Building Green: A Complete How-to Guide To Alternative Building Methods - Earth Plaster Straw Bale Cordwood Cob Living Roofs

About this book

Clarke Snell and Timothy L. Callahan whose popular Good House Book helped environmentally-minded readers create an earth-friendly home have returned with a photo-packed amazingly complete start-to-finish guide to "green" housebuilding. This absolutely groundbreaking manual doesnt just talk about eco-friendly building techniques but actually shows every step! More than 1 200 close-up photographs along with in-depth descriptions follow the real construction of an alternative house from site selection to the addition of final-touch interior details. Co-authors Clarke Snell and Timothy Callahan (a professional builder and contractor) provide thorough discussions of the fundamental concepts of construction substitutes for conventional approaches and planning a home thats not only comfortable and beautiful but environmentally responsible. Then they roll up their sleeves and get to work assembling a guest house that incorporates four different alternative building methods: straw bale cob cordwood and modified stick frame. The images show every move: how the site is cleared the basic structure put together the cob wall sculpted the bales and cordwood stacked a living roof created and more. Most important the manual conveys real-world challenges and processes and offers dozens of sidebars with invaluable advice. Its head and shoulders above all others in the field.