Interesting building method

[Hit or Miss]

I ran across an interesting building method for a home, cabin or shed while surfing.  Check out http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/ and see what you think.  I haven't done too much research on it yet but it is pretty cool, and somewhat bullet proof too!

[Pat/Rick]

Thanks, I'll check into it. Dirt I got!  . I am going to need a barn/animal shelter of some sort in the future, could be an alternative. So far I was thinking of a conex container with leanto roof built onto the sides. But yeah a dirt dome could be cheaper. Hmmm.

[no guns here]

Dirt bag construction is pretty cool.  Doesn't have to end up as a corbelled dome.  You can finish the top off with any type of roof you wish as long as you plan for it.  I'm planning on getting my feet wet with it as a free-form flower bed or garden bed in a year or two.  If I like that, I will probably progress on to some kind of a shed or storage building.  Would love to do a hybrid with some rock, cordwood, earth bag, log and then finish the appropriate areas off with an adobe or cob plaster.  I would use a regular sloped roof but probably with terra-cotta shingles or something like that.  I think a workshop/reloading area that is earth-bermed and made with earth bag wall's with adobe plaster and heated with wood heat would be cool.  Lot's of ideas, little time or money.



NGH   

[Duke0313]

Does "Dirt Bag" refer to the building or the builder?

[bilmac]

I dug around on the site for quite awhile and about 80 % of what I was finding was touchy - feely stuff, very little nuts and bolts.

Almost all the structures were TINY.

A lot of these alternative building methods look to me like they will end up costing as much or more than standard methods. For instance they talk about insulation. They suggest 10" loose against the outside walls. Well how you gonna support that? Sounds like a whole nother wall.

[no guns here]

Try http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/ for lots of information on different "green" construction methods.  Many seem to be workable but they involve a lot of trial and error unless you hook into a group with experience.  I'm pretty sure my military background, political views and propensity for consuming MEAT will make those folks less likely to come to my house and help. 

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/
http://www.motherearthnews.com/

Try these too for more information.  Dig around on the internet and you can find a lot of more specific information.



NGH

[glock fan]

I am going to try this building method.  I'm going to do an open-living space type "deck" coming off the front of my cabin.  Sand bags will allow me to build on a slight slope and do custom contouring so I don't have to have a square or rectangular structure.  I can fill the interior space with dirt & rock  and make fire/conversation pits. etc. as needed.  This should be relatively cheap and easy enough even I can do it.  Great concept.  Thanks for the heads up.

[Cornbelt]

Interesting pictures from Haiti. Can't help but think that those walls would hold up better than concrete block if they have another earthquake.

[no guns here]

Just make sure you pay attention to your bags.  Most of them (I think the poly pro ones) must be covered and kept out of the sun.  They break down quickly.  You should have plenty of fill material and tarps on hand to fill them and cover them quickly.  Some chicken wire on the outside and then a good covering should do you fine.

check out: http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/sheets.htm for example of small projects.


NGH

[glock fan]

NGH,

Very good info.  Once again you seem to be a great source of info. on a very interesting topic.  Thx for sharing.  Cool stuff!

[no guns here]

Yeah, I do a lot of surfing and talking and reading different magazines.  I'm trying to wrap my head around some ideas for building a nice shop/reloading/man cave once I settle down in one place in a couple of years.  I'd sure like to have a nice man cave with a reloading area built in to it.  Something probably about 20x30 or so.  A tv/football/man area in one corner, a gun room in another area, reloading bench, wood stove, small kitchenette and of course a shower and commode for cleaning up after hunting/fishing.  Gotta have a game cleaning area outside with a hoist, commercial sink, water spray and drain.  A steel building would be easiest, but the earthbag building seems most secure and strongest.  I'm considering a bag and frame building where the steel building frame would be used but the spaces between the frame members would be filled with earthbags.  I'm also going to landscape around the building to prevent theives from backing a truck up to it as much as possible.  Aaahhh, dreams... they are fun aren't they?


NGH