Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
has been too generalized to indicate if any one method is better than any other. I realize that any building method has to adapt to the conditions of the building site, but things like foundations are critical in determining total construction cost. But, no two sources will say the same thing. Does rammed earth/compressed earth block need a concrete slab foundation, or will wall footings be sufficient- and what kind of footings are OK? Some sources will say earth blocks must have mortar joints, while other sources say the mass of the blocks themselves will hold them in place. I'm hoping that I can find people who have actually used these methods so I can learn by their experience.
Where are you thinking of building a house like these? That might make a difference in which is best for you.
I think that which of these building methods is best is subjective. These are specialized building types that aren’t for everyone. That is why you don’t see many of them.
You might try to find a builder near you that has built these types of homes to ask your questions. Good luck, Jay
There's not a universal 'better' than the other. Just like there isn't a universal 'better' for traditional methods. Wood vs. brick vs steel and glass.
'Better' depends on what you are trying to achieve, how much money you have, and what materials you have available.
I have had a fair amount of experience with 'Earthbag construction'. We built sleeping quarters, kitchens, office space, and fighting positions. We called them sandbags. The biggest problem was the roof. They are heavy and you really don't want them caving in on you. The repair task was constant. Between shrapnel and bullets tearing up the exterior and rot and rats &mice slowly destroying the interior cloth we were always rebuilding and replacing bags and even entire walls. When they started making the bags out of poly fibre instead of conventional burlap the rot problem was greatly reduced and the rats & mice didn't seem to like to chew on it as much.
Some structures only lasted days or weeks, others had been in use for years by a long list of occupants. They were considered 'traditional' buildings. Generations of G.I.s have learned and relearned how to build with them.
If you can't tell this is somewhat tongue in cheek. Any of these building methods are usually adopted because of local conditions and their effectiveness is based on those conditions. I also wonder about most of these meeting generally accepted building codes.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Everything I've read about these methods
