Tag: natural materials
  • 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

  • Introducing CDB’s Sand Wall

    December 13th, 2008

    A wall finish that looks like a west-coast beach!

    Cost-Comparable to standard painting, this finish is quick, easy and dramatic. The colour of the sand is the colour of the wall, creating a completely natural surface. A scrumptious look that Just makes you want to press your face right up to it.

    Hard and durable, this finish makes an excellent feature-wall and adds subtle texture and interest. It can be done over standard wall surfaces.

    Best of all, it is completely non-toxic free of volatile organic compounds, and goes on with absolutely no odor whatsoever.

    More Clay-based plasters

    All natural clay based plasters use old school pigments to provide earthy tones such as this plaster mixed with Iron Oxide. Straw is added to the plaster to create an unforgettable texture.