Exterior Cordwood Wall Construction

My wall is a sandwich of cordwood, clay/sawdust slip, and earthen plaster. I'm finally constructing the exterior cordwood wall.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• cordwood
• clay
• cob
• strawbale
• papercrete
• natural
• building
• green

[frediab]

Did you do this wall all by yourself? And do the mixer allow you to work by yourself as opposed to having to convince family and friends to help with the work?

[packymck]

@frediab

I do all the work in my spare time, all by myself. It's no problem working by the mixer load. On the average, it would take me about two hours to mix, place, and point each mix....

[d5a4m3o2n1]

Why didn't you use cob for the mortar instead of cement and lime? It works just as well. I'm mean we're talking about sticks which probably aren't even a pound a piece. The cob is most definitely strong enough (I've done it).

[packymck]

@d5a4m3o2n1

I agree that cob can be used as mortar. If you look, I use cob in a lot of places. I'm trying to get experience in all phases of natural building, so I try to use different techniques here and there. I like cob, but the tarp and foot method for this old man can be stressful. That's another reason for utilizing other natural techniques. Papercrete could've been used too.

[d5a4m3o2n1]

@packymck You know, a cement mixer does a pretty good job with cob I've heard. I'm going to try it out this spring.

[packymck]

@d5a4m3o2n1

That's how I do cob. I mix the clay, sand and water in the cement mixer. Then I pour

it out onto a large tarp, and mix in the straw with my feet. Goes fast. I can't do the

tarp method exclusively. Wears this old butt out.....

[veodoro]

@packymck about wood that goes inside a wall. i'l do test building at home for chickens. to see how this is working.

[packymck]

@veodoro

Are you talking about the cordwood? or the wood shelf that I'm building on?

The bottom is a 6" wall of cob, treated lumber shelf, and then a 6" wall of

cordwood. The cob will easily support the cordwood above by using the

shelf to spread the weight of the cordwood along the cob wall. the shelf

works as a bond beam....also, I'm waiting a year or two for everything to

settle, just in case, before doing finish work/plaster/etc...

[veodoro]

what about wood ? it have to be really dry, right ? if its still fresh then wall gets loosend up by time ?

[gavinandzandra]

Looks good. I am fixing to build me and my family a house on our own acreage here in Idaho. I am also getting ready to start work on building my father a garage at his retirement cabin in the woods. Best of luck!