Ken Kern: Building

Ken Kern is American writer. Explore interesting quotes on building.

Ken Kern: 96 quotes0 likes

“The mere technical problems of building a home are insignificant when compared to an understanding and an interpretation of one's innermost feelings and thoughts concerning his shelter needs.”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)

“It is claimed that the Russian stove is seldom plagued with creosote build-up. If this is so, the reason may have more to do with the stove's operation than with its large ducts. Any masonry stove operates best when its fire is hot, and when fuel burns rapidly in a single, intense conflagration.”

p, 125
Ken Kern's Masonry Stove (1983)

“This process has suggested some workable alternatives as solutions to personal housing needs. Here they are in the form of seven axioms… 1. When building your home, pay as you go. 2. Supply your own labor. 3. Build according to your best judgement. 4. Use native materials whenever possible. 5. Design and plan your own home. 6. Use minimum but quality grade hand tools. 7. Assume responsibility for your building construction.”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)

“It is a rarity of the first order when the dean of an architectural college takes it upon himself to build houses comprised of woven split bamboo placed between two layers of treated clay. These readily available materials were artfully used by Professor Stein in his creation of two demonstration low-cost homes.”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)

“A totally new concept of building design evolves from the application of basic aerodynamic phenomenon. Vetillation by installation of windows becomes obsolete… Air can be brought into the building from the roof or from under the floor. Wind scoops can be designed to assist the flow of air from practically any angle.”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)

“An important feature of our barrel stove was its simplicity. We designed it so that any homesteader, even one only partially skilled in metalworking, could build the entire unit in a welder-equipped workshop. Our stove's low cost and multiuse features contributed to its modest success.”

p, 125
Ken Kern's Masonry Stove (1983)

“About one-fifth of all the heat that enters the average house comes through windows. …external shading is by far the most efficient method for controlling interior heat build-up. The air-wash between the shading screen and the window is also very effective. The screen should have a light-colored finish… Insulation boards placed next to the window pane at night, will help prevent heat losses through glazed openings. Overhangs and horizontal sunshades placed above south-facing windows serve effectively as heat reducers.”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)

“In cold climates it will cost only half as much to heat a well insulated building as it will cost to heat a poorly insulated one. … the annual fuel saving will amortize in two years the addition cost expense of the insulation!”

The Owner Built Home: A How-to-do-it Book (1972)