SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTIONS MATERIAL

CORDWOOD
CONSTRUCTION
FYMCI2008
Kalpesh Khairnar
SUITABLE WOOD TYPES

• The most desirable rot-resistant woods are Bald Cypress (new growth),
Cedars, and Juniper. Acceptable woods that grow in our area also include:
Eastern White Pine and Poplar.
• The wood needs to be cured for 6-12 months and the bark must be removed
from the cordwood.
WHERE CORDWOOD CONSTRUCTION IS
USED
• Cordwood homes are most commonly found in woodland areas & mountains.
• They are usually not located in suburbs or urban areas.
• Wood usually accounts for about 40- 60% of the wall system
with the remaining portion consisting of a mortar mix and
insulating fill. Regular lumber, mortar, logs, concrete, and
sawdust can be used for insulation, and the walls typically
range between 12 and 24 inches thick, but up to 36 inches in
colder climates.
BASIC STEPS IN CONSTRUCTING A
CORDWOOD HOME
Lay two beads of mortar

Fill the insulation cavity in the middle (a good insulation is sawdust

mixed with lime, but other insulating materials can also be used)
• Set in the mortar beads (provides an insulation R-value of 1.5 per
inch of wall).
ADVANTAGES OF CORDWOOD
CONSTRUCTION:
This type of construction provides a use for waste wood that would
otherwise end up being discarded, such as pieces that are unsuitable for
firewood.

Cordwood is affordable. In many cases, you can obtain free scrap-wood

from sawmills, log cabin builders, or furniture makers.

Using local building materials cuts down on fossil fuel use for
transportation.
• Many homeowners can do much of the work themselves-the main
things you need to do are mix mortar and use tools to cut the logs, such
as a buzzsaw or chainsaw.
DISADVANTAGES OF CORDWOOD
CONSTRUCTION
Though cordwood construction exhibits good compression strength, it
typically functions best as infill within a post-and-beam structure.

Wood should be debarked before use, and it should ideally be dried for
a year before construction begins, so you must plan ahead.

The aesthetic is not for everyone, and if you aren’t a fan of the rustic
look, cordwood might not be a good fit for your home.
• This type of wall construction does not admit a lot of natural light,
and it can be challenging to incorporate electrical wires and
plumbing pipes.
 MORTAR
• Various experts advise different recipes for mortar mix.
• One recipe which has proven to be successful since 1981 is 9 parts
sand, 3 sawdust, 3 builder’s lime (non-agricultural), 2 Portland
cement by volume.
• Builder’s lime makes the wall more flexible, breathable, and self-
healing because it takes longer to completely set than cement.
THANK

YOU