Building Systems

Custom Designed,

Energy Efficient

& Healthy Homes

At HavenCraft, we use a variety of building systems to meet the needs and desires of our clients. We understand that no two projects are alike and that no two clients are alike and so we’ve learned to work with a number of systems to help our clients achieve their dream homes. It’s starts to get very interesting when you combine the benefits and efficiencies of some of these systems together to make a hybrid home. Many of these systems work well together and any project can incorporate at least a few of these techniques.

Timber Frame
The time honoured tradition of hand cutting mortise and tenon joinery in timbers to build a beautiful and graceful structure that honours the wood rather than hides it.

Straw Bale Walls
A wall system using straw bales stacked like big bricks as insulation (R35+). These walls are plastered inside and out which gives them a very organic look and feel.

Standard Construction
Conventional construction can also achieve high levels of energy efficiency and longevity by a number of methods that reduce thermal bridging, and ensure air tightness. This section also talks about the more conventional systems, such as foundations, that might be used in conjunction with some of the other more alternative methods.

SIP’s (Structural Insulated Panels)
SIP’s are large panels that achieve very high levels of insulation and air tightness and can be used for both walls and roofs and sometimes even floors.

ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms)
Unlike traditional concrete forms which are removed after the concrete is poured, ICF’s stay in place and act as the insulation.

Cordwood
Cordwood construction uses short logs (18-24”) set in an inner and outer bed of mortar and stacked perpendicular to the wall direction. The wall looks similar to a stacked cord of firewood.