"Master the Art of Building Sustainable Roofing Solutions Without Concrete with Our Collection of Online Courses Package in Natural Building Roofing Techniques."

Is it possible to have a roof without concrete? How can natural building materials be used for flat roofs and open terraces?
Join the revolution of eco-friendly roofing and discover the secrets of constructing durable, long-lasting and sustainable roofing systems like 

"An Introduction to the Art of Roofing"
"The Flat Earth Roof"
"The Madras Terrace Roof"
"The Limecrete Roof"
"The Khiru Roof from Rajasthan"
"The Adobe Roof"
"The Rustic Charm of the Country Tile/Pot Tile Slope Roof"
"The Sandwich Roof and the Majestic Terracotta Mangalore Tile Slope Roof"

Immerse yourself in a study of various roofing techniques that embody sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term viability. Acquire a deep understanding of the advantages of incorporating flat roofs and open/closed terraces in natural buildings, such as reducing energy consumption and enhancing indoor air quality. Learn the intricacies of two distinct variations of pot tile and terracotta tile slope roofs. This curriculum is well-suited for architects, civil engineers, builders, researchers, design students, and anyone interested in natural building. With the acquired knowledge, make informed decisions about roofing for your next sustainable building project.

What you'll learn:

2.1 Introduction to Roofing Techniques

What is roof, Parts, categories, weights of roof, wall plate

• What is Roof? The functions of roof and the importance of roof
• The importance of roof in design before walls and foundation
• The different parts of the roof - Structure and covering material
• Impact of choice of roof upon the building
• The effect of climate upon roof
• Different types of roofs in different regions in India
• Possibility of making the roof before the walls
• Category of roof- Slope/pitched Roof & Flat Roof
• Weight of different types of roof
• Category of roof depending on the weight
• Connection between roof and wall using wall plate

Slope of roof,  Different factors, categories, Covering Materials, Thatch

• The slope of the roof - definition and function
• Different factors which determine the slope of the roof
• Different category of roof depending on the slope of the roof
• Effect of wind pressure upon the roof
• Types of covering material for sloping roof - Mangalore Tile, Country tile, Wooden Shingles
• Thatch Roof - Different types and their life span

Stone Roof, Category & Types of Flat roofs

• Different Types of stone roof and their structure - Using Slate and Kadappa
• What are flat roofs - Open Terrace roofs & Intermediate roofs
• Different type of Flat roofs - Flat Mud roof, Adobe rood, Limecrete roof Hourdi Roof, Madras terrace roof.

2.2 Flat Mud Roof

Section 1 - Introduction, journey, experimentations and what’s needed

• Introduction to Flat Mud Roof
• What is a flat mud roof
• Thanal’s Journey
• Experimentations
• Akhila Surenderan’s Home
• Kalari Flat Mud roof
• Materials required for flat mud roof
• Tools Used
• Walls - Type of walls
• Structure design for a flat mud roof

Section 2 - How to build the structure for a flat mud roof?

• Wall Plate - Definition, types
• Beams - How can bamboo be used, designed, and other materials
• Raftes- Functions, design, alternate method with only rafters
• Holding Surface - Purpose, materials used, an alternate method
• Shuttering - Function and materials used

Section 3 - Mud mix preparation & filling, conclusion

• Vapour Barrier - Purpose, Types of leaves and other materials
• Mud Mix - Mix ratio of mud lime and plant admixtures, methods of mixing and fermentation
• Filling the mud mix up on the roof
• Adding a dry mix layer
• Prototype and testing
• Conclusion

Section 4: Finishes

• Lime plaster
• Surkhi lime finish
• Cowdung finish
• Terracotta tile 

Section 5: References and What’s next?

2.3 Madras Terrace Roof

Section1: Introduction and Prerequisites

• How does the roof work?
• Thannal’s Journey
• Recent Revivals
• What are the materials required?
• What are the tools needed?
• Type of walls upon which this roof can be built
• Structure - Three types
• Wall Plate- Function and material options

Section 2: Types of Structure and Wall Masonry

• Structure - Case 1 - Without Beams, Only Rafters
• Structure - Case 2 - With Beams and Wooden rafters
• Structure - Case 3 - With Stone columns and Wooden Beam
• Masonry work with burnt bricks and lime mortar

Section 3: Making of the roof with terrace bricks

• Preparation for roofing
• Making lime mortar for terrace bricks
• Making the special kaddukai jaggery mix
• Preparing the Terrace bricks
• Laying the Terrace Bricks
• First layer and second layer in detail
• Making of the brick enclosure/parapet wall

Section 4: Limecrete Layer

• How to do the Limecrete layer?
• How to level the surface according to the flow of water?
• Different mixes for limecrete
• Beating of lime
• Curing of limecrete layer

Section 5: Finishes

• Lime plaster
• Surkhi lime finish
• Cowdung finish
• Terracotta tile 

Section 6: References and What’s next?
 

2.4 Limecrete Roof

Section 1: Introduction, History and Prerequisites

• Limecrete roof as an exposed roof and an intermediate roof
• Traditional practices
• Context of Limecrete at Thannal
• Materials in use
• Terminologies
• Preparatory Works

Section 2: Structure and Roof opening

• Types of structures which can support Limecrete roof
• Making the beams and laying them
• Rafters placement and joineries
• Holding membrane-material options
• How to make an opening in the roof
• Shuttering with Wood

Section 3: Limecrete preparation & laying

• Ingredients for preparing the mix
• Preparation of special admixtures 
• Preparation of limecrete Mix
• Laying the limecrete roof
• Fixing glass in the opening
• Beating of lime

Section 4: Finishes & Conclusion

• Lime plaster
• Surkhi lime finish
• Cowdung finish
• Terracotta tile
• Conclusion

Section 5: References and What’s next?

2.5 Khiru Roof

Section 1: Introduction, Origin and Prerequisites

• What is A Khiru roof and its origin?
• Thannal’s Journey
• What are the materials required?
• What are the tools needed?
• What type of walls can withstand Khiru roof?

Section 2: Structure and initial layers

• Structure of the roof
• Changing the existing structure to suit it
• Framework type of structure
• Roof layers using branches, leaves and straw

Section 3: Final Layers and conclusion

• Layer 4: With Mud, lime and brickbats
• Layer 5: With Mud and Lime layer
• Conclusion

Section 4: Finishes

• Lime plaster
• Surkhi lime finish
• Cowdung finish
• Terracotta tile 

Section 5: References and What’s next?

2.6 Adobe Roof

Section 1: Introduction and Structure

• Introduction
• Thannal’s Journey
• How to Build the structure?
• Similarities in flat mud roof and adobe roof
• Different types of holding surface

Section 2: Making of adobe bricks

• How to make adobe bricks?
• Mix ratios for adobe bricks
• How role of lime and fibres can affect the bricks?
• How to increase strength by adding different materials?

Section 3: Laying roof 

• Use of leaves as vapour barriers
• Placing of adobe bricks
• How to place the glass on roof?
• Conclusion

Section 4: Finishes

• Lime plaster
• Surkhi lime finish
• Cowdung finish
• Terracotta tile 

Section 5: References and What’s next?

2.7 - Pot Tile Roof / Country tile roof 
 

Section 1: Introduction, Prerequisites and Bamboo Structure

• What materials are needed?
• What are the tools required?
• Types of Terracotta tiles and how to identify them
• Quantity of tiles required to build a roof
• Bamboo Frame Structure design
• Building wall plates using special joints

Section 2: Crafting Bamboo Structure step by step

• Placing the ridge to get the required slope of the roof
• Learn how to make rafters
• Build connecting beams and their intricate joints
• How to fix reapers and sizes of reapers
• How to do a curved designer roof?
• Undulations and Corrections

Section 3: Design and building the Bracing

• How to build bracing for the roof extension?
• Design of the additional supports
• Fixing using interesting bamboo joints
• Placing them within walls
• Fixing using stone slabs and lime mortar

Section 4: Laying Tiles

• Laying the terracotta tiles
• Placing of base tiles 
• How to check the levels
• Testing of placement
• Placing the ridge tile 
• Conclusion

2.8 - Sandwich Roof using Terracotta Tile 

Section 1: Introduction and Structure

• Introduction
• The story behind the sandwich roof
• Transformation of the existing structure
• Holding surface
• Rafters

Section 2: Barriers and Battens

• Vapour Barrier using Leaves
• Thermal barrier using Lime
• Battens or Reapers

Section 3: Tiles, Skylight and Conclusion

• Laying of Tiles and Ridge Tile
• Placing glass for skylight using Lime mortar
• Conclusion

Additionalyy this part contains six chapters starting with An Introduction to Natural Building. In the following chapters, learn in detail about Mud, Bamboo, Lime, Surkhi and Admixtures. This part is for in-depth learning about natural building materials. The tutorial videos familiarise the learner with different natural building material aspects. One can know about the historical context through ancient textbooks and traditional practices at old buildings. It helps to make the right choice of material, procurement, know the material through on-site tests, treatment of material, making it into a suitable usable form and the different possibilities of using the material. Understanding the material related to Natural Building thoroughly at the beginning will set a strong foundation for learning. The origin of techniques and practices discussed in this series is from an 'Indian' context, which makes this course unique from other Natural Building methods worldwide. 

What you'll learn

1.1 Introduction to Natural Building

• Evolution of Shelters
• Ancient Textbooks
• Age-old Structures
• Traditional Shelter making system
• Where does Thannal's knowledge come from?
• Why did this system change?
• How is it well suited for each place?
• Impact of returning to Natural Building
• Jagrat (awake): When living in a mud house, the five senses will interact with the natural materials in the physical world.

1.2 Mud

• What is Soil?
• Ancient text knowledge
• Components of soil
• How to procure soil to examine the components?
• Mud Tests
• Feeling with Hands
• Cigar Test
• Ball drop test
• Mud biscuits or cookies
• Mud Bottle Test
• Mud Sampling
• Conclusion & Jagrat
• References & What’s Next

1.3 Bamboo

• What is Bamboo?
• Bamboo is not a wood but a variety of grass. 
• Ancient text knowledge
• Traditional examples of Uses of Bamboo
• Types of Bamboo
• How to procure bamboo?
• Harvesting
• Traditional practices in India
• Buying from Market
• Why treat bamboo? 
• Immersing bamboo in water
• Smoking bamboo 
• Baking bamboo in light fire
• Dipping in boric and borax
• Immersing in cow urine
• Preservation
• How to choose a suitable treatment method?
• Different ways to use bamboo
• Conclusion & Jagrat (Awake)
• References & What’s Next

1.4 Lime

• Jagrat (awake): The Versatility and Uses of Lime (Mystic Lime)
• What is Lime?
• Ancient Text Knowledge
• Traditional homes
• Exercise 1
• Lime Cycle
• Burning lime in a kiln
• Benefits of making lime in a kiln
• Transporting and Storing Lime
• Exercise 2 - Visit a lime kiln
• Slaking of lime
• Dry slaking
• Wet slaking
• Different classes of lime
• How do we test the quality of lime?
• Visual Examination
• Field test
• Ball test
• Test to check stabilization of lime
• Where can lime be used in construction?
• What happens with the excess use of lime?
• Why not use cement?
• Explorations by Thannal
• Village story & Jagrat (Awake)
• References & Upcoming Lessons

1.5 Surkhi

• What is Surkhi?
• Ancient Text Knowledge
• Traditional Building Examples
• What is Pozzolanic material?
• What happens when pozzolanic material is added?
• Sources of Surkhi
• How to Make Surkhi (Do-it-yourself)?
• How to make surkhi by in your site
• How to make the mix with Surkhi?
• What is the effect of grinding the mix?
• Benefits of adding Surkhi
• How to test the quality of Surkhi?
• Uses of Surkhi
• Limitations in using Surkhi
• Conclusion & Jagrat (Awake)
• References & Upcoming Lessons

1.6 Admixtures Part-1

• What are admixtures?
• What is present in these admixtures?
• Ancient Text Knowledge
• Why use admixtures?
• Kadukkai – Jaggery Mix
• Neem Turmeric water
• Where has Thannal used it?
• What is starch?
• Cow Dung
• Cow Urine
• Types of Fibers & Uses
• Gums from Varaal Fish
• Conclusion & Jagrat (Awake)
• References

Be a part of the eco-friendly revolution in roofing and uncover the secrets to building durable, long-lasting, and sustainable roofing systems. Join our 8-hour, 45-minute online course, packed with 168 in-depth topics. Enroll now and start your journey to a greener future.