The Best Firewood?

What is the Best Firewood?

When it comes to picking out firewood there are a few important qualities to look for, these include the smell, burn time and amount of smoke produced when the logs burn. To make things easier for you we have categorized some of the very best woods for use in log burning stoves and open fires into five small sections based on the qualities you need from them.

Smell

Apple, Pear, Cherry and generally any other wood from a fruit tree, burns well but also gives off a pleasant and slightly sweet smell when burned.

Cedar wood is also known for having a very nice, rich scent and produces a lot of long-lasting heat, but does tend to spit and crackle a lot when burning.

Heat

Yew wood produces a lot of heat and still burns slowly. It has a very subtle aroma, so is a nice wood to burn when sitting in front of the fire.

Beech wood has many similar qualities to Ash, however it burns much hotter and requires to be seasoned for longer as it does not burn well when green.

Burn Time

Oak can take some effort to light but, once it is lit, it will last for longer than any other hardwood and gives off a good heat.

Smoke

Certain woods such as Acacia wood produce a lot of smoke, however Acacia also burns for a long time and produces lots of heat so it's great as a source of fuel for a wood burning stove.

Blackthorn wood has a steady flame, good heat output and produces very little smoke.

Best All-rounder 

Ash wood is commonly regarded as the best wood for burning due to its many desirable qualities such as; a long burn time, high heat output and low smoke output. As it has very few knots it sparks less than other hardwood's, making it safer to burn. Ash wood also burns completely so leaves very little ash behind.

Order a Bulk Bag of Seasoned Hardwood Logs From Our Website!

Want to know which coal you should be using? Click the link below to read our blog post on the best Coal.

http://lanleesupplies.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/the-best-coal.html

For more tips, or to buy any of the products mentioned in this post please visit our website http://www.lanleesupplies.co.uk/Products/Logs_Firewood_Kindling and like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/LanleeSupplies/ 

How to Make Your Christmas Tree Last Longer!

Lanlee Guide

How To Preserve Your Christmas Tree

There's nothing more disappointing than rushing downstairs on Christmas morning to see the tree you spent £40+ on has wilted into a brown, spineless disaster! To save you the sadness and general angst that this so often causes for those of us that prefer the 'real thing' as oppose to artificial trees we have compromised yet another one of our guides on how to preserve your Christmas Tree and keep it fresh during the weeks leading up to, and some of the weeks after Christmas!

Inspect The Tree

When you buy a tree don't be afraid to take a closer look at the spines and branches. Chances are if you buy a tree that is already browning slightly and seems a bit 'parched' its not going to last anywhere near as long as a tree which has a rich colour and lots of needles. 

Re-Fresh The Tree

After a tree has been cut the sap within the tree begins to (over the course of about three hours) dry and harden which, in turn, seals up the cut. This makes it difficult for the tree to take up any water. To solve this problem you should make sure to make a fresh cut in the tree about an inch from the bottom of the trunk before you place it in the water.  No matter how much water you place it in If you miss this step your tree will dry out allot earlier!

Water it!

It is important to place your tree in a stand that can hold at least 4.5 Litres of water. The most effective solution to keep you Tree Fresh is too water it regularly with hot (not boiling) water with some sugar or corn syrup mixed in. Using this mixture will keep the sap 'gooey' and stop it from sealing the incision that has been made in the tree.

Maintain

Cutting off dead branches and any other browning parts of the tree will help to keep it alive longer. You should also check regularly that the level of water your tree is sat in never goes below the cut you have made, otherwise it will dry up. 

Placing

Where you put your tree can have a big affect on how long it will last. Constantly changing temperatures and excessive heat will dry out your tree. Some people suggest putting your tree next to a de-humidifier to keep it fresher for longer.

Want To Buy A Christmas Tree?

Buy A Christmas Tree Online Here!

For more tips, or to buy any of the products mentioned in this post please visit our website http://www.lanleesupplies.co.uk/Products/Logs_Firewood_Kindling and like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/LanleeSupplies/

Lanlee Guide: How to Make Your Decking Non-Slip!

Lanlee Guide

How To Make Decking Non-Slip!

Algae build-up,  rotting vegetation (for example fallen leaves in the Autumn) and cold,  damp environments are all factors which contribute to the slipperiness of your decking.  Due to the cold, damp weather associated with our country these factors become accentuated and you thus become more at risk of slipping or having a serious injury. For this reason we have compiled a short guide on the steps you should take to weatherproof your decking so that you are less likely to suffer injury.

Clean

Before you do any of the other steps you should make sure that your decking is clean and free from any mould, fungus or algae so that you get the best results possible. To ensure that your decking is fully clean you should use a good quality decking cleaner, and not the traditional soap and water.

Decking Cleaner

It is important to clean your decking at least 2-3 times a year with a good quality decking cleaner such as Cuprinols Decking Cleaner to prevent the build-up of mould and algae on your decking. Using a decking cleaner before staining/varnishing your deck will help you to achieve the best results.

Treat

There are a few different types of treatment you can use on your decking to prevent slipperiness.  These are: Decking Oil and Anti-Slip Decking Stains.

Decking Stain 

Decking Stains help to protect the film surface from Algae and Mould growth whilst also providing a tough and durable finish. Cuprinols Anti-Slip Decking Stain contains invisible anti-slip micro-beads which make your decking much safer than it would be if it was untreated. Good quality decking stains (such as the one previously mentioned) usually have a rich, translucent colour which transfers onto the decking.

Decking Oil

Decking Oils repel water and help to resist mould and algae growth. Decking oil enhances the natural colour of the wood as it replaces the natural oils within the wood that it has lost through weathering. Decking oils however, require to be re-applied more Regularly than a stain.

Add

There are many fixtures which can be bought that provide non-slip qualities without having to add any additional coatings to your decking. The following products can be used in conjunction with a decking oil or stain to provide extra security for you on areas of your decking which may be particularly slippy, such as stairs.

Anti-Slip Plates

Anti-Slip safety plates are ideally suited to grooved decking and steps. Anti-Slip plates give a non-slip surface to decking steps, which is particularly effective during periods of wet and frosty weather. The anti-slip plates found on our website can also be used on metal or concrete surfaces as well as decking due to the fact that they can be mechanically fixed on using screws or nails.

Anti-Slip Tape

Anti-Slip tape can be applied as a quick way to deal with your decking problems. It sticks down easily to most surfaces (Including Decking) and provides good grip in particular problem areas. Anti-Slip tape is cheap to buy, but should not be used as a substitute to treating your decking as it does not provide complete coverage and may have to be re-applied at some point.

(Click Here for a Step-by-Step Guide on how to effectively remove Algae and Fungus from your Decking) 

For more tips, or information on prices please visit our website http://www.lanleesupplies.co.uk/Products/Logs_Firewood_Kindling and like our Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/LanleeSupplies/