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In the northern United States there is a new trend: build houses with firewood. They are similar to traditional wooden houses, ecological and economic, only built with the pieces that are usually used to make a fire in a fireplace and heat the room.
Rob and Jaki Roy have been building this type of house, with firewood and mortar, since the 1970s. They live in upstate New York, not far from the Canadian border. Finally, after years of experience, they created a building technique teaching center, the Earthwood Building School. But there is more: it is estimated that, in North America, there are between two hundred and three hundred houses with firewood and mortar under construction and some 1,500 already built. Keep reading this Green Ecologist article to learn more about these ecological houses.
Build houses with firewood
According to proponents of the technique, anyone who knows how to stack firewood can build a house. You just have to place the pieces of firewood, which must have the same length, although they may have different widths and shapes, in order to raise the wall. The remaining empty spaces are filled with mortar. Then a mixture of sawdust is added with a little lime. Finally, a compact and insulating mass is formed.
You have to take some precautions. Above all, it is essential that the wood is dry to prevent it from shrinking or shrinking. Therefore, it is advisable to put it dry for a year.
The type of wood also plays a role. Very fine woods, such as oak or maple, tend to shrink, even when dry. Therefore, experts advise using white cedar, white pine, or fir. Between log and log, you can also place bottles, pieces of glass, shells, etc. In this way, a more personal touch is given and waste is reused.
The reason for their popularity, in any case, is not only ecological: they are cheaper houses. It is estimated that a square meter can cost about $ 220 (about 170 euros), a fifth of what the cheapest traditional construction would cost. Another advantage is that it can be built quickly and easily: a family with the right knowledge can build one of these houses in weeks.
If you want to read more articles similar to Houses with firewood, we recommend that you enter our category of Architecture and urbanism.
