How to make a good deal

Take your own decision and make a good deal
 

LFS is always wondering when an advert like this is seen

 

Firewood
Trailer load £ 65

call 07... ... ...

 

or when we see quotes that are shown to us by our customers.

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Hereinafter you see a list of check points when you compare offers
 

• Origin
  With being mindful of the origin you support the regional economy and their families and you reduce "wood miles".

  Scottish local wood is best because it saves wood miles.
   

• BSL authorised
  Buying from an approved BSL-supplier you make sure that forests are not just looted by greedy shareholders who do not care about the next generation.
   

• Type of wood / species
  You get more energy per £ buying softwood. But your circumstances may make it necessary to opt for hardwood.
   

• Quantity
  Volume / conversion factor / weight / density
  Does your supplier inform you about

  • the volume of the trailer, bag and how much that is in cubic metre solid wood?

  • figures related to loose, stacked or solid volume?

  • the weight and measuring method of the seasoned products?
     

• Quality
  Length / moisture content
  Were you asked about the size and are the offcuts also sold or are they sold as separate products?
  How is the moisture content measured? Instruments normally just work properly within a certain range of moisture content and do not always show the right result.
  Ask your supplier where and how long the split logs were seasoned. You seldomly see big storages of split logs and logs directly chopped and split are not seasoned in the core of the log.
  When you have a measuring tool for the moisture content,  bear in mind that you only meassure the outside of the log.
  
  Kiln dried firewood?
  Kiln dried firewood is processed so it has a low moisture content when it leaves the production process. This process is cost- and energy-intensive. Therefore the prices for kiln-dried firewood are higher. But the moisture content will only stay low when the logs don't get in touch with the outside air. In Scotland the air normally gets humid in late autumn and during winter. So kiln-dried logs need to be stored inside at room conditions to keep the quality otherwise it is just a label to ask for a higher price.
  
  On the other hand there are quite a lot of suppliers who just chop and split grey roundwood pretending that this is seasoned firewood. That is why a lot of people are disappointed and got bad experiences with logs.
  Ask your supplier where and how long the split logs were seasoned. You seldomly see big storages of split logs and logs directly chopped and split are not seasoned in the core of the log.When you have a measuring tool for the moisture content,  bear in mind that you only meassure the outside of the log.
   

• Energy
  Does your supplier inform you about the caloric value or energy you are buying, or about the amount of oil or gas you will save with what you intend to order?
  (With the weight and the measured moisture content you know how much energy you are buying.)
   

• Delivery
  Is the delivery included?
  Are the products just dumped by the roadside or is there any support to get them off the road?
   

• Prices
  Buy cheap - pay dear
  But does an offer includes VAT with the correct rate for private and domestic customers?
  Are the delivery costs included or are there other hidden costs?
  
  It's always good to take the total costs and divide them by the quantity. Quite often the price per unit seems to be very attractive at the first glance, but with all the additional costs and charges (delivery, VAT, drop the firewood away from the kerbside) the offer is no longer attractive.
  Do you get an invoice or receipt?

But most importantly firewood must be well seasoned and cut to the right length.
Wet logs just burn a hole in your wallet.

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When you get these things checked then you can lean back and you have the information to take a good decision.

We hope that you choose LFS as your longterm log supplier!