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RE: A summer of building a cordwood cabin! Part 3
What I'm really interested in is how this stacks against a thick layer of rockwool insulation for example. I think insulation must be top priority for people in colder climates... As we don't have nearly enough wood in the country and almost nobody sells peeled logs, and the ones that do have a super high price, it'll be probably twice as expensive to do this kind of building technique, compared to even brick and mortar. But I do agree it looks very very nice! I also have my doubts about pine, as it rots quite easily, compared to cedar for example, or black locust.
I really recommend looking into Rob Roy’s books! Your concerns will be eased I’m very sure. This type of building is super affordable compared to buying insulation and the like... high quality wood isn’t necessary as the mortar keeps the wood in a “fossilized” state, keeping moulds and bacteria away with the lack of oxygen. Big overhangs are a must to keep it all as dry as possible.
I sure will do, I gotta research this thing! It seems improbable for the mortar to deprive the wood of oxygen, seeing that the most permeable part - the cross section - is exposed on both sides. Where's that moisture gonna go? Would it be sucked up by the mortar (that would be structurally bad)? Do you pressure treat the wood prior to building with it?
Please read his books you won’t be nearly as skeletal after! His website also answers FAQs like the questions you may have.