I have been researching a bit online lately on construction methods that are more ecologically friendly and a bit more cost reductive. The traditional block and stone is great, but I am having a problem as to wether or not to do it this way - cost reasons and resource consumption my primary concerns.

One idea I had come up with (due to friend's suggestions) was to go with an insulated concrete form, reinforced with steel to give great strength, durability and ungodly insulating factors. Granted, it would be lined on the exterior and some interior with a thinner stone facade, but was curious how others may be solving this problem? One good thing is that I don't have to quarry into the land to produce the rock needed, and short orders of stone would make the project much more cost effective - and allow more of the budget to be used in other areas.

Thus allowing the vision of the project to remain the same, the land lay intact, and the benefits of the added durability.

Any ideas or opinions?

More in a wee bit, gotta go for now,

please just don't tell me your going to build with straw bails....

For us traditional causes less damage to Nature then modern construction does.

Yup your right about the technique of building and its simple enough that one person can raise a stem wall to 6 feet by them selfs!
Over in CQ, BYOC my old forum for over 7 years, was a lengthy post about this subject if its still there that is and hasn't been "lost".

If you haven't all ready and you probably have, since I'm about have asleep and don't remember much past my name today, you might look into Scott drinks moat*#@er's pre-formed stone facades I believe it will do well in what you have planned.

Where as I have been working on a slate look-a-like roofing tile that so far in lab tests has stood up to over 50 years of weathering.
Light weight, strong, can be colored to match many types of natural stone and best of all can be made cheap using all natural ingredients by the way.

LOL no, you can rest well. Not a plan for straw bales as of yet beyond a food source for the winter (livestock). I will check out the CQ site here in a sec and see if I can locate all of that. Not sure I have seen Scott drinks moat*#@er's stone facade as of yet. Thanks for the info!

Check early pages of BYOC. If not there then it might be in a seperate topic in thaat forum
if seperate its entitled "faux stone"

I did happen across quite a bit of the information yesterday while searching on CQ. Very helpful guys...thanks! I have been doing more research on the ICF stuff and working now to see if it is something we might be able to do on our own (without contractor, but with friends). I know they just ship the stuff, don't actually install it (well most at least) and thinking it couldn't be that hard to build a castle out of leggos or the like (pretty much what the installation looks like)

Then perhaps we could have someone come to do the more labor intensive part of actually facing with stone. I imagine it would be quite a drop in cost to do it that way, especially something so large. Has anyone else ever worked with this or researched into it any?

I am still interested in the faux stone and the slate tiles a great deal too, but not sure if I want to constuct those myself. Would probably take longer than getting the castle up. LOL And too, as the dimensions are finally coming together, it should be able to give us a better estimate of what is actually needed. That will be the deciding factor.

Galla, I was thinking about the concrete also. I'm still on the fence about it. I did find a source of manufactured stone that looks like old european stone. the URL is on my computer so I dont have it right now but I do believe have posted the link in CD somewhere. Do any of you guys have it by chance? Also, the castle magic site ...sorry D...has some drawings of wall construction that they use in building.

if I get my computer hooked up to a monitor today I'll send you the link.