Hey, all you do it yourself cordwood builders out there! I may be a convert to this building technique but need some advice. Does anyone know if humidity poses any problem in terms of comfort or structural integrity. I'll be using Northern White cedar logs. What period of time would be necessary before 18 to 20 inch pieces are cured (air-dried) to avoid shrinkage?

-- Wyman Bradford (dfb@hawknet.ca), June 22, 2001

Answers

I am so glad to see this question, as cordwood construction has intrigued me for years. I hope to use it myself in the future (if I can convince hubby.) Am looking forward to seeing the answers.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), June 22, 2001.

Dry for 6 mo. minimum... preferably a yr. if possible. Have you read any of Rob Roy's books? He is a real Guru on the subject.

-- Tom T. (cathom@worldnet.att.net), June 24, 2001.

Well, sometimes it pays to check the online issues of Countryside. There was a rather detailed article about cordwood construction in the April/May issue and its online at:

http://www.coun trysidemag.com/issues/3_2001.htm

Check it out. Should answer a lot of questions.

-- Sojourner (sojournr@missouri.org), June 24, 2001.

WYMAN.....THE PEOPER TIME FRAME TO HAVE YOUR LOGS PROPERLY AIR DRY WOULD BE 2-3 YEARS.IT TAKES THAT LONG FOR THE LOGS TO REACH THEIR EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE CONTENT.[REACHES THE AMBIANT AIR MOISTURE LEVEL] I HAVE THE EQUILIBRIUM MOISTURE LEVELS FOR MOST OF THE WORLD. ONCE YOU KNOW THE EMC`S FOR YOUR AREAS .THEN WITH A MOISTURE METER WHEN YOU MEET THAT VALUE THEY WOULD BE READY.OTHERWISE YOU WAIT. NOW AS FOR HUMIDITY INSIDE A CORDWOOD HOUSE.MOISTURE TRAVELS THROUGH LOGS FROM A HIGHER MOISTURE AREA TO A LOWER MOISTURE AREA.LOGS BREATH AND SHOULDN`T BE SEALED.EVEN THOUGH A FAMILY OF 4 PUTS ABOUT 136 LITRES OF MOISTURE IN THE AIR A DAY.CORDWOOD CAN HANDLE IT.I`VE NEVER HEARD OF A CORDWOOD GETTING MUSTY INSIDE. MOISTURE PERMIATES THROUGH THE LOGS AND MORTAR.THE WALLS GAIN MOISTURE IN THE WET SEASONS AND LOSES IT IN THE DRYER SEASONS. ONCE YOU BUILD WITH YOUR LOGS AND KEEP THEM OFF THE GROUND.YOUR LOGS ARE BASICLY PRESERVED.IT IS ONLY WHEN THE MOISTURE LEVEL EXCEEDS 19% THAT YOUR LOGS MIGHT ROT. MOST CORDWOOD BOOKS TALK ABOUT A 10% MOISTURE CONTENT OF AIR DRIED LOGS...BUT THIS IS A MYTH.THERE ARE ONLY 10 AREAS IN ALL OF NORTH AMERICA WHERE THIS CAN BE OBTAINED.[I KNOW OF HOUSES HEATED FOR 8 YEARS THAT COULD ONLY GET IT DOWN TO 12%.]THERE ARE 3-4 AREAS WHERE I WOULDN`T RECOMMEND CORDWOOD TO BE BUILT AS WELL THE EMC`S EXCEED 19% MAKING THE LOGS PRONE TO ROT. SINCE SOME CORDWOOD STRUCTURES EXIST OVER 1000 YEARS OLD. I DON`T THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRATY DURING YOUR LIFE TIME. CORDWOOD IS ALMOST FOOL PROOF.IT HAS ALL KINDS OF SAFETY FEATURES BUILT IN.SHRINKAGE ISN`T A PROBLEM ONCE YOU KNOW THE PROPERTIES OF WOOD[PROPER FEELING,PROPER SELECTION,WHAT ONES CHECK BADLY,PROPER SEASONING TECHNIQUES,WHICH ONES RESISTANT TO DECAY. BEST INSULATION TO USE IN THE CAVITY ETC].YOUR CHOICE OF CEDAR IS GOOD.SLOW CURING OF THE MORTAR ALSO CUTS BACK ON AIR PENETRATION. EVEN AFTER YOU GET YOUR LOGS PROPERLY AIR DRIED.AFTER YOU HEAT THE HOUSE THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SEASON A LITTLE MORE FROM 2-8 YEARS LONGER.

CORDially YOURS CORDWOODGUY

PS:DROP BY TO MY BOARD.THERE ARE OVER 200 MEMBERS AND MY BOARD ISN`T MODERATED BY A NEWBEE.[I HAVE 27 YEARS EXPERIENCE WITH CORDWOOD AND 10 MORE WITH LOG BUILDING.PLUS I WAS LICENSED TO TEACH IT BACK IN 1979].I HAVEN`T BEEN STUMPED WITH A CORDWOOD QUESTION YET.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cordwood

-- CORDWOODGUY (cordwoodguy@n2teaching.com), August 13, 2001.