Alternative construction

Hi all-

I'm new here, and was just throwing some ideas around until I can logistically get myself out to take the course.  Alternative building materials have always interested me, especially bamboo (the strength and ease of renewability is pretty cool!). I haven't been able to find all the info I'd like out there, and was wondering if anyone here had any experience working with it. 

From what I've read, the r-value of bamboo is anywhere between 0.7 to 1.0 which isn't all that far off from a softwood log (does that sound right?).  Does anyone know the feasability of constructing a butt and pass home from bamboo?  The larger poles can be up to 7" in diiameter, which isn't too bad.  Maybe something with a double envelope construction? 

Right now its all just hypothetical, just wondering what you guys thought!

Marko

I have the treated 6x6x16 posts installed, 3' deep and 8'-9' apart, in a 27x32 footprint, as shown. This was just going to be a simple pole barn, gable ends on each 27' side with a 4-12 pitch and 5 store-bought 28' trusses. But I've decided to make the structure twice as big, AFTER I have installed the posts shown in black.  I need to enclose just the left side (shown), and lengthen the 27' gable ends to 54'. The trusses were going to span the 27' interior (plus a 6" overhang) with no interior support, but now, rather than go with trusses, I think I can just use two more posts for interior support, placing them as indicated in the drawing on the left side, and later add the additional posts, shown also in red, on the right side.

Suggestions? Is this design structurally strong enough using 2x8s where indicated in blue, and later in the same manner when I build the open side of the barn onthe right? Am I spanning too great a distance with 2x8s? Is there a better way of doing all of this now that I have the posts (shown in black) already installed?

http://twistytreeranch.com/pb15sep10.JPG

Thanks much!!

. . . unfortunately, it isn't my log home yet.  Been working hard trying to get my trailer back to operational condition after it sat 10 years unused, and had tons of water damage.  After totally rebuilding the roof and ceilings, the kitchen cabinets were next.  Other than the refrigerator enclosure and cabinet doors, it too was a total loss, and had to be rebuilt from scratch.  Got the top cabinets completely finished tonight, and the bottom cabinets should be done in a day or two.  Takes some creativity, keeping things light and building to conform to the odd wall slopes.   NOTHING is square in these rigs, and takes a lot of "eye-balling" and scribing to get things looking right. If I knew just how much was going to have to be done, I'm not sure I would have tackled this mess, but I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and getting plenty of practice building something!

I will be retiring from the Corps in 10 months and moving to western NoDak.  I was wondering if anyone knew the in/outs of building a log home with Cottonwood trees from the Little Missouri river.  Can it be built with fresh cut logs or do they have to cure?  If wet, what is the maximum diameter log I can build a 40'x60' lodge?

Gary

has anyone done any building with log ends & log scraps as in cordwood building , using papercrete mortar.  i am a divorced mother of 2 small chidren.  i am looking into all alterative building methods and this one has really gotten my attention.

Has anyone found a less expensive option for SIP home heating and cooling?

Hello. My first post.

I am planning on building a log garage, using fir and spruce harvested from my own property.
I'll frame it out of round logs, post and beam fashion. I haven't finalized how I'll finish the walls: slabs, boards, vertical half logs, etc.

My basics: 26' wide x 32' long. Two 10' tall bays on the ground level, full loft for storage. 4/12 metal roof. Already have sono tubes: 3 rows of 5 tubes at 8' spacing. Rows are 13' apart.

My dilema: I don't know how to join my logs for my framing.
I'll flatten my log beams on 2 sides with a chain saw, so my post-beam joint will be flat-flat.
But if my posts are from floor to roof (say 14' tall on the outside walls), and I want to have a loft floor (say at 11'), how do I join the log floor joists to my log post?
And when I attach my log rafters to my log beams, do I notch them so I again have a horizontal flat-flat connection?

Pictures would help! :-)
Thanks!

Kind of an odd little set up, a fake log home on a trailer. 

When I saw the article about it on BoingBoing it just said "built for a musician."  My first guess was 'hunting blind for Ted Nugent' ;)

Hi,

Looking for some advice on building an outbuilding. I have 14 acres of woods and hay field atm, as I missed the Las Vegas meeting I will be delaying building until I can attend, however I would like to put up an outbuilding on the property for storage and staging the construction of the cabin out of. Here is where I could use some advice, if Im already considering a 30 foot long quonset hut should I go to 40 feet so I could store-prep logs inside it provided cost doesnt prohibit? Im thinking stripping logs becomes a rainy-snowy day project if Im inside the quonset. Your thoughts?

Secondly, anyone know of a reputable steel-building manufacturer?

Thanks,

DocJ