Green Horizons

Know the Facts Before Buying,or Selling, Firewood

By: BOB SCHULTHEIS | Natural Resource Engineering Specialist, Webster County Extension Center

Many people who buy cordwood for their home wood stoves admit they don't understand the transfer process. Some sellers talk in terms of a "rick," a "rank" or a "pickup load."

Others mention a "face cord" and still others talk in terms of a cord or fractions of a cord. Sometimes the definitions vary from seller to seller and from locality to locality.

"We would like to think that most sellers are honest and the transaction is fair. However, this is no way to run a business," said Bob Schultheis, natural resource engineering specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Schultheis shares here the most common questions he receives about buying and selling firewood, along with his answers to the questions.

Q: Homeowners with wood stoves are stocking up on firewood for their winter heat supply. I understand there is a state law governing how firewood is bought and sold?

A: Yes, by state law, firewood must be sold by the cord or fraction of a cord, and it must be accompanied by a bill of sale in accordance with requirements of the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Division of Weights and Measures. Rick, rank, face cord, truckload, and pile are not legal units of measure for sale of firewood.

Q: How much is a cord of wood?

A: A cord of wood measures four feet high, four feet wide and eight feet long, totaling 128 cubic feet. Any combination of these measurements is fine as long as they total 128 cubic feet when the wood is stacked in a compact manner.

Q: What's the easiest way to measure a stack of wood?

A: A simple way is to measure the length, width and average height (all in inches) of the compactly-stacked pile of wood. Multiply these three figures together and divide the result by 220,000. The answer is the number of cords. Multiply this number by the dollar cost per cord to get the price the buyer should pay.

Q: Any other tips on getting a fair deal when buying firewood?

A: First, don't pay for the wood until it has been stacked and measured by both the buyer and seller. Second, get a receipt with the seller's name, address, phone number and vehicle license number, along with the price, amount and kind of wood purchased. Third, if a problem with a seller cannot be resolved, contact the Missouri Department of Agriculture's Division of Weights and Measures at 573-751-5639.

Q: Where can I get more information on buying and selling cordwood?

A: Contact the nearest University of Missouri Extension Center and ask for MU Guides G5452 and G5450, which give details about buying and selling cordwood, and about the burning characteristics and heat content of various woods. These guides are available free online at http://extension.missouri.edu/publications. For more information, contact Schultheis at the Webster County MU Extension Center at 417-859-2044, or by email at schultheisr@missouri.edu.