Dennis Laper built this cordwood cabin (pictures below) AFTER he constructed a gorgeous Stackwall Garden Shed. He built the “Stackwall Corners” first and used them like corner posts.
The Stackwall Garden Shed
The posts, trusses, and roof were installed and then they could work “out of the weather.” The gambrel-style barn roof truss doubles the storage space.
The stackwall corners are stained and the cordwood infill is very attractive and well spaced. The arched door and metal roof add interest and character to the building.
More pictures of the construction of the Garden Shed in this link. https://cordwoodconstruction.org/cordwood-garden-shed-stackwall-style
Cordwood Cabin
While searching for a method to reduce air infiltration in his new log cabin, Dennis decided that he would build a log cabin and frame it with cordwood corners and use six-inch rounds of cedar for the cordwood “look”. It is also known as cordwood siding. The 6×6 beams are white cedar. The cordwood is white cedar cut using a chainsaw chop-saw setup. Total wall thickness is 6″ cordwood, 1″ Styrofoam, 1/2″ OSB, 6″ studs for a total of 13 and a half inches.
The reader can see how the wall appears before the installation of the cordwood siding (left side).
The corners and roof come together nicely in this well-framed cabin. The porch adds a definite warmth to the home.
The stackwall corners bring the unmistakeable cordwood motif to the home.
The OSB and one-inch insulation board are then covered with Building Wrap.
The brick ties offer a method of securing the 6 inch log slices to the siding.
Dennis used CEM or Cellulose Enhanced Mortar which uses borax treated cellulose from the building supply store for the mortar mix.
Another look at the stackwall corners, the wall, and the railings.
The stained framing adds a nice touch to the home. Dennis is still deciding on how to finish the inside. He will let us know when he makes that choice.
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 2005, 2011 & 2015 Cordwood Conferences and provided consultation for cordwood builders. Cordwood Construction: Best Practices DVD (2018), Cordwood Construction Best Practices 2020 (print & ebook) and Cordwood Conference Papers 2015 are the newest publications available from their Online Cordwood Bookstore. www.cordwoodconstruction.org
The Cordwood Workshop DVD is like taking a workshop in your living room.
For more information on Cordwood Construction, click on the picture or visit www.cordwoodconstruction.org