Wood construction course - 26th and 27th of September

What will you do?

During this course, you will be introduced to the use of wood in construction, understanding its properties, typologies, and construction systems, and learning to make conscious decisions based on the project, context, and type of work.

You will learn to identify different types of wood used in construction, understand their structural behavior, treatments, and their fit within the Technical Building Code, as well as design and execute construction solutions that are coherent with bioconstruction criteria.

The course combines a clear theoretical basis with a practical workshop on site, where you will work with wood from project to execution, using professional tools and different types of wood to integrate knowledge from real experience.

What can you expect from this experience?

🌲 Wood in construction: We will address wood as a construction material, its physical and mechanical properties, its behavior under loads, moisture, and fire, and its suitability within bioconstruction and rehabilitation projects. We will discuss selection criteria based on structural use, durability, and coherence with natural construction systems.

📐 Regulations and application of the Technical Building Code: We will work on how the Technical Building Code applies to wood structures, understanding what the regulations require and how to integrate them realistically into small and self-built projects. We will see limits, responsibilities, and basic criteria for designing and executing with safety.

🪵 Types of wood and derived products: You will get to know the different forms in which wood arrives on site:
– logs and beams
– sawn wood
– glued laminated timber: KVH, laminated, CLT
– derived boards: OSB and others
We will analyze advantages, common uses, and selection criteria for each application.

🏗 Construction elements and wood systems: You will learn to identify and understand the different wooden construction elements: structures, frames, slabs, and complete construction systems. We will see how wood integrates into straw walls, earth walls, and hybrid solutions, always from a clear structural and constructive perspective.

🛠 Treatments, fasteners, and tools: We will address the treatments of wood, when they are necessary and when not, and what alternatives exist from a healthy perspective.
You will get to know the usual screws and fasteners on site, their structural function, and their correct placement.
We will review the basic and professional tools necessary to work with wood efficiently and safely

🔨 Practical workshop on site: We will work on the actual construction of lightweight wooden structures. You will learn to work from projects, cuts, and measurements, making cuts and adjustments on site. You will use different types of wood —sawn, glued, and boards— and professional carpentry tools, integrating fasteners and screws into a real construction context. 

Weekend program
Saturday
✅ Arrival and welcome
✅ Introduction to wood in construction
✅ Properties, types of wood, and derived products
✅ Break for lunch 
✅ Wood construction systems

Sunday
✅ Breakfast
✅ Applied theory: structural elements, design, screws, spacing, etc.
✅ Resolving doubts and closing
✅ Farewell

Who is it for?
This experience is designed for people who want to learn to build with wood from a clear technical basis and real practice on site.
It is ideal whether you are building or renovating your home, if you are interested in bioconstruction, straw and earth construction, or if you are a professional in the construction and rehabilitation field and want to integrate wood coherently and safely into your projects.
No prior knowledge in carpentry or construction is required.

The workshop includes
• Theoretical training on building with wood
• Practical workshop on site with real structures
• Use of professional carpentry tools
• Support documentation and basic schemes
• Guidance and resolution of doubts during the course
• Sunday breakfast with local and organic products
• Accommodation in shared room

Important information
• Bring comfortable clothes and safety or durable footwear
• No need to bring tools
• Notify in advance if you have food allergies
• Public transport: Hife buses to Horta de Sant Joan. We will pick you up if you notify us in advance
• WIFI only in the dining area and during daytime
• No pets allowed
• Activity for adults
• Check the user guide of Mas la Llum
• Contact us if you want to stay over the night before the course starts


Frequently asked questions

Do I need prior experience working with wood? No. The course is designed for people without prior experience who want to understand and work with wood from a clear and practical basis.

Will I learn to build complete structures? You will learn to understand, design, and execute basic structures and to understand how they fit within a real project.

Are real structural criteria worked on? Yes. The course addresses structural, construction, and regulatory criteria from an applied and comprehensible perspective.

Is this course only for bioconstruction? No. The knowledge is applicable to both bioconstruction and conventional work.

Can I apply what I learn to my own project? Yes. The goal of the course is for you to make informed and coherent decisions in your own construction or rehabilitation projects.