Download or read book Essential Cob Construction written by Anthony Dente and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2024-01-16 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Setting the standard for modern cob construction – from design, engineering, and building code compliance, to sculpting beautiful structures Cob – a mix of clay, sand, and straw – is one of the most popular and well-known natural building methods. Yet cob is often difficult to permit and can be used in inappropriate ways due to a lack of sound engineering and design information. Recent research and a newly developed building code promise to make cob building more accessible than ever. Essential Cob Construction sets the new standard for cob construction. Incorporating rigorous, up-to-date engineering and building science and decades of practical lessons learned, coverage includes: Appropriate use of cob in different climates and contexts Thermal performance and moisture management Structural and architectural design considerations, including fire and earthquake resistance data from extensive laboratory testing Hands-on cob construction, including mix design, testing, manual and mechanical mixing, wall building, strong connections with foundations, roofs, and other structural elements, and finishing options Building code development and the permitting process for cob Planning, budgeting, and quality control The complete Cob Construction Appendix of the International Residential Code. Essential Cob Construction is required reading for engineers, architects, designers, contractors, and owner-builders working with this ancient, aesthetically pleasing, low-carbon building material.

Download or read book The Hand sculpted House written by Ianto Evans and published by Chelsea Green Publishing. This book was released on 2002 with total page 370 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cob, a structural composite of earth, water, straw, clay, and sand, has been used for centuries, in virtually all parts of the world, to create homes ranging from mud huts in Africa to lavish adobe haciendas in Latin America. This practical and inspiring hands-on guide teaches anyone to build a cob dwelling.

Download or read book Essential Light Straw Clay Construction written by Lydia Doleman and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2017-07-01 with total page 266 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first highly illustrated, comprehensive guide to light straw clay - a high performance, low-impact, durable building material Light straw clay - straw mixed with clay slip - is a versatile, easy-to-use wall building material. Also called "slip-straw", its durability has been proven in beautiful, centuries-old buildings across Northern Europe and in modern high-performance buildings in North America. Building code compliant in the US and using "waste" materials with high insulation value and excellent moisture handling qualities, it's both high-performance and low-impact. Yet until now, there has been no practical guide to using the material in a wide variety of construction and renovation projects. Distilling decades of experience, Essential Light Straw Clay Construction is a fully illustrated step-by-step guide, ideal for both the DIYer and professional designer and builder alike. It covers: Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it Estimating quantities, costs, and sourcing Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for mixing and installation, including "slip-chip" variations Detail drawings for various wall systems including stud, timber, and pole framing, Larsen trusses, I-joists, plus retrofits Code references, compliance, and best practice Finishing and maintenance techniques Additional resources. Lydia Doleman , a licenced contractor, taught carpentry and natural building at Solar Energy International in Colorado and was lead ecological builder for Portland's City Repair project. She's created beautiful, high-performance, low-impact buildings across the Northwest, from Portland's first permitted straw bale home and The Rebuilding Center's cob entryway, to a 3,300-sq. f light clay straw brewery. She's written for The Last Straw Journal and Permaculture Activist and appeared on NBC News and HGTV's Off Beat America . Lydia lives in southern Oregon.

Download or read book Building with Cob written by Adam Weismann and published by Uit Cambridge Limited. This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Building with Cob shows how to apply this ancient technique in a wide variety of contemporary situations, covering everything from design and siting, mixing, building walls, fireplaces, ovens and floors, lime and other natural finishes, and gaining planning permission and building regulation approval.

Download or read book Essential Building Science written by Jacob Deva Racusin and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2016-11-28 with total page 163 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Down and dirty – a complete step-by-step guide to making, installing and living with beautiful, all-natural earthen floors Poor heat and moisture management are the enemies of durable, comfortable, and efficient housing, and good building design and construction starts with a solid understanding of good building science. Essential Building Science provides a highly visual and accessible introduction to the fundamentals of building science for residential construction. Part one covers the rationale behind high-performance design and the fundamentals of building physics, including thermal dynamics, moisture transfer, and hygro-thermal dynamics such as vapor drive and condensation. Part two teaches the vital critical thinking skills needed to consider buildings as whole systems and to develop thermal and moisture control strategies regardless of the specifics of the design. Case studies and examples from across North American climatic zones illuminate real-life problems and offer builders, designers, and DIYers the insights and tools required for creating better new buildings and dramatically improving old ones. Good science plus critical thinking equals high performance buildings.

Download or read book Essential Rammed Earth Construction written by Tim Krahn and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2019-01-01 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “All of the essential knowledge for completing a successful rammed earth project. Written by a geo-technical engineer with experience ramming earth.” —Kelly Hart, author, Essential Earthbag Construction Everything you need to know to build with rammed earth in warm and cold climates. Rammed earth—sand, gravel, and clay or lime/cement binder packed into forms—is a low-energy, high-performance building method, yielding beautiful, sustainable results. It’s thermally stable and can be insulated, can actively modulate humidity, provides a healthy indoor environment, and allows site materials to be used for major structural and building envelope elements. Essential Rammed Earth Construction covers design, building science, tools, and step-by-step building methods for any climate, with a special emphasis on building in cold climates of the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. Coverage includes: Overview of earthen building Appropriate use of rammed earth walls Stabilized versus raw rammed earth Design considerations, including structural, insulation, and building envelope details Special considerations for cold and freeze-thaw climates Construction drawings, with step-by-step building instructions Tools and labor covering industrial methods, low-tech techniques, formwork options, mix design, budgets, and schedules Codes, inspections, and permits. This guide is an essential resource for experienced builders, DIY home owners, designers, engineers, and architects. “A much-needed and science-based update to a North American audience of designers, engineers and builders.” —Bruce King. P.E., author, The New Carbon Architecture “ A great book for anyone who wants to deepen their technical knowledge of rammed earth walls systems. It’s very helpful to have a book on rammed earth that is more focused on engineered rammed earth walls for cold climates.” —Clifton Schooley, Clifton Schooley & Associates, Rammed Earth Designers and Builders

Download or read book Essential Natural Plasters written by Michael Henry and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2018-06-26 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A veritable cookbook of natural plaster recipes and techniques for beautiful, durable finishes Natural plasters made of clay, lime, and other materials mixed with sand are beautiful building finishes. Fun to work with, low-impact, and allowing infinite creativity, they are high performance and provide proven, centuries-long durability. Yet until now there's been no resource that has pulled together the best North American plaster recipes and how-to into one place. Essential Natural Plasters covers it all: Sourcing and selecting materials, including site-soils Clay, lime, and gypsum plasters as well as fibers and amendments Interior and exterior use and specialty plasters such as tadelakt for bathrooms Preparing substrates, from straw bales and cob to lath and Sheetrock How to set up a safe, efficient worksite Mixing, testing, tinting, repairing, and applying plasters Coveted recipes from leading plasterers in Ontario, Vermont, New Mexico, France, and New Zealand. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, Essential Natural Plasters is the must-have resource for owner-builders and professionals alike.

Download or read book Essential Cordwood Building written by Rob Roy and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2017-12-05 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cordwood construction - log-ends set in insulated mortar - is a versatile, economical, low-impact, and beautiful building method. Its durability and performance has been proven in beautiful, centuries-old buildings in North America and Europe. Yet until now, there has been no trusted, practical guide to cordwood construction using the material in a wide variety of construction projects. Distilling decades of experience and best practices, Essential Cordwood Building is the first fully illustrated, step-by-step guide to cordwood building. Ideal for the DIYer and professional designer and builder alike, it covers: Wood species selection, log-end length, and seasoning Cement, lime putty, and cob mortar options Wall cavity insulation options Budgeting and estimating Highly illustrated, step-by-step building techniques Window and door frame installation Pointing and chinking, finishing, and plastering Special designs and decorative features Code references, compliance, building science, and best practices Troubleshooting and maintenance

Download or read book The Art of Natural Building written by Catherine Wanek and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2015-03 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The popularity of natural building has grown by leaps and bounds, spurred by a grassroots desire for housing that is healthy, affordable and environmentally responsible. While there are many books available on specific methods such as strawbale construction, cob or timber framing, few other resources introduce the reader to the entire scope of this burgeoning field. Fully revised and updated, The Art of Natural Building is the complete and user-friendly introduction to natural building for everyone from do-it-yourselfers to architects and designers. This collection of articles from 60 leaders in the field is stunningly illustrated with over 400 photos of natural buildings from around the world. At 465 pages, this massive resource is over 50% longer than the original edition. Out of 64 chapters, 26 are new to this edition, and nearly all of the rest have been completely revised to reflect recent developments. Learn about: The case for building with natural materials, from the perspectives of sustainability, lifestyle and health What you need to know to plan and design your own beautiful and efficient natural home Explanations of thirty versatile materials and techniques, each with and up-to-date resource list of where to go for further information and training How these techniques are being used to address housing crises around the world, with 12 case studies from China to Argentina. Clearly written, logically organized and beautifully illustrated The Art of Natural Building is the encyclopedia of natural building.

Download or read book The Cob Builders Handbook written by Becky Bee and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cob (an old English word for lump) is old-fashioned concrete, made out of a mixture of clay, sand, and straw. Becky Bee's manual is a friendly guide to making your own earth structure, with chapters on design, foundations, floors, windows and doors, finishes, and of course, making glorious cob. "I believe that building with cob is a way to recreate community and experience the joy of working together while taking back the right to build our own homes and look after our Mother Earth." She loves doing something that makes sense in a world where lots of things don't.

Download or read book How to Build a House written by George Michael Rentz and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2011-02-18 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In How to Build a House, author and professional engineer George Michael Rentz, PE is informative and entertaining while taking the mystery out of residential construction. With more than thirty-five years in the construction industry, Rentz provides an overview of the information necessary when you are considering buying or building a new home. From the basics of site selection and design to cost estimates and construction, How to Build a House describes all of the steps integral to residential construction from the ground up. Through personal anecdotes, Rentz shows how developing good plans and selecting the right contractor are key to enjoying the process of watching your new home being constructed. How to Build a House provides insight into the construction process in order to avoid the struggles and hassles often associated with home building.

Download or read book Essential Hempcrete Construction written by Chris Magwood and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2016-06-17 with total page 123 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essential guide to hempcrete - a strong, versatile, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient natural insulating material Hempcrete is a versatile, energy-efficient natural insulation material, useful for walls, roofs and floors. Made from the inner stem of the hemp plant mixed with a lime-based binder, it is a very strong, lightweight and breathable alternative to manufactured insulations. Essential Hempcrete Construction is a fully illustrated practical guide to this affordable, renewable method, from procurement to finishing. Going well beyond the scope of many natural building books, this indispensable manual includes a complete introduction to hempcrete, packed with all the information you need to determine whether it's the right choice for your project. It covers: Material specifications, testing and building code references and climate data Detail drawings for design reference Tool lists, and complete step-by-step instructions for mixing and placing hempcrete Finishing and maintenance techniques Budgeting and labor estimates Additional resources. Essential Hempcrete Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Essentials Series. Series editors Chris Magwood and Jen Feigin have scoured the world of sustainable building to bring you the techniques and systems that deliver measureable benefits in terms of greater energy efficiency and reduced environmental impact. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials!

Download or read book Residential Building Design and Construction written by Jack H. Willenbrock and published by Pearson. This book was released on 1998 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The technical presentation of the material is enriched with enough detail to be suitable for academic use in residential construction, construction science, construction management, and building technology programs at universities and colleges while remaining clear enough to be a valuable resource for homebuilders and building code officials.

Download or read book Essential Green Roof Construction written by Leslie Doyle and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2021-11-09 with total page 245 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Simple green roof design and installation for the do-it-yourself builder Essential Green Roof Construction is a comprehensive, in-depth guide to building simple green roofs for houses and small buildings. Packed with detailed photos, illustrations, case studies, and code compliance advice, it offers clear step-by-step instructions necessary to create your own living roof on a new build or as a retrofit. Coverage includes: The benefits of a green roof The basics of planning and design Assessing site conditions such as aspect, slope, and loads Navigating building codes and working with building officials Material options, including professional grade and economical or local alternatives Planting suggestions for different roof climates and conditions, including food production When to call on professionals to ensure safety and integrity Step-by-step guidance for safe roof installation and detailing Annual green roof maintenance. Where common sense meets beauty — a green roof is a system of layers that work together to support plant life, insulate homes, and make the world a greener place. Essential Green Roof Construction will give you the knowledge and confidence to install your own green roof.

Download or read book Essential Prefab Straw Bale Construction written by Chris Magwood and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2016-06-01 with total page 175 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essential guide to prefab straw bale panels - an innovative spin on a widely used natural building method Prefabricated straw bale wall panels combine the performance and low environmental impact of traditional straw bale with reduced labor and more consistent results. These structural insulated panels (SIPs) are built offsite and transported to the job site, or built onsite and "tipped up" into position. Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is a fully illustrated practical guide to this affordable, scalable method. This indispensable manual includes a complete introduction to the use of prefabricated bale walls, packed with all the information you need to determine whether they are the right choice for your project. It covers: Specifications, engineering details and building code references Comprehensive step-by-step instructions and detail drawings Finishing and maintenance techniques Budgeting and labor estimates Additional resources Essential Prefabricated Straw Bale Construction is part of New Society's Sustainable Building Series. Written by the world's leading sustainable builders, designers and engineers, these succinct, user-friendly handbooks are indispensable tools for any project where accurate and reliable information are key to success. Get the Essentials! Chris Magwood is a sustainable builder and designer specializing in green and natural building techniques, the co-founder and co-director of the Endeavour Centre, and the author of several books on sustainable building including Making Better Buildings , More Straw Bale Building and Straw Bale Details .

Download or read book Essential Earthbag Construction written by Kelly Hart and published by New Society Publishers. This book was released on 2018-05-01 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A must-have book for anyone interested in natural and sustainable building. It expands the possibilities with practical and essential information.” —Will Beemer, Director of the Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts and author of Learn to Timber Frame. Build economical and resilient earthbag structures using simple tools and techniques. Earthbag construction—building with polypropylene bags usually filled with earthen materials—is a versatile, easy-to-master, low-impact, and highly durable form of building, suitable for structures from houses to root cellars. Containing over seventy-five photos and illustrations, Essential Earthbag Construction is a practical guide to this affordable method of building. Going well beyond the scope of other sources, this indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine if it’s the right choice for your project, and to start building. Distilling decades of experience, research, and best practices, it covers: Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it Pros and cons of different fills from gravel, to earth and clay, to insulative perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for efficient bag filling and installation Details for various designs, including domes and arches Foundation options and seismic and stability considerations Finishing and maintenance techniques Tools and materials Additional resources. Essential Earthbag Construction presents the practical guidance and best practices for both the DIYer and professional to design and build high-quality earthbag structures. “A comprehensive, practical and inspirational guide that is both detailed and easy to follow.” —Jenny Pickerill, Professor of Environmental Geography, University of Sheffield, UK and author of Eco-Homes: People, Place and Politics “Everything you need to know for success.” —Michael G. Smith, co-editor, The Art of Natural Building and co-author, The Hand-Sculpted House

Download or read book Designing for Hope written by Dominique Hes and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-10-17 with total page 489 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A forward looking book on sustainable design that describes problems and then, by providing a different way to conceptualise design and development, leads on to examples of regenerative solutions. Its aim is to move the discussion away from doing less, but still detracting from our ecological capital, to positively contributing and adding to this capital. This book offers a hopeful response to the often frightening changes and challenges we face; arguing that we can actively create a positive and abundant future through mindful, contributive engagement that is rooted in a living systems based worldview. Concepts and practices such as Regenerative Development, Biophilic Design, Biomimicry, Permaculture and Positive Development are explored through interviews and case studies from the built environment to try and answer questions such as: ‘How can projects focus on creating a positive ecological footprint and contribute to community?’; How can we as practitioners restore and enrich the relationships in our projects?; and ‘How does design focus hope and create a positive legacy?’