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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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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
