Building Materials – Low Technology Institute

Frost-Protected, Field-Stone Stub Foundation: Material Saving Hybrid

October 4, 2023

Our current building project is exploring how we can create a structure using local materials. We’re currently building the foundation and thinking a lot about how to create a firm, long-lasting platform on which we can build the rest of the structure while using as little time, effort, and materials as possible. Typical Foundation In … More Frost-Protected, Field-Stone Stub Foundation: Material Saving Hybrid

Stone Foundations are Emissions Friendly

September 21, 2023

As part of our building project, we have designed a frost-protected stub foundation. This would be built conventionally out of concrete, but we have decided to make it out of fieldstone and mortar. Although we made this decision in order to source our materials from as close to the building site as possible (check out … More Stone Foundations are Emissions Friendly

Utilitarian Thatch: Back to the Future?

June 27, 2023

I recently had an article published in Thatcher’s Standard, the UK’s thatching trade publication, which may be of interest to those following the institute’s work. Enjoy!

Upcoming Workshop — Build (Timber-Framing) Sawhorses, Apr. 15, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $50 ($40 for members)

March 29, 2023

This year we’re building a timber-frame workshop and we’ll have classes almost every weekend, covering this build from start to finish. See our Events page for the complete schedule, which is being finalized at this time. Classes typically run $50 with a cap of $500 for ten or more. See also: Build a Mallet (Mar. … More Upcoming Workshop — Build (Timber-Framing) Sawhorses, Apr. 15, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $50 ($40 for members)

Upcoming Workshop — Build a (Timber-Framing) Mallet, Apr. 8, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $50 ($40 for members)

March 28, 2023

This year we’re building a timber-frame workshop and we’ll have classes almost every weekend, covering this build from start to finish. See our Events page for the complete schedule, which is being finalized at this time. Classes typically run $50 with a cap of $500 for ten or more. See also: Sawhorses (Apr. 15), Tool … More Upcoming Workshop — Build a (Timber-Framing) Mallet, Apr. 8, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., $50 ($40 for members)

Timber Framing and Thatching — Upcoming Work Days — Saturdays & Sundays June–July, Free (Space is Limited)

May 12, 2021

This year we’ll be building a timber-frame compost and garden hutch, and we’d like to invite you to come join us to get some hands-on experience. Timber framing was the dominant wood-based building method for hundreds of years before modern stick framing was developed to take advantage of smaller, cheaper pieces of wood. Instead of … More Timber Framing and Thatching — Upcoming Work Days — Saturdays & Sundays June–July, Free (Space is Limited)

New Video: No. 23 — Walipini: In-Ground Greenhouse

February 19, 2021

In this video, we put together photos, video, and other information about our in-ground Walipini greenhouse. We started this project in 2017. You can see some blog posts about this topic to read more: Design (https://lowtechinstitute.org/2017/11/07/walipini-earthbag-greenhouse-design/)Siting (https://lowtechinstitute.org/2017/10/12/walipini-earth-bag-greenhouse-siting-and-bags/)Foundation (https://lowtechinstitute.org/2017/11/06/walipini-earthbag-greenhouse-foundation-and-bags/)Update (https://lowtechinstitute.org/2019/12/18/walipini-update/) Please remember to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! You can find all of our videos under … More New Video: No. 23 — Walipini: In-Ground Greenhouse

Timber Frame Compost Hutch Design

January 25, 2021

A few years ago we built a chicken coop using wood from a dead spruce on our property. You can see a video of the whole process in parts I and II. We also had a few blog posts with details of the build and plaster walls. We have plans to build a new timber … More Timber Frame Compost Hutch Design

New Video: No. 21 — Flour Paint

October 23, 2020

We make flour paint (A.K.A. Barn Red Paint, Swedish Red), which was traditionally used on the exterior of buildings in the preindustrial age. It is made up of largely safe and nontoxic materials: water, flour, rust, and linseed oil. Ingredients 8 L water (8.5 qt) 650 g flour (22.9 oz) 2.5 kg iron oxide (5.5 … More New Video: No. 21 — Flour Paint

Walipini Update

December 18, 2019

It has been a while since I’ve written about the walipini, but it has been getting steady work over the last year. A walipini is an in-ground greenhouse. It uses the thermal mass of the earth to help keep its internal temperature from fluctuating too quickly in the winter. It is essentially a pit with … More Walipini Update

Low Technology Institute

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Category: Building Materials