Every home needs a good set of boots. Most conventional foundations use large amounts of portland cement, a high-embedded energy material contributing large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. This class is an in-depth, hands-on study of a beautiful natural alternative: stone. Working with a master stone mason, students will learn how to prepare and build both dry and mortared-stone wall systems. Other topics include site preparation, rubble-trench foundations and more.
Learning Objectives for Foundations week:
- Proper site selection
- Building orientation for solar gain
- Estimating material quantity and cost
- Frost line / heaving
- Principles of proper drainage
- Foundation layout using batter boards
- Achieving square with 3:4:5
- Rubble trench foundations
- Mixing mortars from lime and clay
- Dry and mortared stone wall key concepts and techniques
- Mixing, pouring concrete piers
- Bending and cutting rebar
- Other options for foundations
