Getting a pallet of logs with no back garden access

If you live in a terrace with no driveway and no back garden access, you can still get a pallet of logs or buy in bulk. Your choices are large bags you can carry or barrow through, a pallet set down at the front that you move round in loads, or a smaller order now with top-ups through the winter. The right one depends on where you can keep the wood dry, not just where it can be dropped off. Tell us about your access when you order and we will help you pick.

Why a pallet of logs is harder without back access

A pallet arrives as one big, heavy unit. It can't be wheeled through a hallway or down a narrow entry as it is, so it has to be set down somewhere flat that can be reached from the road. On a street of terraces with no front garden, that may only be your doorstep or a small forecourt.

That is a common situation on terraced streets in Liverpool, Bootle and Birkenhead. Our Liverpool and Birkenhead pages explain why bags often suit those streets better.

Your options with no back garden access

Large bags, carried or barrowed through

The Large Bag is 80 x 80 x 80cm, about half a cubic metre of logs. It is the cheapest bag per cubic metre we sell. Measure your front door and any gate or entry before ordering: if the bag won't fit, you can empty it at the front and move the logs through in a wheelbarrow or log basket.

The Barrow Bag, at 50 x 50 x 100cm, is narrower and easier to handle through a house.

A pallet at the front, moved in loads

If you have a forecourt or front garden with room for it, a Small Pallet can still work. You then move the logs to your store a few loads at a time. It is the most work, but it is the cheapest way to buy a season's wood. Keep the pavement clear, and don't leave the logs uncovered while you work through them.

A smaller order now, topped up through winter

HETAS suggests that if your storage only holds part of your winter's wood, you top up the gap with bags during the season. Two or three large bags at a time is a sensible middle ground for a small yard.

Bags vs a pallet at a glance

For a fuller comparison of every size, see what size of firewood do I need.

Where to stack the logs once they're through

Defra's advice is to keep firewood under cover and in the dry, off the ground and with the sides open to the air. In a small yard that usually means a slim log store against a wall, a covered rack, or a corner with a roof over the top and bearers underneath. Our guide on how to store logs in a small yard goes through it step by step.

Work out where the wood will live before you decide how much to order. HETAS warns that badly stored wood delivered at 20% moisture can be back above 25% by spring, which wastes the money you saved by buying in bulk.

What to tell us when you order

Message us on WhatsApp or ring us when you order, through our contact page, and tell us:

• whether you have a driveway, front garden, forecourt or none
• whether there is a gate, step or narrow entry, and roughly how wide
• whether there is permit parking or a busy road outside
• where you would like the logs left

That way we can suggest the size that suits your street.

Common mistakes

• Ordering a pallet with no plan for where it goes. Think about the drop point and the store before you buy.
• Burning the pallet. Defra says not to burn treated waste wood such as old furniture, pallets or fence panels, because it can give off toxic fumes.
• Buying a big, cheap load of unknown wood. In England, wood sold in units under two cubic metres must be certified. Loads of two cubic metres or more can be sold wet, but must come with a written notice saying the wood needs drying first. Check before you pay.
• Leaving logs out at the front overnight. HETAS notes that rain, sleet and snow undo prior drying and push the moisture content back up. Move it or cover it the same day.

Questions people ask

Can I get a pallet of logs with no driveway?

Often, yes, if there is a flat spot at the front where it can be set down and you are happy to move the logs through yourself. If there isn't, large bags are the easier route. Tell us about your access when you order and we will advise.

How do I get logs through a terraced house?

Unload them at the front and move them in a wheelbarrow, log basket or sack truck, a few loads at a time. Put a dust sheet down in the hall first.

Is a pallet cheaper than bags?

Usually, per cubic metre, because you are buying in bulk. It only saves money if you can keep the wood dry until you burn it.

How many bags would I need instead of a pallet?

That depends on how much you burn. Our guide to how long a bag of logs lasts shows how to work out your weekly use and turn it into a number of bags.

Ordering for a terraced street

All our logs are kiln-dried to 20% moisture or below and delivered free across Merseyside, West Lancashire and the Wirral. For most terraces without back access, the Large Bag or Barrow Bag is the practical choice. If you have room at the front and a dry store behind, the Small Pallet is the way to stock up for the season.