Cordwood Building, Revised Edition

by Rob Roy and Friends

Cordwood building (also called stackwall or stovewood masonry) is one of the most economical ways to build a shed, garage or house.

The method is simple: softwood logs (cedar or poplar are ideal choices) are cut into short lengths and stacked like firewood with mortar and insulation between the blocks. The result is a low-cost wall that is well insulated and virtually soundproof. Usually no siding is used on the outside and minimal finishing on the inside of the walls, which results in low cost of construction. The author of this book, Rob Roy, has taught the method for more than 25 years.

The book is divided into four parts. The first gives a historical overview (cordwood buildings hundreds of years old are still standing) and a basic primer on how to construct the walls. The next part has several chapters, all written by authors experienced with building cordwood structures, and they cover the most up-to-date techniques, including a double-wall technique for superior insulation, the Lomax corner technique, making both curvilinear and rectangular structures, electrical wiring in cordwood construction, preventing shrinkage, etc. The third part is made up of 10 chapters written by different authors giving examples of cordwood buildings in many parts of the world. The fourth and final part talks about code issues, working with the building inspector and building a mortgage-free cordwood home.

Softcover, 8" × 9", 288 pages, revised 2016.