Blood, sweat and tears went into planning this incredible building in the western Rockies. The owner wishes to remain anonymous, so I cannot provide her name or location. It is architecturally drawn and code approved and when finished will offer the owner/builder a spectacular view of several mountain peaks. The drawing below is meant to let the mountain peak come into view at every glance.
Post framing allows for the roof to be built and the builders and supplies stay dry and out of the elements.
The post framing alone has been a work of art. They decided to go with post framing with metal brackets and not traditional timber framing.
Most of the wood is cut and milled from the site. The builders are using pieces like this massive horizontal log (below) as a centerpiece beam for the interior of the home.
The posts and beams are being lifted using old fashioned muscle power.
Below, one of the side elevations. Even if you don’t have an architect to draw your elevations, it is very helpful to sketch what the exterior will look like. This can lead to positive window, door, roof and porch modifications once the building is on paper and before things are nailed and screwed in place.
Should you wish to learn how to build a cordwood cottage, cabin or home, please visit www.cordwoodconstruction.org While you are there, click on the pictures, read the brief articles, check out the latest workshops and newsletter and if you are interested click on the Online Bookstore to see all the cordwood literature available in print and ebook format.
If you have questions that aren’t answered on the website you can email me at richardflatau@gmail.com
Readers have requested a brief bio, so here goes:
“Richard & Becky Flatau built their mortgage-free cordwood home in 1979 in Merrill, Wisconsin. Since then, they have written books, conducted workshops, facilitated the 2005, 2011 and 2015 Cordwood Conferences and provided consultation for cordwood builders. Cordwood Construction: Best Practices DVD, Cordwood Construction Best Practices (print) and Cordwood Conference Papers 2015 are the newest publications available from their online cordwood bookstore.” www.cordwoodconstruction.org
Here is a photo of the new Cordwood Construction DVD cover available at https://cordwoodconstruction.org/bookstore
