Watch Viking House

2019
1 Season

Viking House is a captivating and educational show from TA Outdoors that allows viewers to witness the construction of a traditional Viking longhouse using only materials and techniques from the Viking Age. Inspired by the story of Erik the Red, who founded the first settlement in Greenland, survival expert Mike Pullen embarks on this challenging project with the help of a team of skilled craftsmen.

The show takes viewers on a journey through the entire process of building the longhouse, from sourcing the raw materials to finishing the structure. Throughout each episode, Mike and his team use traditional hand tools and techniques to create everything from the foundation to the roof, providing insight into Viking building methods, as well as the challenges and triumphs of the construction process.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the show is the way it highlights the ingenuity of the Vikings and their ability to work with their environment. From sourcing timber and digging clay from the ground for building materials to using ash and tallow for sealing the chinks in the walls, every aspect of the construction process is done in a way that minimizes waste and maximizes the resources available.

The show also provides a unique opportunity for viewers to learn about Viking culture through the lens of their architecture. The longhouse design, for example, was not only functional for living and storing livestock, but was also an important social center for the community. As a result, the team must pay close attention to details like the placement of the hearth and the arrangement of doors and rooms, in order to accurately reflect the Viking way of life.

Aside from the educational aspects, Viking House is also an incredibly entertaining show. Mike is a charismatic host who keeps viewers engaged with his enthusiasm and humor, while the other craftsmen add their valuable expertise to each step of the process. There is also a sense of suspense to each episode, as the team faces unexpected challenges - from the weather to the occasional mistake - that threaten to derail the project at any moment.

Overall, Viking House is a must-watch for anyone interested in history, architecture, or woodworking. Through its unique blend of education and entertainment, it not only provides insight into Viking culture and construction methods, but also inspires viewers to get back to basics and create something with their own two hands. Whether you're a fan of survival shows, historical documentaries, or just appreciate good craftsmanship, Viking House is sure to captivate and inspire.

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Seasons

6. Bark Roof

February 18, 2019

Part 6 focuses on building the bark roof for the viking house. The hand tools we use in for this project is a viking axe, hammer, auger, saw, drawknife and a few others. We use bark from cedar logs for the shingles for the roof of the house. We tile the bark and use tacks and nails to secure it to the rafters and timber frame. We had to use a wood ladder to get up onto the roof of the house.

5. Timber Roof & Bed

February 12, 2019

Part 5 focuses on using hand tools to build the timber frame roof using cedar logs. We also use the axe, saw, hammer and auger to build a bushcraft viking bed for the viking shelter. Now that the saw horse is built, it is much easier for us to saw wood efficiently. We cook steak over the fire and eat good food in the viking camp. The rafters on the house are now up and secured to the ridge pole.

4. Axe Hammer & Auger

February 8, 2019

Part 4 focuses on using the axe, auger and draw knife to build a viking bench, saw horse and spit for the stone clay fire pit ready to roast meat over the fire. Now that the cedar log foundations are in place, and the timber frame has been built, we are able to focus on making viking furniture such as the saw horse and bench using traditional woodworking techniques and hand tools.

3. Stone Clay Pit

February 1, 2019

Part 3 focuses on building a viking long pit, or stone fire pit, for the inside of the viking house. We dig the foundations of the pit using a shovel and our hands. We dig through the soil layer and then dig down to the clay layer. We store the clay for later use. We then head into the forest to find some large stones to line the fire pit.

2. Timber Frame

January 28, 2019

In Part 2 we build a timber frame bushcraft style. We use a bit and brace and make wood dowels to build the a frame timber roof structure. The foundations of the viking shelter consists of cedar logs which we notched using log cabin notches (saddle notches) and we made the walls two cedar logs high. We burned the ends of the a frame and dug a deep hole down into the clay layer.

1. A Bushcraft Project

January 21, 2019

Part 1 focuses on cutting the cedar logs for the foundations of the viking house. The foundations are only going to be two cedar logs high. The hand tools we use are an axe, saw, hammer, and wrecking bar. We begin by using an axe and saw to create saddle notches to make the log cabin foundation. We use 10 logs overall for the foundation of the viking shelter.

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