The technique used is both simple and ingenious: every detail was designed to maximize warmth and durability . You won’t believe how this house came to life – discover all the secrets of its construction below!  To see the before-and-after photos, check out the article! 

A well-insulated and sturdy home thanks to a surprising method

Clay plays a crucial role in ensuring the solidity and thermal insulation of the house. About 20% clay is required relative to the total volume of wood used. This clay forms the mortar that binds the logs together, creating strong walls. However, to prevent it from cracking as it dries, finely chopped straw is added at a ratio of 10 to 15% of the clay volume. This mixture must be consistent to ensure good adhesion and better resistance to temperature variations.

Simple but effective foundations

The base of this wooden house does not require complex support. A strip foundation, made of layers of stone sealed with liquid mortar, is sufficient to fill the gaps and provide optimal stability. A depth of about 1 meter is ideal, though 40 to 50 cm is enough to ensure proper insulation and prevent cold from seeping inside during winter.

Carefully built walls for better insulation

Assembling the logs requires precision and attention to detail. They must be delicately placed on the mortar, keeping the joints as thin as possible.

A small construction secret helps optimize thermal insulation: instead of applying the clay mortar in a single continuous layer, it is better to arrange it in two parallel lines. This trick creates a thin air pocket between the clay layers, which prevents thermal bridges and stops the joints from freezing in winter.

When constructing the corners, it is essential to use a technique similar to bricklaying, overlapping the logs in a cross pattern. This reinforces the structure and prevents it from weakening over time.

A 9×9 meter wooden house project

The builder chose to construct a 9-by-9-meter house, with one and a half stories, using 40 cm long logs and clay. The logs are arranged like bricks, with each row overlapping the corners to ensure better structural cohesion.

Every 50 to 70 cm, a one-centimeter-thick wooden plank was inserted between the rows of logs to help level the structure.

The construction process is slow: only up to three rows of logs can be placed at a time because the clay needs sufficient drying time. Stacking too many at once would put too much pressure on the lower layers and cause displacement.

Stabilizing the walls – an often-overlooked step

One crucial detail, rarely mentioned in construction guides, is wall stabilization. To prevent deformation during drying, bracing panels were installed. These are made of three wooden planks and are fixed on both sides of the wall.

These elements are removable: they are screwed into the base of the already dried walls and held in place by 41 cm spacers, ensuring a consistent width and preventing the logs from protruding from the structure.

Work suspended due to freezing temperatures

Construction had to be halted with the arrival of cold weather, as winter temperatures make working with clay impossible. When water freezes in the morning, the clay loses its adhesive properties, making it impractical to build walls in such conditions.

The project will resume as soon as the weather becomes more favorable, allowing the construction of the second floor to continue and completing this creative house built entirely with firewood and natural materials.