Building Green: a Complete How-to Guide to Alternative Building Methods - Earth Plaster, Straw Bale, Cordwood, Cob, Living Roofs | Domestic

Description

This manual doesn't just talk about eco-friendly building techniques, but actually shows every step. More than 1,200 close-up photographs, along with in-depth descriptions, follow the real construction of an alternative house from site selection to the addition of final-touch interior details. Co-authors Clarke Snell (an expert in the field of green building and self-sufficiency) and Timothy Callahan (a professional builder and contractor) provide thorough discussions of the fundamental concepts of construction, substitutes for conventional approaches, and planning a home that's not only comfortable and beautiful, but environmentally responsible. Then, they roll up their sleeves and get to work assembling a guest house that incorporates four different alternative building methods: straw bale, cob, cordwood, and modified stick frame. The images show every move: how the site is cleared, the basic structure put together, the cob wall sculpted, the bales and cordwood stacked, a living roof created, and more. This book contains stacks of information that will be useful to architects, builders and home-builders alike.