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The 3 Day Foundation
March 28th, 2009
I just got back from Salt Spring island where we built the foundation for a camp kitchen. Three of us moved all the rock to the site and built the foundation by hand in just over 3 days. The stones are all dry stacked without mortar and rely on purely a proper fit to keep them in place. The wall may look chaotic but you can jump and dance around on the wall and the stones won’t budge. That is the essence of a dry stack stone wall.
The foundation for bench seating and cob table is also built into the foundation. The walls start at 18″ and taper to a 12″ at the top of the wall. Cob walls will be built next at a width of 12″. Posts rest on concrete piers set into the ground for this structure and the stones are stacked around them . The foundation will be pointed later with cob to fill in any cracks and reduce drafts. This structure will serve as a kitchen and eating area for researchers staying at this camp on Salt Spring island.
If you are interested in hiring the mudgirls please visit www.mudgirls.ca We are well organized and available for jobs on and around vancouver island. You can also contact me with any questions about our building methods or designs.
the mudgirls rockin the rocks
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Driftwood Post and Beam Construction
March 13th, 2009
I participated in raising the roof for this guest cabin which has since been finished with cob and wattle and daub. The cuts were made with a chainsaw and all the notching was done with hand tools. The timbers were all salvaged from a local beach. The only cost being the transportation.
The Mudgirls often build their post and beam structures with driftwood. Beach logs are often well-seasoned and stripped of bark already. Driftwood post and beam construction is an extremely economical way to frame a roof and create a locally sourced and eye-catching structure. Everything was done with hand tools for this structure which forms the roof for a guest cabin. The walls are then built up with cob and the structure is left partially exposed.
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Dry stacked stone walls and foundations
March 13th, 2009
Mortar-less stone is however the oldest form of construction known to man. Correctly stacked stones can stand for centuries.Stacking stones for a foundation is an extremely challenging skill to learn but creates a strong and beautiful wall. Depending on your source of stone, These walls can often be constructed with almost no materials costs whatsoever making them the most economical choice for concrete-free foundations.
This technique works for foundations for small cob buildings and additions, outhouses, sheds, garden walls, and bases for fencing. The mudgirls have built stone structures such as these for clients on lasqueti island, Salt-spring island, Nanaimo, Courtenay, Powell river, Cortes island, Quadra island, Hornby island, and the Sunshine coast.
To see more examples or to receive a quote please visit www.mudgirls.ca
