PG 207......" THE BIBLIOGRAPHY HAS A THOROUGH LIST OF SUPPORTING
MATERIALS THAT WILL HELP GIVE CODE OFFICIALS THE UNDERSTANDING AND
CONFIDENCE THEY NEED TO APPROVE THE PROJECT."


MY REPLY.....THATS CRAP! WHAT CODE OFFICIALS NEED AND WANT ISN`T
FOUND IN ANY CORDWOOD BOOKS NOR ENGINEERING BOOKS FOR THAT MATTER YET.
THEY WANT TESTS DONE AT RECOGNIZED PRIVATE OR GOVERNMENT LABS.
THEY WANT TO KNOW THE FOLLOWING BEFORE THEY GIVE OUT A BUILDING
PERMIT.
[1]LOAD BEARING LIMITS OF CORDWOOD.
[2]REAL R-VALUES
[3]WIND RESISTANCE FAILURE
[4]SETS OF APPROVED PLANS
[5]CONFIDENCE IN YOUR ABILITY TO BUILD THE STRUCTURE
[6]PROOF THAT THE WALLS WILL HANDLE MOISTURE
[6]FIRE RESISTANCE RATING


GIVING A CODE OFFICIAL BOOKS,PICTURES,VIDEOS WITH OUT
STRUCTURAL INFORMATION WILL JUST MAKE HIM ASK MORE QUESTIONS.




PG 208....." WITH REGARDS TO STRESS LOAD CALCULATIONS IT IS PRUDENT
TO CONSULT AN ARCHITECT OR ENGINEER TO CHECK THE NUMBERS."


MY REPLY.....JUST MORE CRAP......THE FACT THAT NO TESTS HAVE BEEN
SHOWN / PUBLISHED TO SUBSTANTIATE THE LOAD BEARING LIMITS OF CORDWOOD.
THE ENGINEERS WOULDN`T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT LOAD LIMITS OF A SINGLE
CORDWOOD WALL.NO TESTS = NO DATA!
THE ONLY THING AN ENGINEER OR ARCHITECT CAN DO WITH
CORDWOOD IN THESE DARK AGES IS TO DESIGN FOR POSTS AND BEAM.THEY CAN
CRUNCH FIGURES ON MILLED TIMBERS TO PROVE THAT THE WALLS WILL SUPPORT
THE ROOF.THAT IS THE POSTS AND BEAMS CAN.I KNOW THEY CAN SUPPORT THE
WEIGHT BUT WITHOUT THE TESTS YOU CAN CONVINCE THE CODE OFFICIALS.



PG 208....."MISTAKES COULD LEAD TO STRUCTURAL FAILURES THAT COULD PUT
YOU OR YOUR FAMILY AT GRAVE RISK."


MY REPLY.....ROB AND FLATO KEEP TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE ROOF UP
FIRST.NEITHER HAS DONE SO ON THEIR OWN HOMES,SO I`M CONFUSED WHY THEY
RECOMMEND IT.PROFESSIONAL HOME BUILDERS DON`T DO THIS SO RECOMMENDING
TO NOVICE BUILDERS TO DO SO IS TOTALLY IRRESPONSABLE.
I`VE SEEN 100 UNIT BUILDINGS BLOW OVER ,BRICK WALLS FALL.
TELLING FIRST TIME BUILDERS TO DO THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO
HAPPEN.REMEMBER,WHO TO SUE WHEN THE ROOF COMES DOWN.ITS THE SO CALLED
CORDWOOD EXPERTS....NOT ENGINEERS,ARCHITECTS OR SAFETY OFFICERS.THEY
KNOW BETTER!


PG 209...."SHOW THEM SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS."


MY REPLY.....THE ENGINEERS FROM U OF MANITOBA TALK ABOUT THEM....
BUT THEY AREN`T DOCUMENTED IN ANY FORM AS OF YET, THAT A BUILDING
INSPECTOR WOULD ACCEPT.AT THIS POINT ITS ALL JUST HEARSAY.WE ALL KNOW
ABOUT THE 1000 YEAR OLD CORDWOOD STRUCTURES THAT TURNED OUT TO BE
MYTHS.SO AT THIS POINT THE DOCUMENTS FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES JUST
DO NOT EXIST.SO GET THAT WORK PUBLISHED AND ACCEPTED.



PG 209...."THE ARCHITECTS WILL USE THEM TO RUN CALCULATIONS ON THE
STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS[FLOOR JOISTS,RAFTERS ETC.]TO SEE IF THEY WILL
SAFELY SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE."


MY REPLY.....WELL,ITS THE WALLS AND FOUNDATION THAT SUPPORT THE
STRUCTURE ...SO LETS DEAL WITH THEM.RAFTERS WITH OUT TIES CAN PUSH
THE WALLS OUT.TRUSSES ARE A CHEAPER AND SAFER OPTION.



PG 209....." FIRST IT COMBINES ELEMENTS[WOOD AND MORTAR]
WHICH,ACCORDING TO STANDARD BUILDING PRACTICES,ARE NOT TO BE
MIXED.CODE REQUIRES WOOD IN CONTACT WITH CONCRETE TO BE PRESSURE
TREATED OR OTHERWISE PRESERVED FROM THE POSSIBILITY OF DECAY FROM
TRAPPED MOISTURE."


MY REPLY....BUT ROB ROY SAID THEY CAN`T ROT.....THEY DON`T GET WET
AND MICRO ORGANISMS CAN`T GET TO THEM....LOL!HE HAS BEEN AGAINST
TREATING WOOD FOR YEARS,TO ME THIS DEFYS ALL COMMON SENSE.BUT IN MY
SYSTEM I TREAT THE WOOD WITH A SAFE BORAX SOLUTION.IT KILLS,INSECTS ,
MOLDS, BACTERIA,FUNGI,SAP STAIN ETC.... THATS BECAUSE THEY WILL
ROT.I`VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF ROT IN SOME CORDWOOD AUTHORS HOMES.PLUS I
KNOW OF SEVERAL THAT HAVE BEEN BUILT BY THE BOOKS AND ROTTED.I DIDN`T
SEE ANY CHAPTERS ON THAT.
SECONDLY,I SEAL MY LOGS BEFORE I EMBED THEM IN THE WALL.
PLUS I WRAP A SECRET AIR SEAL I INVENTED AROUND THEM.IT HELPS
ISSOLATE THE WOOD FROM MORTAR AND STOPS AIR AND MOISTURE PENETRATION.
IT ALSO ALLOWS FOR SHRINKING AND SWELLING OF THE LOGS TO SOME
EXTENT.MIND YOU ITS UNPROVEN AS YET.BUT AN ENGINEER HAS TOLD ME IT
SHOULD WORK.
I ALSO RECOMMEND A VAPOUR BARRIER BETWEEN THE MORTAR AND
FOUNDATION.WATER CAN WICK UP TO 5' FROM THE GROUND INTO YOUR WALL.ROB
DOESN`T SHOW ANY IN HIS PHOTOS.


pg 209....." BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE WAY THAT CORDWOOD COMBINES WOOD AND MORTAR.
A LOG ENDS ABILITY TO BREATH AND TRANSPIRE MOISTURE ALONG END GRAIN.THIS BREACH
OF CODE DID NOT ALARM OFFICIALS."


MY REPLY.....WELL IF THE CODE OFFICIALS READ ROB,DICK AND LANSDOWN COMMENTS IN
THIS BOOK.THEIR COMMENTS WILL ALARM THE CODE OFFICIALS.THEY ALL TALK ABOUT
COATING/SEALING THE LOG ENDS WITH WATERPROOF SEAL,URETHANE AND PASTE WAX.
AS IF THESE SUBSTANCES WILL ALLOW THE ENDS TO BREATH.WRONG....ALL THE PRODUCTS
RECOMMENDED BY THESE PEOPLE WOULD CAUSE MOISTURE PROBLEMS.THE PRODUCTS THEY
RECOMMENDED AREN`T MOISTURE PERMIABLE.
THERE IS NO UNIQUE WAY THAT CORDWOOD AND MORTAR HANDLE THE
MOISTURE.BOTH BREATH AND ARE VAPOUR PERMIABLE NATURALLY.THE SUGGESTIONS PUT
FORTH BY THESE SO CALLED EXPERTS WOULD ACTUALLY CHOKE OFF THE WOOD AND STOP THE
LOGS FROM BREATHING AND PROMOTE ROT.
THERE ARE PERMIABLE SEALS AND NON PERMIABLE SEALS.IT APPEARS THE
AUTHORS DON`T KNOW WHICH DOES WHAT.I BELIEVE I WAS THE FIRST TO MENTION LOGS
BREATHING...AND THAT MOISTURE TRAVELS FROM AN AREA WITH HIGH MOISTURE LEVELS TO
AN AREA WITH LOWER MOISTURE LEVELS.GENERALLY,THE FLOW IS FROM THE INSIDE OF THE
STRUCTURE TO THE OUTSIDE.
PERMA CHINK IS RECOMMENDED BY A FEW AUTHORS BUT IT AGAIN ISN`T
VAPOUR PERMIABLE.IT WILL CAUSE ROT.



PG 210....." WE COULD BUILD THE CORDWOOD WALLS UNDER COVER."


MY REPLY....THERE IS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT BUILDING CORDWOOD STRUCTURES WITH THE
ROOF ON SO THAT YOU COULD WORK IRREGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER.WHILE THE MAIN
PROPONENTS OF THIS NEVER DID THIS FOR THEIR HOMES.THE ARCHITECTS NOTES
SAID...."THE ARCHITECT IS NOT RESPONSABLE FOR PROJECT SAFETY."
I`VE POSTED SIMILAR CONCERNS ON MY BOARD ABOUT THE DANGERS OF
BUILDING THE ROOF ON FIRST.I`VE SEEN 100 UNIT APARTMENT BUILDINGS BLOW DOWN.
I`VE SEEN TIMBER FRAME WALLS BLOW DOWN.I`VE SEEN BLOCK WALLS BLOW OVER.
SOME OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS I`VE WORKED ON HAD CANAPIES....THE FOOTINGS TO HOLD
THESE DOWN WERE MONSTEROUS.THEY ARE VERY HEAVY AND BACK FILLED.THIS IS SO THE
WINDS CAN`T LIFT THE STRUCTURE.THE SAME WAY ANCHORS ARE PUT THROUGH SILL PLATES
TO HOLD THE HOUSE DOWN.THESE AUTHORS PROMOTING THIS COULD BE SUBJECT TO A LAW
SUIT WHEN THERE ARE SOME SEVERE INJURIES OR DEATH RESULTING FROM THEIR
UNEDUCATED ADVICE.THINK ABOUT THIS....IF PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS DON`T DO THIS
THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS CONCEPT.



PG 210...." HOWEVER,THESE CODES WERE NOT DESIGNED WITH ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES
IN MIND.IN OUR CASE WE KNEW OUR STRUCTURES WOULD BE ENERGY EFFICIENT."



MY REPLY.....CODES WERE PROBABLY FOUNDED BECAUSE OF IMPROPER BUILDING
TECHNIQUES. UNTIL OTHER WISE PROVEN ALTERNATIVE BUILDING SYSTEMS WOULD BE
CONSIDERED IMPROPER. SAFETY COMES FIRST AND ALWAYS SHOULD.10-20 YEARS AFTER
CORDWOOD GETS CODE ACCEPTANCE WE CAN ALL LAUGH.BUT I FEEL SAFE KNOWING THAT
OTHERS ARE LOOKING AFTER MY BEST INTERESTS.FRUSTRATED BUT SAFER NONE THE LESS.
"WE KNEW OUR STRUCTURE WOULD BE ENERGY EFFICIENT." THATS HEARSAY AND
I`D PREFER A PROFESSIONAL OPINION.I IMAGINE ALL ROBS STUDENTS WHO BUILT THEIR
OWN HOMES WHO ARE NOW OUT FILLING GAPS IN THE MORTAR THOUGHT THAT AT ONE TIME
ALSO.


PG 211....."THE ARCHITECT SAID WE NEEDED TO ADD 4" OF WASHED STONE BEFORE
POURING THE SLAB."


MY REPLY.....HERE WE HAVE PEOPLE QUSTIONING CODE THAT DON`T KNOW COMMON BUILDING
PRACTICES.GENERALLY,ARCHITECTS REQUIRE MORE GRAVEL...ABOUT 6".
THIS IS SO YOU HAVE GOOD DRAINAGE UNDER YOUR STRUCTURE.
THEN THEY DUG DOWN THE 4" BY HAND TO GET THE LEVEL THEY WANTED. ALL
THEY HAD TO DO IS RAISE THE SLAB 4".THERE STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF
FOR THIS.ALL THAT HARD WORK TO BUILD A LOW RIDER.LOL!



PG 211.....THEY MENTION INSPECTIONS.


MY REPLY....THEY LEFT OUT TEMPORARY SERVICES AND ROUGH INS....TEMPORARY
ELECTRICAL SERVICES NEED TO BE INSPECTED.PLUS ROUGHED IN PLUMBING USUALLY GETS
INSPECTED.



PG 213 ROB SAYS...."I AM NOT A LICENSED ENGINEER NOR DO I PLAY ONE ON TV.I DO
HAVE CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE WITH CORDWOOD STRUCTURES."


MY REPLY......THEN ROB SHOULDN`T BE ADVISING PEOPLE TO BUILD THE ROOF FIRST AND
BUILD UNDER IT.THE FACT HE`S NOT AN ENGINEER IS PROOF HE CAN`T PROVE ITS A SAFE
TO DO SUCH A REDICULOUS THING.CONTRACTORS WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE A BUCK...IF
IT WAS FASTER AND CHEAPER THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN DOING THIS.IF ANYONE GETS HURT
REMEMBER WHO TO SUE.
I`LL ADMIT ROB DOES HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH CORDWOOD.YOU
WOULD NEVER KNOW IT WHEN HE CONTINUALLY BUILDS THEM ALL ON THE GROUND.DOESN`T
RECOMMEND ANY TREATMENTS FOR THE WOOD.DOESN`T USE A VAPOUR BARRIER UNDER THE
MORTAR BEADS.
THE QUOTE I LIKE BEST FROM ROB AND THE OTHER AUTHORS IS IN THE
LETTER THEY PUBLISHED ON THE NET TO TRY AND DISCREDIT ME.THEY SAID MOST OF WHAT
I SAID WAS TRUE BUT THAT THERE WERE SOME HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE POSTS I MADE.THEN
HERE IT COMES....THEY SAID THE FOLLOWING AND ROB DRAFTED THE LETTER." WE MADE
MANY MISTAKES WITH VERY FEW SUCCESSES." PERHAPS IF HE READS MY CORDWOOD NEWBEE
PAGE AGAIN HE WILL GET A HIGHER SUCCESS RATIO.


PG 213-218

THEY TALK ABOUT LOAD BEARING MORTAR.


MY REPLY.....WELL COMPRESSION TESTS DONE ON THE MORTAR ALONE IS NOT REALLY A
DIRECT TEST ON A CORDWOOD WALL.ESPECIALLY,WHEN THE LOGS HAVE SHRUNK AWAY FROM
THE MORTAR.CHANCES ARE THE CYLINDERS WERE CURED BETTER THAN MOST AUTHORS CURE
THEIR MORTARED WALLS.


PG 218-219

THERMAL PERFORMANCES


MY REPLY....FIRST OFF IF ALL THOSE AIR LEAKS MENTIONED BY ROBS FORMER STUDENTS
AND CO AUTHORS.THE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE BETTER.BUT THE AIR INFILTRATION WOULD
DROP THE CALCULAED R-VALUES.A WALL RATED R=40 WITH A LOT OF AIR INFILTRATION
WOULDN`T BE AN R=40 WALL.
AS FOR CLIFFS DOUBLE WALL.IF HIS FIBERGLASS GETS WET IT GETS MOLDY
AND IS TOXIC BUT WOULD LOSE ITS R-VALE.REMEMBER ,HIS WALLS ARE OLD POWER POLES
WHICH I SUSPECT ARE TOXIC AS WELL.
PERSONALLY,I HAVE NO FAITH IN CALCULATED R-VALUES.I PREFER MONITORING
A HOUSE TO PROVING ITS R-VALUE.FOR THERMAL PERFORMANCE YOU HAVE TO FACTOR IN
R-VALUES AND THE TIGHTNESS OF THE STRUCTURE.

I DON`T BELIEVE THERE IS A CORDWOOD OUT THERE THAT COULD PASS A
BLOWER DOOR TEST ON THE FIRST CRACK.



PG 219.....ROB...."IF THE FIRES GO OUT IN A CORDWOOD HOUSE,IT TAKES QUITE AWHILE
TO NOTICE IT."


MY REPLY.....PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED THE CORDWOOD BOOKS TO BUILD HAVE TOLD ME THAT
ON SOME OCCASSIONS THEY FELT THE WIND BLOW THROUGH THE WALL.EVEN STUDENTS WHO
HAVE STUDIED UNDER ROB MENTION ALL THE GAPS IN THEIR WALLS.FLATO HAS MENTIONED
THAT HE COULD SEE THROUGH HIS WALLS IN PLACES.

THE PROBLEM THAT ROB KEEPS IGNORING IS THE LIME AND SAWDUST
INSULATION HE RECOMMENDS.IT PACKS AND PULLS AWAY FROM THE LOGS AS THE WALLS
SHRINK.I THINK WHEN CORDWOOD HOMES CAN PASS BLOWER DOOR TESTS THEN THEY CAN HOLD
HEAT.


PG 221....ROB....."WELL,WE ARE ALREADY TALKING ABOUT BUILDING A CREATIVE LITTLE
GUESTHOUSE.....WE`LL DO IT AS A WORKSHOP PROJECT . BUT WE ARE ALSO INTERESTED IN
MAKING IT A SHOWCASE FOR THE ART OF CORDWOOD MASONRY."


MY REPLY....ROB...MAY I SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING.YOU TRY BUILDING OFF THE GROUND
FOR ONCE.YOU PROPERLY SEASON YOUR LOGS FOR ONCE.YOU TREAT THE LOGS FOR ONCE AS
WELL.IF YOU ARE GOING WITH A SLAB AGAIN TRY BUILDING A CURB SO YOUR WALLS DON`T
BLOW OUT AGAIN.STOP USING THE SAWDUST INSULATION WITH LIME...PERHAPS TRY BORAX
INSTEAD.


PG 222....ROB...."WE MET TOGETHER AND STARTED THE CORDWOOD BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.
I WISH WE HAD DONE THIS 10 YEARS AGO."


MY REPLY....OVER A YEAR AGO I SUGGESTED THIS ON UP DACREEK...STARTING AN
ASSOCIATION.I LIVED THROUGH THE LOG BUILDERS ASSOCIATION FORMULATION,IT WAS
INSTRAMENTAL IN GETTING THINGS ROLLING.FLATO SAID I SHOULD TRY TO SET IT UP BUT
BEING ANONYMOUS WOULDN`T HELP THE CAUSE.FLATO,JIM JUCZAC AND ALAN ALL DISCUSSED
THIS.APPARENTLY, THERE WAS NOTHING ON THE BACK BURNER AT THAT TIME OR THEY WOULD
HAVE MENTIONED IT.I CRITISIZED THE CORDWOOD AUTHORS FOR THEIR LACK OF PROGRESS
IN THE PUBLIC EYE FOR 25 YEARS.

I ALSO SUGGESTED STRUCTURAL TESTS BE DONE TO PROVE CORDWOODS
SUPERIORITY.I RECOMMENDED TRYING TO GET CODE ACCEPTANCE.I SAID BUILDING PLANS
WERE NEEDED SO PEOPLE HAD SOMETHING TO PRESENT TO OFFICIALS.
I WONDER IF THESE WERE SOME OF MY HIGHLY QUESTIONABLE POSTS.BUT ROB
IS CURRENTLYY WORKING ON ALL OF THESE THINGS NOW.MAYBE I`M NOT THE FLAKE HE ONCE
THOUGHT.GEE ,I DIDN`T GET MY INVITE .I GUESS IT WAS JUST A SLIP UP AND IT GOT
LOST IN THE MAIL...LOL!
I`M THINKING OF SEEING IF THE INTERNATIONAL LOG BUILDING ASSOCIATION
WOULD PICK UP CORDWOOD BUILDERS.THEY HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE NOW AND HAVE
CREDABILITY AND CLOUT.THEIR MANDATE IS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ART AND NOT THE
SALE OF BOOKS.I DON`T LIKE THE AUTHORS TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM.AS
LONG AS THEY CAN BE VOTED IN OR OUT IT MIGHT BE OK.THEY MIGHT USE THE WHOLE
THING JUST TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES.SEEING AS THEY IGNORED THE BETTERMENT OF
CORDWOOD FOR OVER 25 YEARS WHILE PROMOTING THEIR CLASSES AND BOOKS.ALL THE OTHER
ALTERNATIVE BUILDING SYSTEMS HAVE A NETWORK IN PLACE..
ASSOCIATIONS,PLANS, TEST RESULTS.THEY HAVEN`T BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS CORDWOOD
BUT THEIR FOUNDERS TRIED TO PAVE THE WAY FOR OTHERS FROM THE GET GO.



BACK COVER....."CORDWOOD BUILDING COLLECTS OVER 25 OF THE WORLDS BEST
PRACTITIONERS TO DESCRIBE...."


MY REPLY......WELL, WE ARE IN SOME SERIOUS TROUBLE IF THESE ARE THE BEST.
MOST TALK ABOUT AIR LEAKS,CRACKED MORTAR,WALLS BLOWING OUT,SHRINKAGE ETC.
ALL COULD LEARN SOMETHING FROM MY CORDWOOD NEWBEE PAGE.THERE I
DEAL WITH THE BASICS OF CORDWOOD THAT SEEM TO ELUDE THESE PEOPLE.IT IS MY
OPINION THAT IF PEOPLE DON`T KNOW THE BASICS OF A SYSTEM OR ITS FLAWS.THEN THEY
DON`T REALLY KNOW THE SYSTEM AT ALL.



BACK COVER....." WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON BUILDING CODE ISSUES...."


MY REPLY......I DIDN`T SEE ANY DIFFERENCE FROM AN INSPECTORS POINT OF MIND.
WHAT WAS PRESENTED WAS PRIMARILY HEARSAY.NO REPORTS WERE SUBMITED....NO BOOKS
REFERED TO WHERE THESE FIGURES / FACTS CAME FROM.INSPECTORS WANT PROOF OF THESE
STATEMENTS NOT ANICDOTAL STORIES.



BACK COVER......" IT WILL ALSO APPEAL TO CONTRACTORS WANTING TO LEARN A NEW
BUILDING TECHNIQUE."


MY REPLY.....UTTER NONSENSE......CORDWOOD HAS NOTHING TO OFFER A CONTRACTOR.

[1]FIRST CODES AREN`T IN PLACE....CODES GIVE LEGITAMACY TO BUILDING SYSTEMS.
LEGITAMACY HELPS MAKE SALES.
[2]TOO LABOUR INTENSIVE SO COST OVER RUNS WOULD EXCEED THE PRICE AFFIXED TO THE
STRUCTURE.
[3]IT IS SUCH A SIMPLE SYSTEM, SO WHY WOULD SOME ONE PAY SOME ONE TO BUILD IT.
THE CONTRACTED HOMES MIGHT BE COST PREHIBITIVE WITH LABOUR OVER RUNS.
[4]CONTRACTORS NEED TO TURN OVER HOUSES IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.PEELING,
SEASONING,BUILDING AREN`T PROCESSES THAT CAN BE DONE QUICKLY.


HOWEVER,WHAT MAKES CORDWOOD IMPRACTICAL FOR A VIABLE COMMERCIAL
OPERATION.MAKES IT PRACTICAL AND A DESIREABLE OPTION FOR OWNER BUILDERS.THE MAIN
SAVINGS IN BUILDING CORDWOOD ARE MONIES NOT PAID OUT FOR LABOUR.



BACK PAGE......" AUTHOR / EDITOR ROB ROY HAS BEEN BUILDING RESEARCHING AND
TEACHING ABOUT CORDWOOD MASONRY FOR 25 YEARS AND WITH HIS WIFE JAKI STARTED
EARTHWOOD IN 1981....AND HAS TAUGHT MASONRY ALL OVER THE WORLD."



MY REPLY......WELL THE DAY HE STARTS BUILDING HIS BUILDINGS OFF THE GROUND WITH
A VAPOUR BARRIER BETWEEN FOUNDATION AND MORTAR.[PROTECTS FROM ROT...WET LOGS ROT
DRY ONES DON`T ROT].STOPS USING SAWDUST WITH LIME AS INSULATION IN THE WALL
CAVITY.[STOP AIR GAPS FROM FORMING].STARTS TREATING WOOD TO PRESERVE IT.[CAN
GIVE YOU 5-10 TIMES THE LIFE OF THE STRUCTURE].USING PROPER SEASONING AND
TREATMENTS FOR LOGS.[CAN ALMOST ELIMINATE SHRINKAGE AND CHECKING].
ROBS OWN STUDENTS IN THIS BOOK DOCUMENT THE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM
FROM THEIR FIRST STRUCTURE.ROB HAS BUILT A LOT MORE AND HASN`T RECOGNIZED
WHATS BEEN OBVIOUS TO NEWBEES. HE HAS TO REEVALUATE HIS TEACHINGS TO FIND
WHAT HE CALLS THE STATE OF THE ART....IS REALLY LOADED DOWN WITH FLAWS.


CORDWOODGUY