The Natural Building Companion A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction (Yestermorrow Design/ Build Library)


Product Description
A State-of-the-Art Resource for Natural Builders that is a part of The Yestermorrow Design/Build Library and includes an instructional DVDNatural buildings not only bring satisfaction to their makers and joy to their occupants, they also leave the gentlest footprint on the environment. In this complete reference to natural building philosophy, design, and technique, Jacob Deva Racusin and Ace McArleton walk builders through planning and construction, offering step-by-step instructions on:
��siting and site analysis
� choosing materials
� integrating basic structural considerations into a design
•strategies for heating/cooling efficiency and moisture management
� �planning for acoustics
•developing an integrative design
� �navigating budgeting, code compliance, and project management
� creating the foundation, wall system, roof, and floors
� selecting and making plasters and paints
� evaluating options for mechanical and utility systems
� protecting against fire and insects
� integrating structures within landscape, climate, and human communities
...and more
Applicable to building in climates that are cold and wet, hot and dry, or somewhere in-between, The Natural Building Companion provides the tools necessary to understand basic principles of building science, including structural and thermal engineering, and hydrodynamics. This guide offers thorough, up-to-date, and advanced installation details and performance characteristics of straw-bale, straw-clay, woodchip-clay, and cellulose wall systems, as well as earthen and stone wall systems and a variety of framing, roofing, flooring, mechanical system, and finishing options. This fully-illustrated volume informs professionals making the transition from conventional building, homeowners embarking on their own construction, or green builders who want comprehensive guidance on natural-building options.
The Natural Building Companion A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction (Yestermorrow Design/ Build Library) Review
As an owner-builder of my own strawbale/timberframe hybrid cabin, this book was an invaluable resource. For someone like me with little prior experience and expertise, I thumbed my way through dozens of books about natural building principles in general, and plenty more offering detailed and specific construction methods and techniques. This book contains outstanding information on not only the broad level, but it also provides up-to-date, nitty gritty details on the how-to for specific natural building methods.Specifically, their chapter on strawbale wall systems for cold and wet northern climates is unbeatable. While more and more books on strawbaling are published every year, almost none go into much depth on the proper details needed to protect a strawbale building in cold wet climates. Serious Straw Bale by Paul Lacinski and Michel Bergeron is an exception to this, but in the 12 years since it was published the available information on strawbaling has grown substantially, bringing forth various advances in building systems and designs. The Natural Building Companion brings the literature on strawbaling in climates like this back up to date in a clear and concise manner, detailing innovations in design as well as new methods used by professionals in the field. In addition, I found their chapter on Natural Plasters extremely helpful and thorough.
The DVD that comes included with the book is an incredible resource as well. To be able to see visually what they talk about in detail in the book allows for a fuller understanding, and can make all the difference for people who hope to be practitioners of some of these methods and practices. Ace and Deva are clear throughout the video, and are able to show us applications of what they talk about in various real life situations.
This book is an invaluable addition to the Natural Building compendium, no matter what climate you live in. Whether you're a builder, a designer, a homeowner, or just simply interested in the subject, I think The Natural Building Companion will prove to be one of your greatest resources.
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