Many of the materials and techniques used by HVNB are not new, but rather modern adaptations of several thousand year old traditions.  Matierals and techniques have been refined over time to be adaptable to modern building design.  Innovators in the natural building movement have made these technologies applicable in any climate, including here in the northeast, with wet springs, hot summers, and cold winters.

• Wood   Wood is one of the most abundant building materials in this part of the world. Still, it is being depleted faster than it can be replenished. We use local, sustainably harvested wood and recycled wood, exclusively.

• Cob is a mixture of sand, straw, and clay that is one of the oldest building material known to humankind. Cob is a sculptable structural material. Cob has been refined for use in diverse climates such as the temperate Pacific Northwest and British Columbia.  All materials that are earth-based have a high thermal mass, or heat holding capacity, making them an excellent choice for sunny places. The tallest cob structure is a 13-story apartment buildings made that is over 1000 years old. 

• Adobe is a mixture of sand, straw and clay poured into forms to create sun or air-dried bricks.  The bricks are then stacked with mud mortar to create a solid structure.  Adobe is as widely used as cob and has been used to build entire cities ranging from the southwest to northern Africa.  The longest inhabited structures in the are adobe buildings in Taos New Mexico.

• Alis – Clay and milk based paint that is customized by adding various pigments, textures and quantities of sand, mica, and oils.  It is a thin finish layer that can adhere to almost any wall or ceiling surface, including drywall and blueboard, plaster, wood paneling, and latex and oil paint.

• Earthen Plaster – clay based plaster that can adhere to a many surfaces and has options for textures and pigemtns.  Earth plaster offers a fine finish that is 1/8 to ¼ inches thick.  It allows for soft feel with options for rounded corners.  Earth plaster also allows for raised design work, or relief work, and shelves and niches.

•  Straw clay – (also know as or light straw clay infill) a clay and straw based infill for any framing system that has good insulatrive qualities.

• Salvage – its all out there.  You just have to have the eyes for it.  Tiles by the ton, hardwood pallets, urbanite (recycled concrete) by the truckload.  Not to mention countless windows, doors and lumber.