Do Oak Logs Make Good Firewood?

Oak is one of the most famous types of wood in the world and especially the UK. The ‘English Oak’ has been a staple of making all sorts of items from furniture to warships. Today, however, it has become a staple to have by your fireplace to burn for warmth. In this article we will look at exactly how good oak is for burning. We will look at its technical properties to see how suitable it is to add to your log pile.

Oak Firewood Density

We have covered in many articles on our website the importance that density plays in burning firewood. Generally speaking, the denser the firewood then the higher the heat output will be per kilogram of wood. This is not all there is to it but it does give a general guide. Oak is famous for being strong, sturdy, and hard and this is represented in its density. With a density rating of around 750 kg/m³, it is one of the heaviest woods commonly found for sale in the UK. Although there are wood types that are heavier and denser such as hickory, these are more commonly sold in the US.

The density of oak means it is an excellent choice for long burning. In fact, oak is the heaviest and densest wood that we sell which means it also has the longest burning time. One of our average oak logs can burn for up to two hours which means it is an excellent choice for long and steady burns. This is partly because oak produces excellent embers that stay hot for a long time.

Advantages of Oak logs

The main advantage of oak logs is longevity due to density. With up to a two-hour burning time, there are very few types of wood for sale in the UK that can beat it. Oak produces long and hot embers for extended periods of time which means a fire can be left burning oak without needing to be topped up.

Oak logs also have a higher calorific value than most of the other types of logs that we sell. This makes oaks excellent value for money as the price for oak is usually the same as other types of wood. But a regular box of oak for example will be heavier (and therefore provide more energy) than a regular bag of silver birch even though it’s the same price.

As well as burning for a long time, oak logs also give off a great aroma and can smell great when burning.

Disadvantages of Oak Logs

Whilst oak is of course an incredibly popular option, there are some drawbacks like there is with any wood. Whilst oak is incredibly dense and will burn for a very long time, its density can make it extremely hard to get lit. A very hot fire is usually needed to ignite the oak logs properly. This is in contrast with something like silver birch logs which will burn and ignite very quickly.