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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-NZ link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Hi Tom – A number of cordwood houses have been built in Golden Bay in NZ’s South Island. Reasonably high humidity here, 2000mm rain and cold temperatures in winter. They are plastered both sides and a pumice mortar was used for laying up the walls to help with the insulation. I do not know of any testing done but they perform better than my initial scepticism foretold. Timber is pinus radiata. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>I’m not a great fan but I think the pumice rich mortar is a good idea and certainly helps.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Cheers<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Min<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> GSBN-bounces@sustainablesources.com [mailto:GSBN-bounces@sustainablesources.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Tom Woolley<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, 8 January 2015 5:55 a.m.<br><b>To:</b> Global Straw Building Network<br><b>Subject:</b> [GSBN] Cordwood Walls<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>We have been asked to advise on building a cordwood building in Northern Ireland<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The site is in the Sperrin Mountains which has nearly 100% RH all year round<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>average rainfall is well over 1000mm per annum though I am surprised it is not higher<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>There are two issues<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The building will need to meet reasonably high insulation standards under the building regulations<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I have found articles claiming that cordwood gives good insulation but I find this hard to accept<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Log cabins on the west side of Ireland rot in a few years where the end grain is exposed but maybe cordwood would do better?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>What is the best timber to use ? Oak is indigenous here but not available commercially<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Any help much appreciated<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>thanks and Happy New Year<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Tom<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Tom Woolley<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="mailto:tom.woolley@btconnect.com">tom.woolley@btconnect.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>80 Church Road<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Crossgar<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>Downpatrick<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>UK<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>BT 30 9HR<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'>00(44) 28 44 831164<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>