Earthbag Shelters...

[voodoo]

I decided to give this building method a try. http://earthbagbuilding.com/articles/riceland.htm We broke ground this past weekend, or I should say the ground broke us! Damn rocks. We are starting with a 13' diameter building, to see how it goes. I will not be making a dome like in the link, going up 9' and then using conventional framing for the roof.

[Diesel]

wow! can't wait to see how it shapes up man! thanks for sharing the pics! :)

[lazer128]

Kool! This will be very interesting to watch.

[Diesel]

You know interestingly enough have been thinking of adding snadbags to my BOB/ Heavy kit

Although dunno how many i can reasonably bring... but that article got me thinking of how easy it would be to set up a semi perm structure using bags

very interesting

btw

http://www.calearth.org/reuter2/Reuter2.htm

[ridgid1]

yea thats awsome!!!! so what are you putting in the bags? dirt from digging?

[Big_Saw]

Very cool project.....anxiously awaiting the final episode...;)

[Diesel]

you know what might be cool is to mix your dirt with a light sprinkled amount of readymix concrete then fill the bags?

[lazer128]

Wonder if you could mix the earthbag technology with the haybale concept and make a domed haybale house. Would go much faster I would think.

http://www.solarhaven.org/NewStrawbale.htm

[voodoo]

The bottom course of bags are filled with sand and gravel from the stream bed 200' down the hill. (The guys loved carrying them up the hill!) All remaining courses are/will be dirt from the site. The only problem thus far, is all the rocks. Just to level out that small circle took 3 guys, 10+ hours with picks, shovels and crowbars. They pulled some rocks that went over 200lbs out of that little area. Now that the digging is done, it will go much quicker. My daughter and I were digging in a different spot and hit lots of clay. We will be mixing it in with the site dirt. It is a big operation for such a small building. There were 5 of us, digging, carrying, sifting etc. We could have used 5 more. This site is about 100' feet above the road, and there is no way to even get a 4 wheeler up there. Gotta carry everything up. Hope to go back out there next week to work some more.

[ridgid1]

yea I think the hat bails would be alot less permanent though... expecialy if you put some ready mix concrete in the bags, the moisture from dirt, clay and rain will make that place hard as a rock! I would prob. get some river stone and some morter and incorborate a fire place also.... Im sure the walls of this place will long last the modern roof...

[Visinedrops]

This is awesome! What is the total amount of bags necessary to complete such an endeavor? Also, it seems possible to adjust the construction of this project to allow it to be partially underground, keeping the temperature lower in the summer for arid and semi-arid areas.

[West Texas!]

How many sandbags did you project for your project?
Where did you find the sandbags, Ft. Davis or around your place?
Are you going to "plaster" the outside with anything like a stucco, adobe, etc?

Also, can I come and see it ( please, please, please!!!!).....Rusty and I were talking about this building method last weekend.

[Brosia]

keep the pictures coming!

what about water/plumbing/heat? any sort of amenities going into this building?

[voodoo]

I have figured around 600 bags to finish this building. I have bought bags, online and locally, here on the coast. Typically 1000 bags runs about $350 shipped. I did score some good deals on eBay, 500 for $96 shipped, but they are a little smaller. They will be used for the courses above 5'. I am going to stucco the outside with normal, dyed stucco. The inside, I am going to experiment with papercrete. (cement, sand & paper) Filled size of bags I am using are 26x15x4 & 23x13x4. Once stuccoed, walls will be around 17" thick!
I drove 24" pieces of re-bar thru the first 3 courses of bags. Over-kill by what I have read, but I like the added insurance. As for using sandbags underground, yes, I assume you can. One problem with anything built underground, is if the ground shifts violently, (earthquake) It may collapse. I have mapped out 3 locations on my property for these buildings. As long as I like the end result of this first one, plans are for a 18' and 24' ones as well. All will be tied together with walkways. Think I forgot to mention, there will be a loft in this shelter. I am going up 7' then putting joists in. Will continue up 2' more, and then put on a 5 sided roof to try and keep a somewhat round appearance. No plumbing in this one. This will eventually be a bedroom. I have several military wood/coal stoves, and plan on putting one in this building. Will just run the vent pipe out the roof. Hows that saying go, " If I showed it to ya, I'd have to kill ya..."

[West Texas!]

Any more pictures of the Earthbag project? Update?