I would like to build a home form rammed earth i would like something from anyone with experiance in contructing one

-- Tod Harnden (tod_harnden@hotmail.com), September 07, 2001

Answers

Don't know where you're at, but if you're on the east coast, you could check out the Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity sites (check the HFH international website to find out exactly where Almost hHeaven is at - its either Virginia or PA). They have built both straw bale and rammed earth houses. In fact their director lives in one of the straw bale ones (she was originally a recipient). Not only could they help you with the details, but you could volunteer (they have a very well packed schedule, so call early for a slot!) and learn "hands on" about the process they use.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), September 08, 2001.

I saw something on one of the home building ideas shows (tv) a few years ago on rammed earth houses that were being built somewhere out west, like California, where there was a lot of forested area. It was on, I think, a PBS type channel. The idea was to make the house virtually impervious to fire, if the area should go up in flames, but it was considered a new technology so it may be a little expensive. The builder used clay tiles on the roof, was laid out like the Spanish stucco-adobe home designs, and steel was used in place of wook in the structure. What I particularly remember was how they mixed a certain percentage of powdered cement with damp soil and gravel, and then pounded it into pre-set forms with a power compactor. They said it worked best with soil that carried a higher than average clay content.

-- Claudia Glass (glasss2001@prodigy.net), September 09, 2001.