A beautiful cordwood cabin done the “right way” using Best Practices. The owners were meticulous and made sure every part of the cabin was finished properly. The full walk-out basement required extra support. The cabin rests in the middle of 320 acres of hardwood and conifer forest. This 28′ x 36′ cordwood cabin was built on a full basement. The engineer made certain the foundation was able to handle the significant weight of a 16″ cordwood wall. An 8′ high cordwood wall weighs 500 to 700 pounds per lineal foot. So every four feet you have a ton of weight sitting on your foundation. NOTE: People have been asking about the plans for Cordwood on a Basement. This cabin’s basement specs are featured in a comprehensive article in the Cordwood Conference Papers 2005 available for $10 at the Online Cordwood Bookstore
This is the engineering drawing of the modifications made to compensate for the additional weight of a cordwood wall. The cordwood posts are red pine & cedar and the cordwood infill is pine, cedar and aspen. The basement was “capped” with a floor and the framework was added to the wooden sub-floor. Boo Boo the bear cub walks across the central rafter log. The heavy timber framing makes for a very attractive cabin. The sliding glass doors are attached to a large deck which overlooks a small spring fed pond.
A view from the loft. The cabin boasts four bedrooms and a loft with sleeping quarters. It also has an indoor sauna and an off-grid system.
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 Video label.
These are the 30 menu sections from the Cordwood Workshop DVD.