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Information on the structure and history of buildings can be acquired in two ways: either by research into historic sites, houses or ruins, or by investigation of written contemporary sources and the sagas. Ancient dwellings can be recreated on the basis of existing information.
The traditional construction method of a turf house is to build first the exterior walls, then the timber frame, and finally the roof. The walls are built of turf and uncut rock. Two kinds of turf are used, from marshes and from grassland; marsh turf is superior building material, as it consists mostly of matted slowly-decomposing plant roots, and the grass surface is dense and tough. It is found only in cold countries. Grassland turf is dryer and earthier, and hence is more likely to shrink. Specialised tools, the torfljár (turf-cutter) and páll (hoe), were used for cutting turf. In olden times, building rock was gathered together in the autumn, then transported to the construction site by sled in winter.
Exterior walls are of three kinds: turf, rock and turf-and-rock. The rock walls were of double thickness, with a layer of earth between to fix the layers together and provide insulation. Rock walls are easier to build than turf walls.