Comments on: Introduction http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com Sharing information and promoting earthbag building Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:59:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: bricecycle http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-281 bricecycle Tue, 03 Mar 2009 07:02:01 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-281 Hey Bill Taylor, I also live in Mendocino and am interested in your building project and your progress getting it up to code. Maybe open to lending a hand in construction. This seems like a move in the right direction. Hey Bill Taylor, I also live in Mendocino and am interested in your building project and your progress getting it up to code. Maybe open to lending a hand in construction. This seems like a move in the right direction.

]]> By: Owen Geiger http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-265 Owen Geiger Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:03:08 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-265 You'll have to find an engineer in your area. Look for engineers with experience in alternative building and foundation design. You’ll have to find an engineer in your area. Look for engineers with experience in alternative building and foundation design.

]]> By: Kelly Hart http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-259 Kelly Hart Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:34:25 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-259 The best example of code approval in seismic areas of California is the work done at CalEarth, near Hesperia. They have actually designed and helped construct an earthbag public building for the city, and the system was required to undergo extensive testing to be sanctioned by the authorities. Since then they have sold similar designs for complex dome structures that have been code approved in various other states. Every project is different, and every jurisdiction is different, and earthbag building is very new, so there are no guaranteed ways assure success for getting building permits...but at least there are some precedents. Probably the best advise is to have a discussion with your building authorities and find out what they require in order to approve your project, then go about assembling what you can. There are some resources provided at www.earthbagbuilding.com of former testing that has been done as well as profiles of various successful code-approved projects. Good luck... The best example of code approval in seismic areas of California is the work done at CalEarth, near Hesperia. They have actually designed and helped construct an earthbag public building for the city, and the system was required to undergo extensive testing to be sanctioned by the authorities. Since then they have sold similar designs for complex dome structures that have been code approved in various other states.

Every project is different, and every jurisdiction is different, and earthbag building is very new, so there are no guaranteed ways assure success for getting building permits…but at least there are some precedents. Probably the best advise is to have a discussion with your building authorities and find out what they require in order to approve your project, then go about assembling what you can. There are some resources provided at http://www.earthbagbuilding.com of former testing that has been done as well as profiles of various successful code-approved projects.

Good luck…

]]> By: Bill Taylor http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-258 Bill Taylor Sat, 21 Feb 2009 06:49:02 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-258 I am building a 40' diameter half-circle house into the earth, about 7-8' high at the highest. I would like to use earth bags or some alternative to concrete. aside from barbed wire on each course, what would I need to do to get this approved. I live in Northern CA (Mendocino County) and the house will be UBC (code). Is there anyone with experience building such a structure in earthquake country? I am building a 40′ diameter half-circle house into the earth, about 7-8′ high at the highest. I would like to use earth bags or some alternative to concrete. aside from barbed wire on each course, what would I need to do to get this approved. I live in Northern CA (Mendocino County) and the house will be UBC (code). Is there anyone with experience building such a structure in earthquake country?

]]> By: Steve Davis http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-144 Steve Davis Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:49:40 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-144 Earth Sheltered subgrade buildings have a number of challenges that have been overcome, geology, soils, drainage, seepage, ventilation, lighting and radon. Peter Vetch has mastered this and biomorphic constructions. I still love Hobbits, although just movie sets, real earth homes can be built that way with sandbags arched along a road cut. Subgrade constructions always have potential for seepage and flooding problems, but above grade earthen structures have advatages of earth but few drainage, cut/fill and geology problems. Try diggin and building one above first to get feel for challenges of subgrade. Backhoes make such basements possible with less danger of caveins. Never enter earth holes above your waist that are unsupported. Good Old Fresno Forestiere dug like a madman for years, awesome subterranean orchards and arched passages. http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/forest.htm Sandbags into big rocks scapes are another wonderful way to build. We have yet to see sandbags integrated into real mining into either gravels or hardrock, but it is being studied, currently rock bolted chainlink gunnite is preferred. Hard Hats & MSHA Cards Required ! ;-) Best Wishes Steve Earth Sheltered subgrade buildings have a number of challenges that have been overcome, geology, soils, drainage, seepage, ventilation, lighting and radon. Peter Vetch has mastered this and biomorphic constructions. I still love Hobbits, although just movie sets, real earth homes can be built that way with sandbags arched along a road cut.

Subgrade constructions always have potential for seepage and flooding problems, but above grade earthen structures have advatages of earth but few drainage, cut/fill and geology problems. Try diggin and building one above first to get feel for challenges of subgrade. Backhoes make such basements possible with less danger of caveins. Never enter earth holes above your waist that are unsupported.

Good Old Fresno Forestiere dug like a madman for years, awesome subterranean orchards and arched passages.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/places/forest.htm

Sandbags into big rocks scapes are another wonderful way to build. We have yet to see sandbags integrated into real mining into either gravels or hardrock, but it is being studied, currently rock bolted chainlink gunnite is preferred. Hard Hats & MSHA Cards Required ! ;-)
Best Wishes
Steve

]]> By: Owen Geiger http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-112 Owen Geiger Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:03:19 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-112 There's a picture of the rootcellar mentioned above at Kelly's website: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/nbc03.htm It was never finished. Kind of a waste. I just finished an article on how to build an earthbag rootcellar. It's due out this winter, but because of contractual obligations I am not at liberty to discuss the details. I'll make a post on the project as soon as it's published. It should meet your needs nicely, so please check back later. Thanks, Owen There’s a picture of the rootcellar mentioned above at Kelly’s website: http://www.greenhomebuilding.com/articles/nbc03.htm

It was never finished. Kind of a waste.

I just finished an article on how to build an earthbag rootcellar. It’s due out this winter, but because of contractual obligations I am not at liberty to discuss the details. I’ll make a post on the project as soon as it’s published. It should meet your needs nicely, so please check back later.

Thanks,
Owen

]]> By: Kelly Hart http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-111 Kelly Hart Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:17:47 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-111 I once saw a very small (about ten foot diameter) earthbag dome being built below ground as a pantry/root cellar. This was mostly being done by volunteer participants at one of the Natural Building Colloquiums in New Mexico. I don't know if it every got completed. I made a partially bermed pantry with earthbags that was adjacent to the house I built in Colorado, and this worked out fine. There are some pictures of this at http://greenhomebuilding.com/storeyourfood.htm . This room was partly supported by wooden poles to help hold the upper portion in place. When building, especially below ground, it is extremely important to take precautions about the stability of the structure. Earth is very heavy, so the stresses on such a building are enormous. More work needs to be done to assess just what can be safely done with this. I once saw a very small (about ten foot diameter) earthbag dome being built below ground as a pantry/root cellar. This was mostly being done by volunteer participants at one of the Natural Building Colloquiums in New Mexico. I don’t know if it every got completed.

I made a partially bermed pantry with earthbags that was adjacent to the house I built in Colorado, and this worked out fine. There are some pictures of this at http://greenhomebuilding.com/storeyourfood.htm . This room was partly supported by wooden poles to help hold the upper portion in place.

When building, especially below ground, it is extremely important to take precautions about the stability of the structure. Earth is very heavy, so the stresses on such a building are enormous. More work needs to be done to assess just what can be safely done with this.

]]> By: Brian http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-110 Brian Mon, 25 Aug 2008 01:30:02 +0000 http://earthbagbuilding.wordpress.com/introduction/#comment-110 I am looking for comments on domes built below grade then covered over with soil to leave only a very small tip to the sky. I have not found anyone who has done this, any leads out there? Thanks, Brian I am looking for comments on domes built below grade then covered over with soil to leave only a very small tip to the sky. I have not found anyone who has done this, any leads out there? Thanks, Brian

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