How to Install Fire Logs

Stacking the Fire Logs

• 1

  Position the fireplace grate in the middle of the fireplace pit, away from the walls of the fireplace and the fireplace screen. The open design of the grate keeps oxygen flowing between the wood once the fire gets going, and it keeps the burning wood off of the floor of the fireplace. This gives the ash enough room to fall down from the firewood, giving the fire a clean, ash-free burn.

• 2

  Position small pieces of wood on the fireplace grate first. Place on top of them two medium pieces of wood, parallel to the first pieces and spaced apart.

• 3

  Add a few pieces of kindling or tinder to get the fire going. Light these fire starters and give them a few minutes to catch onto the larger pieces of wood.

• 4

  Place another medium-sized piece of firewood parallel to the other two, over the middle, but leave an air gap between it and the wood underneath to prevent smothering the fire. By adding this third piece of wood, the fire will grow and heat up the core of the fire log arrangement.

• 5

  Build up your fire log installation once the fire starts to take off. Lay two large pieces of firewood across the top of the wood in a perpendicular orientation. Leave a space between these two pieces of wood.

• 6

  Add another layer of medium to large logs on top, perpendicular to the last layer. This pyramid or log cabin firewood arrangement gives you more time to enjoy the fire before having to add more wood. It generates an intensely heated center that slowly burns the large pieces of hardwood.

• 7

  Add more wood to the fire log installation as the bottom layers burn out. As the first layers of large firewood pieces burn like hot coals, keep the fire going by adding new pieces of wood on top. Always lay them perpendicular to the wood on top to keep the air flow open to the fire.