Cordwood/Earthship combo?

[Nik]

If someone want to do most of the walls and framing, and then build a greenhouse off of the front. Would it be possible to do this and still build up the thermal mass along the sides with dirt, and roof> Water propping sealant would be need for the wall and ceilings for the don't drip or leak over time?

[texican]

I'd want a rot resistant variety of wood, if I were using cordwood in conjunction with a greenhouse... the moisture would wreak havoc, I'd think.

[sisterpine]

moisture is a problem for most wood...and most people, though we are all mostly water?? I had an insulated wood green house and the wood did not seem real happy to me. My neighbor had a really nice cord wood art studio that seemed to hold up well during the winters etc in Montana. On the other hand I really like earthship type buildings...just wish there were enough left of me to build one.

[K.B.]

The greenhouses on earthships are integrated as part of the overall house. The earthship style houses tend to be more popular in arid climates. So long as you build with material breathes, I wouldn't think you would end up with too many moisture issues.

There are lots of ways to get more mass inside a house. The rammed-earth tires that the earthship design uses are one way... masonry and cob are others.

Generally think about what resources you have and what material you want to work with. Design it with passive solar in mind and a good insulation envelope and experiment with a small structure to start.

[Buffy in Dallas]

I have always wanted an underground house and love the earthship idea. Not so thrilled with the tires and pounding. I would like to take the earthship concept and build using the tech in the book, The $50 & Up Underground House Book. http://www.undergroundhousing.com/

I also love cordwood but I'm not so thrilled with cement. I thought of mixing the cordwood with cob= Cobwood. Ya!

So an underground cobwood earthship. The best of all worlds! That I could get into!

[Freeholder]

You could also build using earthbags. I think I'd do that in preference to cordwood, as it wouldn't rot. It wouldn't be any more work than cordwood if you are cutting your own wood; it would certainly be a lot less expensive if you were buying the wood.

Kathleen

[jwal10]

I always wanted to build a small round house of cordwood. I was thinking of leaving the wood exposed on the inside but stucco over the outside except on the front where it would face the east, out of the weather. As our weather here comes from the west. All above ground on a slab. I like the look of the wood, thick walls, graceful arches, round top windows and doors....James

[Rectifier]

Cordwood breathes... if the outside is buried, you will have a humidity disaster on your hands if the soil is moist at all.
However, you are in NM which is where earthships were designed. I'm not sure about water tables there, I know you don't have much water on top of the ground that's for sure!

[Buffy in Dallas]

Originally Posted by Rectifier

Cordwood breathes... if the outside is buried, you will have a humidity disaster on your hands if the soil is moist at all.
However, you are in NM which is where earthships were designed. I'm not sure about water tables there, I know you don't have much water on top of the ground that's for sure!

Unless you build it like Mike Oehler does and put a plastic barrier between the soil and the wood. That way it can breath into the house.