Here are the best cordwood photo galleries I could find. They include good basic info and links to other cordwood resources. Enjoy.
“Also known as Stackwall, Stovewood, Firewood or Cordwood Masonry. Short lengths of debarked trees (cordwood) are laid with a mixture of mortar and insulating materials – such as sawdust or spray foam – in between the mortar. The longer the length of the logs, the better the insulation qualities. 12 inches to 18 inches is most common and wood species will also determine insulating value. On average, a 12 inch wide wall will have a 20-25 R value.”
Source: Inspiration Green.com Cordwood Construction
Source: Inspiration Green.com Cordwod Homes
Image source: Cordwood Pole Shed at Treehaven
Image source: Sojourn Cabin
Image source: Masonry Design blog
Cordwood Building: The State of the Art by Rob Roy
“Cordwood masonry is an ancient building technique whereby walls are constructed from “log ends” laid transversely in the wall. It is easy, economical, aesthetically striking, energy-efficient, and environmentally sound.
Cordwood Building collects the wisdom of more than 25 of the world’s best practitioners, detailing the long history of the method, and demonstrating how to build a cordwood home using the latest and most up-to-date techniques, with a special focus on building code issues.
Author/editor Rob Roy has been building, researching, and teaching about cordwood masonry for 25 years and, with his wife, started Earthwood Building School in 1981. He has written 10 books on alternative building, presented four videos—including two about cordwood masonry—and has taught cordwood masonry all over the world.
Considering Cordwood , what is any drawbacks has anyone found?
You need an abundant source of suitable wood and a chainsaw. This works in certain areas. In the far north you’d want to add exterior insulation.
Craig from Maine, check out Rob Roy’s website on cordwood house building. He explains how to build, warns to NOT seal the wood (it needs to breathe), and is one of the world’s leading experts. He has lived in a cordwood house for over 30 years. I remember reading about his home in the Mother Earth magazine back then. I have studied many different styles of building over the years and plan to use cordwood for one of my outbuildings once we are ready for our move.
I love the look :)
I like the simplicity, it seems very easy to cut logs to a particular length and stack them.
But I’ve heard they shrink and can rot if untreated, or something like that. I wonder if the cut logs are better to be left out to dry for a year, or maybe dunked in polyurethane or something ?
A home like this would be great if you buy wooded property, I bet :)
It seems easier than building a conventional log cabin.
(I like easy and affordable, it’s a tough economy and I’m no carpenter LOL)
Keep up the good work !
Craig
Most of these homes are in or near Wisconsin where lots of wood is available. It can be a good option for some. I would use rot resistant cedar wood that was carefully dried under cover for 2 or more years. Build wide roof overhangs to keep water and snow off the walls.