Cliff Shockey is the inventor of the energy-efficient, high R-value (40+) cordwood technique called Double Wall Stackwall.
If you live in a cold climate or want to build a home that will be super-insulated, this is one of the techniques to investigate.
We dedicated the Cordwood Conference Papers 2015 to Cliff with the following message:
“We humbly dedicate this set of Papers to our “Stackwall Brother,” Cliff Shockey of Saskatchewan, Canada. Cliff, the inventor of the “Double-Wall Stackwall Method,” has been an indefatigable champion for well-built cordwood homes in cold climates. He is one of the finest human beings on the planet and one of the speediest stackwall stackers known to man.”
Cliff’s book, Stackwall Construction: Double Wall Technique is available as an ebook at the Online Cordwood Bookstore. Click the link to find out more.
Cliff’s book won the Harrowsmith Award for Energy Efficiency.
Cliff was proud of the time and effort he put in to win the Harrowsmith Award.
Note the horizontal mason’s line, which gives the builder a method of keeping the walls level and plumb.
Cliff inspired many others to follow his double wall-building technique. In cold climates the wall approaches R-40 depending on which insulation you choose (Cliff used rigid fiberglass batts, others have used sawdust/lime, perlite, and foam).
Beautiful double-wall in Peace River, Alberta.
Another picture of Cliff teaching double wall at the Cordwood Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 2011.
Alan Stankevitz used double-wall with paper-enhanced mortar on his two-story cordwood masterpiece
Cliff also taught a workshop for this Quonset (Arched) Cordwood Hut in Saskatchewan, Canada.
Cliff’s insurance building was built with 2″ x 12′” trusses infilled with double wall cordwood.
Cliff inspired Clint and Cindy Cannon in building their double-wall cordwood and strawbale/balewall home in Manitoba.
This double-wall beauty is on Vancouver Island and is built with Western Red Cedar.
Note: It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Cliff has passed on (July 10, 2025). He was a wonderful, kind, talented, humorous man who walked the walk and helped others who needed assistance. He will be sorely missed.
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
