Cordwood Primer
If you were going to sit down and figure out one of the simplest ways to build a shelter, cordwood would have to be near the top choices you would arrive at. Cordwood construction is the perfect family project and it also offers some of the best insulation values you can achieve.
The one negative to using this technique is the time required. You see, each one of those beautiful logs needs to be peeled clean before being set in your walls. If this is done by hand you can expect many tedious and perhaps frustrating hours seeing to this task.
We did find this mechanical device that attaches to a chain saw that is claimed to peel logs very efficiently. We can’t attest to it’s effectiveness, but offer this picture and a link to further information on it. The Log Wizard
Hopefully this will wet your appetite enough to do some further research into this natural and highly energy efficient form of alternative construction.
The Log Wizard
Here is another great blog on building a Cordwood House with lots of nice photos.
In this video you will see cordwood construction details displayed and explained. The type pf mortar is explained as well.
Comments (3)
I’m building a cordwood shed right now, and, if you know your trees, you don’t have to spend tedious hours peeling logs. Standing dead oaks lose their bark *before* they rot and fall. Standing dead oaks are pretty easy to spot, anyone who hunts for their own firewood in the woods will easily point one out because the wood is already dried a.k.a. “seasoned”, which makes them a perfect target for someone who doesn’t have a year to season a cord of wood from a living tree. Have fun : )
ALEX………OAK IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE .RED OAK AS AN EXAMPLE YOU CAN BLOW THROUGH THE END GRAIN.SOMETHING YOU WOULDN`T WANT IN A WALL.
CORDWOODGUY
ciao!, thank u for the info, this post was very cool ! oooops! now it’s time to go back to my garden !