Sustainable building: Cordwood masonry

Welcome to our Community
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Feel free to Sign Up today.
Sign up

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
There are cordwood buildings still standing that were over a hundred years old when William the Bastard conquered England

 

ShatsBassoon

Throwing bombs & banging moms
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
18,604
33,621
Lumber is cheaper than concrete.

Judging by the homelite chainsaw I would wager this guy does most his shopping at cambodian tire.
 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
When that video was shot homelite was still a good saw. They were right up there with Stihl, Husqs and saks Dolmers. I've sawn many a whisky bolt and RR tie with an old homelite. It was only when they done got chinatized that they went to hell in a hand basket.
 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
And not even the wildest dopester in the country would say that mortar is more expensive than lumber, especially squaw wood that is worked up by the builder. Don't never go full retard.
 

SC MMA MD

TMMAC Addict
Jan 20, 2015
5,730
10,918
I'm buying one of these bad boys,

They sell a version of that at Northern Tool for around $150. Used it at a friends to debark small logs for a split rail fence. Works well if you dedicate a bar to it, way faster than a draw knife. The log tends to look rough (it is hard to keep even pressure on it when moving up and down the log), but since you won't be able to see the edges of your logs in the wall anyways it should be fine.
 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
They sell a version of that at Northern Tool for around $150. Used it at a friends to debark small logs for a split rail fence. Works well if you dedicate a bar to it, way faster than a draw knife. The log tends to look rough (it is hard to keep even pressure on it when moving up and down the log), but since you won't be able to see the edges of your logs in the wall anyways it should be fine.
I have the one that attaches to a angle grinder which works ok. I used to square beams with a chainsaw,chalk line and axe, so the chainsaw attachment looks awesome
 

ShatsBassoon

Throwing bombs & banging moms
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
18,604
33,621
And not even the wildest dopester in the country would say that mortar is more expensive than lumber, especially squaw wood that is worked up by the builder. Don't never go full retard.
Yeah try getting a mortar exterior approved through architectural control. By all means, if you have the means and the property outside any city regulations, I'd encourage this development.
Myself I would just build a log house. A lot more practical and esthetically pleasing.
 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
Was he using cement to mix his own concrete?
Not sure what he is using, standard mortar mix by the look, I know a lot of builders have their own mixture ratio, in Britain they use cob, which is clay,chopped straw and lime
 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
Yeah try getting a mortar exterior approved through architectural control. By all means, if you have the means and the property outside any city regulations, I'd encourage this development.
Myself I would just build a log house. A lot more practical and esthetically pleasing.
How would a full log house be more practical? As far as aesthetically pleasing, i guess that's in the eye of the beholder.





 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
As far as building codes, where i'm at we have none. There would be open rebellion if some county bureaucrat tried to tell the farmers they couldn't build pole barns. And the mortar is no different than the mortar holding the bricks together at the local school. Or any different than a slip formed stone house.

 
Last edited:

ShatsBassoon

Throwing bombs & banging moms
First 100
Jan 14, 2015
18,604
33,621
How would a full log house be more practical? As far as aesthetically pleasing, i guess that's in the eye of the beholder.
P!




As far as building codes, where i'm at we have none. There would be open rebellion if some county bureaucrat tried to tell the farmers they couldn't build pole barns. And the mortar is no different than the mortar holding the bricks together at the local school. Or any different than a slip formed stone house.

Entirely subjective. It really comesndown to the resources available and costs in the area...

But...

 

sebastien haff

First 100
First 100
Jan 15, 2015
1,080
1,016
Those are nice, but the cordwood,sand,post and beams are free, all i have to buy is a new motor for my old mixer, enameled metal roofing and the portland.
 

teamquestnorth

Lindland never cheated
Jan 27, 2015
15,422
28,226
Idk the log homes look much better IMO.

Im from the NW in the states though and these kind of homes are quite common. I'm just not used to the cobblestone I guess.