Flannel Man Updates

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Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:40:37 GMT

How to Stack Firewood

Winter’s coming and you’ve hauled, gathered and split a big stack of firewood – now what? Stacking firewood properly is the next crucial step in the process.

Keep reading to learn the best ways to store firewood so it will dry, season and remain protected all year.

The Best Way to Store Firewood

Properly stacked firewood doesn’t just look nice. When you stack firewood neatly, it stays dry, seasons better over time and discourages any critters looking for a new home. And well-seasoned firewood burns more efficiently and brightly.

Materials

Gardening or work gloves

Plastic bin for kindling

Plastic tarp

Optional: Wooden pallet or storage rack

Planning Your Woodpile

Evaluate your firewood before you start stacking. Note how much variation in size and shape you have and split any large logs if necessary. Sort very small pieces into a plastic bin for kindling and store it in a cool dry space. Sort the rest of your wood into small, medium and large pieces.

If you don’t have a firewood rack or convenient dry shed, there are a few inexpensive solutions to keep your pile neat and stable:

Build a simple firewood storage rack following Mr. Handyman’s guide.

Put down a pallet to keep the wood off the ground.

Tree supports: Look around your property for two trees that can serve as bookends to your firewood stack. This can be a good short-term solution, although over time it might damage the bark on your trees.

Wood end-pillars: Use the firewood you already have. Look for very flat uniform pieces. Build two pillars a few yards apart by layering wood in a square shape then repeating the same in the crosscutting direction for the next layer. Pack tightly.

How to Stack Firewood Outdoors

Now that you have chosen a method of stabilizing your wood pile, begin stacking the firewood. Place split pieces bark-side up to protect against moisture. Start by stacking the smallest pieces on one end of your pile. These are the pieces you’ll burn first with each fire. Stack medium pieces next to these. End with the largest pieces at the far end of the pile. Now, when you build a fire, you can work from one end of the pile to the other in layers.

Leave enough space between multiple stacks of firewood for air to travel through. The irregular shape of the split wood will help everything season.

If your wood isn’t in a shed, cover it with a plastic tarp between uses. Only cover the top third of the pile to allow the wood to breathe and air to circulate.

Using Your Outdoor Wood Pile

If you love wood fires and want to invest in more long-term storage solutions, Mr. Handyman can help you build a wood shed or storage rack. Call (877) 685-1377 or make an appointment online today.

Now that you have stacked your firewood, it’s time to enjoy fires all season long. Dreaming of s’mores? Build the perfect outdoor firepit with help from The Grounds Guys, another trusted brand part of the Neighborly network.

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:31:17 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

brice@businesslaunchkit.com (Brice Wheeler) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:31:17 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality

When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication

Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO

Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free

Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand

A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

brice@businesslaunchkit.com (Brice Wheeler) — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 17:31:16 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.