Cordwood construction
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Definition
Cordwood construction (aka "cordwood masonry" or "stackwall construction" or "stackwood construction") is a term used for an alternative building method in which "cordwood" or short lengths pieces of debarked tree are laid up crosswise with masonry to build a wall.
Structural Information
Walls are usually constructed such that the pieces of wood are "proud" of the mortar by a small amount (an inch or less). Walls typically range between 12 and 24 inches thick.
The mortar does not continue throughout the wall, as heat transfer would cool the interior dwelling spaces. Instead, three or four inch 'beads' of mortar on each side of the wall provide stability and support. The central space is insulation filled, with many modern builders using a mixture of sawdust and hydrated lime (not agricultural lime).
Depending on a variety of factors (wall thickness, type of wood, particular mortar "recipe"), the insulative value, as expressed in "R-value" is generally equivalent to modern, high-efficiency stick-built walls. However, it has much greater thermal mass, which makes it easier to heat and cool in practice. Western Redcedar is an excellent wood for this construction as it is highly resistant to rot and insects, but almost any softwood species can be used successfully.
Cordwood walls can be load-bearing (using built-up corners, or curved wall designed), though they are often laid up within a post and beam framework.
Distribution and history
Examples of this construction style can be found throughout Europe, Asia and North America, with small growth in Central America and South America. It's estimated to be a third of the wall-building cost of standard stick-frame construction.
Buildings using this method of construction over 1,000 years old have been found in northern Greece and Siberia.
Other meanings
Template:Mergeto Image:Cordwoodcircuit.agr.jpg In electronics, the term is used in an analogous way to describe circuits where axial lead components are stacked up like cordwood with the leads that project from their ends either hand-wired into completed circuits or attached to two parallel printed circuit boards, one at each side of the cordwood stack. Before the advent of integrated circuits, this method allowed the highest possible component packing density; because of this, it was used by a number of computer vendors including Control Data Corporation.
