Jun
Slipform stone masonry is a cost and energy efficient way of building a beautiful, fire-proof, and weather-proof home. If you use stones from your area the cost is quite low. In addition, most inspectors accept slipform houses as a form of masonry, and that’s covered in all building codes.
When building using slipform the form is placed on either side of the wall, up to two feet high, to serve as a guide. Then the stones are placed with the good faces against the form, and concrete is poured behind them. Rebar is added for strength. The stone can be on one or both sides depending on your resources and desires.
However, this type of construction is extremely labor intensive, and rather slow, since you have to wait for the wall to set before “slipping” the form up to the next spot. If you’re willing to work and wait you will eventually have a beautiful stone home.
There are some good stories out there by people who have built or are building slipform stone masonry houses:
- Slipform Stone Building by Chuck Hall
- Slipforming a Wilderness Cabin by Ed Kent
Thomas J. Elpel has several good articles on the subject: