Monte Loomis sent pictures and a video of his new method of laying cordwood flooring. Needless to say, I was blown away by the beauty of his self-described “Jig-Saw Puzzle method.”
“For my end grain floor, I used 3/4 inch-thick white cedar. Each piece was cut to fit into the next. About 700 pieces were used. After I cut and fit all of the pieces together, I numbered each piece and pulled them all up.
Next, I glued them down with DriTac Moisture Block 4-In-1 Flooring Adhesive and I also used Bostic Ultra Grip Moisture Control Adhesive.”
Gluing the floor down was like putting a big jigsaw puzzle together. The next step was the finish. I started with two coats of Minwax fast-drying polyurethane for floors. Before I grouted l put two coats of the Minwax poly finish on the cordwood slices. I grouted the cracks and splits with Tec-Power Grout (Ivory Colored). Next, I lightly sanded the floor with 220-grit sandpaper. Then one more coat of Minwax polyurethane (for floors).”
(Below) Portable bandsaw set-up for cutting the cordwood slices.
Bandsaw used for cutting the notches to fit the jig-saw together. Instructions at the end of this post explain how to fit them together.
“For the mortar in my cordwood walls, I used Cellulose Enhanced Mortar (CEM by master cordwood builder Tom Huber). The mortar mix is described in detail in your book Cordwood Construction Best Practices & the Cordwood Workshop DVD. I emailed you before I started and you helped me understand the mix.”
“I must say, I am very happy with that mortar mix. Not being a carpenter I was pretty nervous about starting this project. I am very happy with how it turned out. I studied your books and Rob’s for two years before starting. Having much more confidence in my building skills I have started making end grain tables. I just love the look of cordwood and end grain log ends.” * Additional DIY instructions at the end of this post.
Monte Loomis www.cleanskulls.com
Cordwood Flooring Video by Monte Loomis https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sR4M8AuaA1A
Monte has been making Cordwood Tables FOR SALE using his Cordwood Flooring method. Here are some pictures of his creations.
If you are interested in ordering a table please contact Monte Loomis via his email address for price and shipping.
monteloomis@windstream.net
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 Workshop DVD (2018), Cordwood Construction Best Practices (print 2017) and Cordwood Conference Papers 2015 are the newest publications available from their Online Cordwood Bookstore. The books & DVD are also available as ebooks for a quick and easy shipping free download. www.cordwoodconstruction.org
This is the Cordwood Workshop DVD will show you how to build a best practices cordwood home.
The 30 detailed menu items from the Cordwood Workshop DVD.
Thank you for your kind attention to Cordwood Construction. If you would like more information, please visit www.cordwoodconstruction.org
Or email richardflatau@gmail.com
*Additional information from Monte, should you wish to try this at home: I first cut the slices on a friend’s portable sawmill, then I sanded them with a jet drum sander. This brought them all to exactly 3/4 of an inch.
When the pieces were all cut and fitted together on the floor, I numbered them on top. I numbered them left to right in rows from one side of the building to the other and each piece had two numbers, one on the left side and one on the right. Example- first three pieces were numbered 1 2, 2 3, 3 4 When I put it back together and glued it down the 2 and the 2 side by side, next pieces 3 & 3, side by side, and so on. Once everything was glued to the floor. I sanded the whole floor with an orbital sander. It didn’t take much sanding because I had already put them through the drum sander. My cedar logs were cut and debarked over a year before I used them. After I sliced them they sat in my garage for 6 months. They were dry enough that I couldn’t get a moisture reading on them. I am guessing they were lower than 5%. Before I grouted l put two coats of the Minwax poly finish on the cordwood slices. I am so happy I did. The excess grout was wiped off easily with a damp cloth. Two coats of Minwax poly floor finish before grouting is the reason the grout is wiped up so easily. Next was a quick sanding with an orbital sander with 220 grit sandpaper as recommended on the Minwax can, so my last finish coat will bond better. The sanding removed also the numbers that I wrote on the top of each piece.” -Monte Loomis www.cleanskulls.com
