from water. 

 

Accessories

Once you’ve selected the perfect rack for your fireplace, there are several add-on’s that can bring your rack to the next level.

Canvas Cover: If you have an exposed outdoor fireplace rack, the most beneficial accessory you can get is a canvas cover. A canvas cover is placed over your rack to protect the wood from the outside elements. Some cover only protects the top layer of wood, to protect against the bulk of rain and snow, but allows air circulation through the bottom half of the woodpile. Other covers will cover up the entire rack. Some outdoor firewood racks come with a canvas cover included so be sure to check before you purchase one. 

Wheels: Wheels are not so much an add-on accessory, but something to keep in mind when you are purchasing your fireplace rack. On an indoor set, wheels can be a convenient feature for moving the firewood rack around the room if needed. On an outdoor firewood rack, a wheeled caddy to store your firewood on can be useful for moving firewood from one end of your yard, to the house, or from the car to your yard. 

Canvas Log Tote: A canvas log tote is a huge canvas bag that will fit several large logs that can be carried from your outdoor fireplace rack to your indoor fireplace. These tote bags come in different colors and different sizes depending on your needs. 

 

Looking For Your Next Fireplace?

Fireplace Deals’ inventory has dozens of design options for your perfect installation—whether you’re focused on a more efficient burn or having the most inviting centerpiece for your next family get-together. If you have any questions about fireplace racks or fireplaces in general feel free to reach out to our experts today by email or give us a call at 866-848-3473. For more information browse our selection, or look through some of the other articles we have available in our Learning Center.