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Cordwood CabinCordwood cabin may be just the ticket if you're looking for a low-cost way to build your own home. If you have the time and energy, you can have a home made of cordwood, and best of all, it doesn't take a lot of skills to build one.Building with cordwood involves laying whole or split wood width-wise in a bed of mortar. When you look at a cordwood building, all you see are the ends of the logs, but the wood itself sits on two mortar beds - one that makes up the outside wall and one that makes up the inside wall - each about four inches thick with insulation in between. The insulation is usually made up of lime that has been treated with sawdust and air. The lime/sawdust/vapor insulation helps keep your cordwood cabin snug in the winter and cool in the summer. Early settlers used their cordwood building how to techniques to make homes and other buildings that are still standing today. Cordwood construction is amazingly solid and long-lasting. Advantages of Building With Cordwood Cordwood construction involves using logs such as these and setting them in beds of mortar. Building a home with cordwood costs quite a bit less than a standard wood frame house. Depending on how much labor you do yourself, whether you barter materials and how frugal you are, you can build a home for about $10 a square foot. Because cordwood homes are so well insulated, they keep your house at a more consistent temperature, which means lower heating and cooling bills. But best of all, cordwood houses are easy to build and don't take a lot of skill. But you will need to make sure you meet the necessary building codes in your area. Unlike with a log cabin, you don't need a lot of straight, good-quality timber to build a cordwood building. Crooked and defective trees, along with smaller trees will work just fine. What About Insects and Rot? Cabin, House, Garage and even Barn Plans! You can purchase plans to build the home, garage or barn of your dreams. Click here to learn more. To keep your cordwood building from becoming overrun by termites, you will need to treat your wood by mixing together four cups of 20 Mule Team Borax with a gallon of hot water. Then either spray the mixture on your logs or dunk them in the mixture individually. This will preserve the wood as well as keeping out insects and preventing fungal growth. Also you will need to build a roof with a large overhang, along with gutters to keep excess water from splashing onto your cordwood. But Be AwareA cordwood building will take longer to construct than a conventional home. Expect to devote a lot of time and work in building your cordwood cabin.Getting StartedThere are workshops available both in New York and Wisconsin where for anywhere between $200 and $650, you can acquire hands on, cordwood building how to techniques. There are also several good books available, including the following:
Additional Tips The Right Tools Make the Job Easier Without proper equipment you could become frustrated and give up, so invest in good quality tools before you begin. Find the tools you need. 
Soft woods such as cedar and pine are the best choices for cordwood cabin construction, but you can also use hard woods, although they will be more difficult to work with.
It is crucial that your wood be sufficiently dry. You can test it by burning a log.
If it pops and cracks while it's burning, that means your wood isn't dry enough yet.
If you think you would like to build your own cordwood cabin, start first by building a practice building, such as a dog house, small barn or garage. That way you can get a feel for it and decide which technique works best for you. Learn the safest way to handle a table saw by clicking here. More Helpful Information on HomesteadingDo you feel alone in your zest for homesteading? Find others who share your passion for self reliance. Learn how.Can you work on your homestead full time, and still earn a living? It may take a little creativity, but it can be done. Here's how. Is it still possible to earn your land just by living on it? It is if you're willing to living in a more remote area. Learn more here. Have you ever been curious as to what the term homesteading means? Learn what homesteading means today.  Learn lifesaving tips to survive a global crisis. Click here to view more details Worried about a financial meltdown? You're not alone, and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Click here to learn more. Learn how past generations have been successfully pursuing self sufficiency, and what you can learn from them by reading these books. Read one man's story of what he learned from his grandfather about harvesting wild plants by clicking here Growing your own food is a crucial part of self reliance. But how do you keep it fresh? There is a way if you build a cellar to store your food. Learn how. By building your own hown in the country, you save tons of money, and there are a variety of ways you can build your home. Learn more. Ready to learn how to be more self sufficient? Learn fourteen ways to live off the land by clicking here.  Learn crucial tips to survive any emergency with this helpful resource. Learn why so many people, including me, are turning to homesteading by clicking here. Think you need a large plot of land to pursue the homesteading life? Think again! Learn why you should start homesteading now by clicking here. The self reliant life is great for the individual, but is it good for the nation as well? And what happens when self reliance is destroyed? Learn more by clicking here. Feel guilty because you can't do it all? Homesteading is a life skill that has to be done in degrees to prevent burnout. Learn more. A great, low-cost alternative to traditional building methods is cordwood construction, using split wood and mortar to build your home. Learn more. Agritourism is a fast-growing industry that allows you to earn money off your land while pursuing the self-reliant lifestyle. Want to find out if it's right for you? click here. |
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You Can Build a Chicken Tractor Provides you with step-by-step instructions on how to build a chicken tractor and also provides helpful information on how to get free wood and how your chickens can pay for themselves. Click Here learn more. Search This Site: How I'm Earning an Income at Home with This WebsiteI was determined to stay at home, but also needed a little extra money to make ends meet. Then I learned about Site Build It!When I started this website I had virtually no web building skills.
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- Created by Rob Roy who founded the Earthwood Building School in 1981 and who has given numerous workshops on cordwood construction.
- Also by Rob Roy this book provides plans and all sorts of tips and techniques.
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