Rammed earth construction is a technique used for building foundations, floors, and walls while only using natural raw materials. This ancient approach offers a sustainable building method that features chalk, lime, gravel, or compressed soil. Edifices formed from rammed earth are found on every continent except Antarctica. It works well in a range of environments, including tropical, desert, and wetland biomes.
Mar 11, 2020 Rammed earth is the descendant of ancient construction techniques like adobe or cob building. It can be used to build walls for many kinds of buildings, from houses to. Rammed Earth presentation 1. Narayan Acharaya TBS Green week Presentation 3rd April 2017 2. Our Story 2 3. Construction company building homes, schools and hospital from rammed earth. Problem of traditional brick industry Destroying Farm Land Child Labor / Poor working conditions 5.
Making rammed earth requires the compaction of a damp mixture of soil that has suitable proportions of gravel, clay, and stabilizer. You can put it into any formwork to create the desired structure.
After a wall is completed, it will be sufficiently strong enough to stand on its own. Its compressive strength continues to grow as the structure dries. Cement-stabilized rammed earth must cure for a minimum of 28 days.
Modern rammed earth structures sit on top of a constructed footing or a reinforced concrete slab.
If you are looking for a sustainable way to build a home without a significant expense, then the advantages and disadvantages of round earth are worth taking under consideration.
List of the Advantages of Rammed Earth
1. It provides excellent insulating options for off-grid living.
If you want to start homesteading and live off of the grid, then rammed earth buildings are an excellent choice for energy retention. You gain the benefits of an environmentally friendly construction material while receiving high levels of insulative qualities simultaneously. The thick walls that builders create using soil and clay can retain heat during the day, and then slowly release it at night.
If you want to start homesteading and live off of the grid, then rammed earth buildings are an excellent choice for energy retention. You gain the benefits of an environmentally friendly construction material while receiving high levels of insulative qualities simultaneously. The thick walls that builders create using soil and clay can retain heat during the day, and then slowly release it at night.
This advantage will also retain heat inside the structure during colder months to prevent extreme interior temperature changes.
2. Anyone can create a rammed earth structure.
It doesn’t take much experience to create a rammed earth structure or building. As long as you know how to create forms and have the correct recipe for soil composition, then you have the tools needed to create a structure of almost any size. Although some materials on local properties may not be suitable for this constructive effort, shipping in the gravel or clay needed to finish a wall is not very expensive.
It doesn’t take much experience to create a rammed earth structure or building. As long as you know how to create forms and have the correct recipe for soil composition, then you have the tools needed to create a structure of almost any size. Although some materials on local properties may not be suitable for this constructive effort, shipping in the gravel or clay needed to finish a wall is not very expensive.
You can obtain the materials to create a rammed earth building almost anywhere.
3. Buildings made from rammed earth have more durability.
We know for a fact that the structures made from rammed earth can withstand the tests of time. These buildings have already proven to be sturdy for more than a century, and archaeological evidence suggests that some structures could last for more than 1,000 years. When you compare the cost of construction with other modern materials, this environmentally-friendly choice almost always comes out ahead.
We know for a fact that the structures made from rammed earth can withstand the tests of time. These buildings have already proven to be sturdy for more than a century, and archaeological evidence suggests that some structures could last for more than 1,000 years. When you compare the cost of construction with other modern materials, this environmentally-friendly choice almost always comes out ahead.
4. If you do the work yourself, the cost of rammed earth can be almost nothing.
If you are willing to put in the work to create the rammed earth structures that you want, then the cost of this building material is negligible. It does require a significant amount of sweat equity to create the final outcome, but a DIY expert could quickly put together a home for less than $40 per square foot – and perhaps significantly less. Much of this advantage is based on the idea that the materials for the work can be obtained on local properties.
If you are willing to put in the work to create the rammed earth structures that you want, then the cost of this building material is negligible. It does require a significant amount of sweat equity to create the final outcome, but a DIY expert could quickly put together a home for less than $40 per square foot – and perhaps significantly less. Much of this advantage is based on the idea that the materials for the work can be obtained on local properties.
![Rammed earth construction techniques images Rammed earth construction techniques images](https://s3.amazonaws.com/finehomebuilding.s3.tauntoncloud.com/app/uploads/2019/03/13104002/ILLUSTRATION.jpg)
5. It has a high fire-resistance rating.
Rammed earth structures receive a four-hour fire resistance rating from the CSIRO when contractors use today’s best practices and methods. That means you have more time to get out of the building if an emergency arises. You may also find that the structure of a house built with these materials may have a lower reconstruction expense if something unexpected happens to it. You can still treat the exterior as you would with any other building material, which means you have lower costs without sacrificing the flexibility you might need.
Rammed earth structures receive a four-hour fire resistance rating from the CSIRO when contractors use today’s best practices and methods. That means you have more time to get out of the building if an emergency arises. You may also find that the structure of a house built with these materials may have a lower reconstruction expense if something unexpected happens to it. You can still treat the exterior as you would with any other building material, which means you have lower costs without sacrificing the flexibility you might need.
6. Rammed earth offers a high level of moisture resistance.
If you live in a geographic region that sees a significant amount of precipitation every year, then this building option can provide a superior level of moisture resistance. Although you need to prevent continued exposure to water at the bottom and top of each wall as you would with clay brick, most soil compositions using the rammed earth technique don’t require additional waterproofing.
If you live in a geographic region that sees a significant amount of precipitation every year, then this building option can provide a superior level of moisture resistance. Although you need to prevent continued exposure to water at the bottom and top of each wall as you would with clay brick, most soil compositions using the rammed earth technique don’t require additional waterproofing.
7. The nature of rammed earth is that it is non-toxic.
Because you are only using natural materials when building a structure with rammed earth, you don’t need to worry about any toxic substances being part of the manufacturing process. You even have the option to create natural forms so that you can avoid any potential chemical exposure from concrete or wood surfaces. This benefit is one of the primary reasons why families are now considering this environmentally friendly solution over some of the other building methods that are available today.
Because you are only using natural materials when building a structure with rammed earth, you don’t need to worry about any toxic substances being part of the manufacturing process. You even have the option to create natural forms so that you can avoid any potential chemical exposure from concrete or wood surfaces. This benefit is one of the primary reasons why families are now considering this environmentally friendly solution over some of the other building methods that are available today.
8. The material is useful for soundproofing.
Rammed earth walls are naturally soundproofed because of their density. That makes this material well-suited for areas that encounter a lot of noise pollution. If you build multiple interior walls using this product, then the outside world may not have a chance to reach your ears. When you combine this trade with double pane windows and other soundproofing technologies, it is possible to create a quiet indoor environment that is unlike any other.
Rammed earth walls are naturally soundproofed because of their density. That makes this material well-suited for areas that encounter a lot of noise pollution. If you build multiple interior walls using this product, then the outside world may not have a chance to reach your ears. When you combine this trade with double pane windows and other soundproofing technologies, it is possible to create a quiet indoor environment that is unlike any other.
9. It provides a high level of versatility.
Many architects find it easy to style homes made with rammed earth because of the natural color and texture variations found in the building materials. That means you can create something stunningly beautiful while also supporting the environment and reducing your carbon footprint.
Many architects find it easy to style homes made with rammed earth because of the natural color and texture variations found in the building materials. That means you can create something stunningly beautiful while also supporting the environment and reducing your carbon footprint.
10. Rammed earth offers a high level of pest protection.
If you have problems with termites on your property, then this building material can provide you with a significant amount of protection. There are no cavities in the walls where pests can reside or find a way to your interior structures. Repainting, plastering, and wallpaper are not necessary because reinforcements are rarely needed for this material. Once it cures, it is virtually impenetrable to most pests.
If you have problems with termites on your property, then this building material can provide you with a significant amount of protection. There are no cavities in the walls where pests can reside or find a way to your interior structures. Repainting, plastering, and wallpaper are not necessary because reinforcements are rarely needed for this material. Once it cures, it is virtually impenetrable to most pests.
You must still take care when working around your entryways and windows to ensure intruders are not able to get through those transition points.
List of the Disadvantages of Rammed Earth
1. The cost of rammed earth can get significantly high.
The cost benefits of rammed earth are possible only when you are sourcing local materials and doing all of the work by yourself. Once you start hiring laborers and contractors to obtain supplies, the expense of using this environmentally friendly material can quickly rise. The price per vertical square foot in some areas of the United States can be as high as $300. If the job you need to complete is complex, then this cost could potentially double.
The cost benefits of rammed earth are possible only when you are sourcing local materials and doing all of the work by yourself. Once you start hiring laborers and contractors to obtain supplies, the expense of using this environmentally friendly material can quickly rise. The price per vertical square foot in some areas of the United States can be as high as $300. If the job you need to complete is complex, then this cost could potentially double.
There are undoubtedly ongoing benefits that can reduce the long-term expense of using this product, but that savings may take several years to make an appearance. You can expect the final cost to be up to 15% more than it would be for a conventional home.
2. It doesn’t provide long-term insulative benefits.
The materials that rammed earth processes use typically contain a high thermal mass. That means it is not a particularly good insulator. When there is a significant difference between the inside and outside temperatures, or the daytime and evening temperatures, then the slow release that this option creates can provide tremendous savings to your utility expenses. If it is poorly installed, then this product can radiate heat all night long during the summer and absorb what you produce at night in winter.
The materials that rammed earth processes use typically contain a high thermal mass. That means it is not a particularly good insulator. When there is a significant difference between the inside and outside temperatures, or the daytime and evening temperatures, then the slow release that this option creates can provide tremendous savings to your utility expenses. If it is poorly installed, then this product can radiate heat all night long during the summer and absorb what you produce at night in winter.
Even though it has excellent thermal mass and a low embodied energy, the insulative qualities are not high when you use this technique. Prolonged exposure to significant temperature differences can create an uncomfortable indoor living environment.
3. If you build from your property, then you’ll create holes in the ground.
The cast profile of a rammed earth structure can be particularly appealing for families or businesses that want to establish an off the grid presence. When you take the materials for this structure from land that you own, then it will become necessary to figure out what to do with the large holes that you create. The amount of soil, gravel, and clay that are necessary to create the correct ratio of compaction can severely pockmark the surface of the land.
The cast profile of a rammed earth structure can be particularly appealing for families or businesses that want to establish an off the grid presence. When you take the materials for this structure from land that you own, then it will become necessary to figure out what to do with the large holes that you create. The amount of soil, gravel, and clay that are necessary to create the correct ratio of compaction can severely pockmark the surface of the land.
Memorex cd label software for mac. 4. You may need to pay for added insulation.
If you live in a colder climate and want to use rammed earth as your primary building material, then it is highly likely that you will need to add insulation to your building structure. One of the common ways to manage this disadvantage is to use foam that can be covered with concrete. When you solve this problem, then you often negate the benefit of reducing your potential exposure to toxic elements.
If you live in a colder climate and want to use rammed earth as your primary building material, then it is highly likely that you will need to add insulation to your building structure. One of the common ways to manage this disadvantage is to use foam that can be covered with concrete. When you solve this problem, then you often negate the benefit of reducing your potential exposure to toxic elements.
There is also the added cost of purchasing and installing the insulation to consider. That’s why you typically see structures made with rammed earth in warmer climates.
5. It is challenging to correct issues after a wall gets built.
Once a wall gets built using rammed earth as the building material, the final structure cannot be easily corrected if a mistake gets made. Unlike brick or stone, you cannot make changes as the wall becomes vertical because you are packing everything into a form. If there are air bubbles or problems with the quality of the materials, the issue may not get noticed until the curing process begins.
Once a wall gets built using rammed earth as the building material, the final structure cannot be easily corrected if a mistake gets made. Unlike brick or stone, you cannot make changes as the wall becomes vertical because you are packing everything into a form. If there are air bubbles or problems with the quality of the materials, the issue may not get noticed until the curing process begins.
Although you can correct surface issues by smearing more of the soil composition along the surface of the wall, hidden faults may go unnoticed until it is too late to correct.
6. Rammed earth gets limited to low-rise buildings and square shapes.
Rammed earth usually requires a single-story construction method because of the strength profile of this product. As a wall becomes more vertical, it must have additional supports placed at the base of the wall to maintain stability. Because this building option doesn’t use modern tools or materials beyond the use of the original form, you can only achieve two stories for most structures using today’s best practices.
Rammed earth usually requires a single-story construction method because of the strength profile of this product. As a wall becomes more vertical, it must have additional supports placed at the base of the wall to maintain stability. Because this building option doesn’t use modern tools or materials beyond the use of the original form, you can only achieve two stories for most structures using today’s best practices.
Most countries have building codes that contractors must follow when creating structures for residential or commercial purposes. Rammed earth buildings don’t always fall into these regulations, which means the quality of the craftsmanship may be questionable. This issue also dictates a square structure for most projects since round forms aren’t always available.
7. It may take more work to gain approval from insurers or bankers.
Rammed earth is considered to be an alternative building method in the United States. That means it may take more work to win the final approval for a completed project. Bankers and insurers might not know how to provide you with the correct level of coverage or lending assistance to turn your ideas into a reality.
Rammed earth is considered to be an alternative building method in the United States. That means it may take more work to win the final approval for a completed project. Bankers and insurers might not know how to provide you with the correct level of coverage or lending assistance to turn your ideas into a reality.
The Southwest U.S. uses this method more frequently than any other region, so rammed earth is beginning to appear in some building codes. If you do not live in Arizona, New Mexico, or Colorado, then you may find it should be a challenge to obtain a construction loan, mortgage, or homeowners’ insurance.
8. It takes a long time to cure a rammed earth wall.
Rammed earth might look like it is finished once it comes out of the form, but most projects require about a month of curing before the structure is usable. That means your construction project will lose some valuable time while the walls start hardening. There are definite environmental advantages that are worth considering if you want a sustainable outcome, although it can be a significant time investment to achieve them. That’s why the length of the building project must come into consideration when using rammed earth as your primary material.
Rammed earth might look like it is finished once it comes out of the form, but most projects require about a month of curing before the structure is usable. That means your construction project will lose some valuable time while the walls start hardening. There are definite environmental advantages that are worth considering if you want a sustainable outcome, although it can be a significant time investment to achieve them. That’s why the length of the building project must come into consideration when using rammed earth as your primary material.
Conclusion
Rammed earth can effectively regulate humidity levels if clay-containing walls left unclad receive exposure to the internal space. Most properties see moisture levels in a range between 40% to 60%, which is the ideal level for people with asthma or other breathing issues. You can avoid problems with condensation because of this benefit, but it comes at the expense of a significant loss of heat.
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If you want to use an environmentally friendly building material, then this option is one of the best ones that’s available in today’s market. It may cost more if you aren’t doing the work yourself, but the advantages can make that investment seem like it is worth the expense.
These rammed earth advantages and disadvantages may vary based on your geographic location and the quality of building materials used. It is an easy way to support sustainable living while enjoying the comforts of modern life.
About the Author
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.
Brandon Miller has a B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a seasoned writer who has written over one hundred articles, which have been read by over 500,000 people. If you have any comments or concerns about this blog post, then please contact the Green Garage team here.
pollinator
Location: Melbourne FL, USA - Pine and Palmetto Flatland, Sandy and Acidic
posted 6 years agoI was browsing the internet and spotted this image of workers toiling on this hand carried device. I had ponderings in the past of a device similar to this but I had not seen evidence of such a device until today. It is only an image, but the principle is basic and the simplicity of the design is incredibly easy to reverse engineer. I can see myself working on something like this in the future.
http://www.ruralhousingnetwork.in/technical/rammed-earth/Construction
http://www.ruralhousingnetwork.in/technical/rammed-earth/Construction
Those who hammer their swords into plows will plow for those who don't!
pollinator
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
posted 6 years ago- 1
It is called slipforming. It is an old technique that lost favor as mechanic tampers and skidloaders took over for weighted sticks and buckets. There are references on the internet of using it in the past many places.
'You must be the change you want to see in the world.' 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.' --Mahatma Gandhi
'Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.' --Francis of Assisi.
'Family farms work when the whole family works the farm.' -- Adam Klaus
'Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.' --Francis of Assisi.
'Family farms work when the whole family works the farm.' -- Adam Klaus
pollinator
Location: Melbourne FL, USA - Pine and Palmetto Flatland, Sandy and Acidic
posted 6 years agoR Scott wrote:It is called slipforming.
Thank you very much for clarifying that to me, I will look this up.
Those who hammer their swords into plows will plow for those who don't!
Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada
posted 6 years ago- 1
This guy has a DVD for sale concerning slip form stone work. The long preview gives a pretty good idea of how it's done. --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIuVcvXzlZA
The Nearings were a couple who built their stone house with slip forms. Any search of their name will turn up something.
The Nearings were a couple who built their stone house with slip forms. Any search of their name will turn up something.
Location: In a rain shadow - Fremont County, Southern CO
posted 6 years agothere is a couple in my area with a rammed earth home, built using slipforms.
the home is earth bermed and passive solar. they have a ~2k PV array and are net zero with the utilities. pretty cool place.
the walls are ~18 in thick and the guy said he was using a 'whacker' to compact the dirt once in the form.
he used a skidsteer to get the material into the form, and had a few high school laborers to help him.
i would love to replicate this design, as i think its a good mix between eco building and mechanized building.
the home is earth bermed and passive solar. they have a ~2k PV array and are net zero with the utilities. pretty cool place.
the walls are ~18 in thick and the guy said he was using a 'whacker' to compact the dirt once in the form.
he used a skidsteer to get the material into the form, and had a few high school laborers to help him.
i would love to replicate this design, as i think its a good mix between eco building and mechanized building.
http://www.cloud9farms.com/ - Southern Colorado - Zone 5 (-19*f) - 5300ft elevation - 12in rainfall plus irrigation rights
Dairy cows, 'hair' sheep, Kune Kune pigs, chickens, guineas and turkeys
Dairy cows, 'hair' sheep, Kune Kune pigs, chickens, guineas and turkeys
Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada
posted 6 years ago- 1
I love the simplicity of this slip form. He foot stomps only. If more braces were used, a similar form could be rammed with a tamper. Steel pipe could be used as well. Cob could be formed like this.
This is in the Indian Himalayas. The man doing the work looks Tibetan. The film people are speaking slowly to him, so I assume that they are from further South and they speak different languages. ---
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I've asked one of our members for a translation of anything regarding this process. It's late at night on the west coast, so I don't expect she will see this tonight.
This is in the Indian Himalayas. The man doing the work looks Tibetan. The film people are speaking slowly to him, so I assume that they are from further South and they speak different languages. ---
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I've asked one of our members for a translation of anything regarding this process. It's late at night on the west coast, so I don't expect she will see this tonight.
pollinator
Location: Kansas Zone 6a
posted 6 years agoDale Hodgins wrote:I love the simplicity of this slip form. He foot stomps only. If more braces were used, a similar form could be rammed with a tamper. Steel pipe could be used as well. Cob could be formed like this.
This is in the Indian Himalayas. The man doing the work looks Tibetan. The film people are speaking slowly to him, so I assume that they are from further South and they speak different languages. ---
This is in the Indian Himalayas. The man doing the work looks Tibetan. The film people are speaking slowly to him, so I assume that they are from further South and they speak different languages. ---
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I've asked one of our members for a translation of anything regarding this process. It's late at night on the west coast, so I don't expect she will see this tonight.
This video was an inspiration to do rammed earth this way, but with a jumping jack tamper (can be had cheap used). But my foundation needs meant I would have had more concrete in the foundation and stem wall than doing the whole thing in block.
'You must be the change you want to see in the world.' 'First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.' --Mahatma Gandhi
'Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.' --Francis of Assisi.
'Family farms work when the whole family works the farm.' -- Adam Klaus
'Preach the Gospel always, and if necessary, use words.' --Francis of Assisi.
'Family farms work when the whole family works the farm.' -- Adam Klaus
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 2
Hi Dale,
I couldn't download the whole video yet, but the title says it's in Spiti, where the language is just different enough from Ladakhi that I probably won't be able to follow it. It's like Spanish and French.
We've been doing lots of low-tech rammed earth here in Ladakh, though, where the ancient rammed earth technique is similar to Spiti. I think in Spiti it has been used for houses all along, and I know it has in Bhutan. But here in Ladakh though the ancient castles are made of it, modern houses use only adobe bricks, and this rammed earth was only used for rough fencing.
So we resurrected local rammed earth 20 years ago, and have built about 10 solar heated buildings using it, some of them large.
Our forms are as long as walls or planks. The head builder sets up the forms and gets it plumb. You can move the frames after a day in hot weather or two in autumn, and then build on top of it after several more days. We use a cement mixer for the mud. We stamp by hand with a wooden or metal stamper. Laurie Baker's classic book My Name is Mud has wonderful simple hand tests to find the right mix of your local materials -- he was talking about all kinds of earthen building.
I'm enjoying the coziness of our first big solar rammed earth building right now as I write -- it's below freezing outside and we have no backup heating, only solar.
My internet access is slow today and I've had trouble opening Permies pages or clicking reply, so I won't try to upload photos right now. We've got a few on our website, www.secmol.org, but I've recently scanned our old slides from the 90s when we were building this building.
More recently, Sonam Wangchuk, the brains and energy behind our whole thing, has been instead initiating modern style rammed earth with two local companies that do solar heated earth buildings, his protoges. He learned it at Craterre in France, David Easton in California, and in Australia. It uses big smooth forms a whole storey high, pneumatic ramming, and often some percentage of cement. Maybe it's stronger or more earthquake safe, but I really love our old cob-like hand rammed earth buildings. These walls are cozy. The modern system is more mechanised and maybe that's a big advantage as wages in this country are rising fast. I'm not sure if the jury has decided on that, though, since the modern system is more picky -- you aren't going to plaster so you have to get everything perfect inside the form.
I couldn't download the whole video yet, but the title says it's in Spiti, where the language is just different enough from Ladakhi that I probably won't be able to follow it. It's like Spanish and French.
We've been doing lots of low-tech rammed earth here in Ladakh, though, where the ancient rammed earth technique is similar to Spiti. I think in Spiti it has been used for houses all along, and I know it has in Bhutan. But here in Ladakh though the ancient castles are made of it, modern houses use only adobe bricks, and this rammed earth was only used for rough fencing.
So we resurrected local rammed earth 20 years ago, and have built about 10 solar heated buildings using it, some of them large.
Our forms are as long as walls or planks. The head builder sets up the forms and gets it plumb. You can move the frames after a day in hot weather or two in autumn, and then build on top of it after several more days. We use a cement mixer for the mud. We stamp by hand with a wooden or metal stamper. Laurie Baker's classic book My Name is Mud has wonderful simple hand tests to find the right mix of your local materials -- he was talking about all kinds of earthen building.
I'm enjoying the coziness of our first big solar rammed earth building right now as I write -- it's below freezing outside and we have no backup heating, only solar.
My internet access is slow today and I've had trouble opening Permies pages or clicking reply, so I won't try to upload photos right now. We've got a few on our website, www.secmol.org, but I've recently scanned our old slides from the 90s when we were building this building.
More recently, Sonam Wangchuk, the brains and energy behind our whole thing, has been instead initiating modern style rammed earth with two local companies that do solar heated earth buildings, his protoges. He learned it at Craterre in France, David Easton in California, and in Australia. It uses big smooth forms a whole storey high, pneumatic ramming, and often some percentage of cement. Maybe it's stronger or more earthquake safe, but I really love our old cob-like hand rammed earth buildings. These walls are cozy. The modern system is more mechanised and maybe that's a big advantage as wages in this country are rising fast. I'm not sure if the jury has decided on that, though, since the modern system is more picky -- you aren't going to plaster so you have to get everything perfect inside the form.
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 2
This was a solar heated building we built for a client. Hand stamped with a tamper.
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 2
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 2
On the north wall of our office, which can't be bermed, we made a thin cavity wall and stuffed it with clean(ish) garbage. Since it doesn't have any passages or connections with the interior space (ie that smoke could move through) we used plastic. The cavity wall is only 6 inches thick while the main wall to the right is 18 inches. The sticks go through to help support the skinny wall. The stones are often jammed in one course of rammed earth to bond it to the next.
The exterior got soaked in a flood in 2010 so we stripped off the cavity wall and insulation, and actually the building is still warm enough so we didn't put it back.
The exterior got soaked in a flood in 2010 so we stripped off the cavity wall and insulation, and actually the building is still warm enough so we didn't put it back.
Rammed Earth Construction Techniques Youtube
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 2
The frames were really simple, planks tied with pipes with holes in them, and stoppers made of rebar to keep the spacing regular. After the layer dries for a day or two and is hard enough, pop the stoppers out, tap the pipes out, and move the frame to a new spot. After a few more days, the next course can be added on top of this spot.
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada
posted 6 years agoThank You Rebecca. Your explanations and photos go way beyond the translation request. It's great that you're reviving this building method. Do you have a thread that tells all about the history of what you've been doing in India for 20+ years ?
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years ago- 1
I'M SORRY I HIJACKED THIS THREAD!! I'LL STOP NOW.
Because it is going to be plastered, and can be chipped and shaped, and it's easy to make odd shaped forms such as arches, this style of building has some of the charm of cob.
And because it's not as densely rammed as modern rammed earth, I find it warmer. It's not as dense because the mix is wetter, so there is water in the pores so it can't be as compacted as a drier mix, and because the modern rammed earth uses mechanical ramming. The water dries out from the pores leaving pores, yay! (Warm)
I try to understand the insulation debate, but all I can say, is from decades living in Northeast US in balloon frame houses with insulation and central heating at 68F, I prefer living in these houses here with 18 to 24 inch earth walls that provide both thermal mass and some sort of insulation, even though they're down around 60 from mid-Dec to mid-Feb. I'm not sure R value is really relevant to such structures.
Because it is going to be plastered, and can be chipped and shaped, and it's easy to make odd shaped forms such as arches, this style of building has some of the charm of cob.
And because it's not as densely rammed as modern rammed earth, I find it warmer. It's not as dense because the mix is wetter, so there is water in the pores so it can't be as compacted as a drier mix, and because the modern rammed earth uses mechanical ramming. The water dries out from the pores leaving pores, yay! (Warm)
I try to understand the insulation debate, but all I can say, is from decades living in Northeast US in balloon frame houses with insulation and central heating at 68F, I prefer living in these houses here with 18 to 24 inch earth walls that provide both thermal mass and some sort of insulation, even though they're down around 60 from mid-Dec to mid-Feb. I'm not sure R value is really relevant to such structures.
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
Location: Victoria British Columbia-Canada
posted 6 years ago- 1
It's not highjacking when you have first hand knowledge that relates to the topic at hand. I'd be happy to view 100 photos of the school and other buildings. Thanks again.
Do they do anything to deal with the risk of earthquake ? Are today's buildings substantially different from what was built historically ?
Do they do anything to deal with the risk of earthquake ? Are today's buildings substantially different from what was built historically ?
gardener & author
Location: Ladakh, Indian Himalayas at 10,500 feet, zone 5
posted 6 years agoAh, earthquakes. There have been no notable earthquakes in Ladakh in recorded history, but it certainly is a risk, and this mountain chain is rising of course. So in our earlier buildings we always had a strong wooden tie beam embedded under the floor or roof beams at each level, so that in the event of a section of wall coming down or cracking, the beams wouldn't fall on your head. My brother in law, a green architect in California, said he thought our walls were thick enough that in most earthquakes the center of gravity or whatever it's called wouldn't move out of the space occupied by the wall, so it should be good except in a really Big One.
Still, some sections of our school building had too much glass, ie the entire south wall of some rooms was 2x4 frame with glass, wrapped around about 6 feet on the east and west. These were not earthquake safe, and were also thermally too extreme -- too hot on a sunny autumn or spring day, and too cold on a winter night or morning, so finally we rebuilt the south end of the central bay of our big hall last year using the modern pneumatically rammed denser stuff, with a load bearing south wall behind glass, wrapped solidly around the corners.
In the new system, Wangchuk uses concrete tie beams not only between each story but at the level of door and window lintels, for more earthquake safety. He also ties sections together by embedding a piece of that superstrong green plastic mesh in adjacent sections. Since we first built this school, there was a destructive earthquake a few hundred miles away in Kashmir. It was barely felt here, didn't make windows rattle, but it did shake us into more awareness. Also, in those years, he went and did a masters in Grenoble at Craterre, where the more technical and risk preventive western ways of thinking prevailed.
Some of the differences with historical buildings we look at.. Well, they are often 4 feet thick at the base and fairly steeply tapered, and go up several stories. We haven't gone above two plus a skylight/clerestory with ours, and we don't taper except sometimes doing 24 inches for the ground floor and 18 inches for the upstairs, with the difference on the interior. They had very shallow courses, maybe because of the limited forest in Ladakh, whereas we can get nice big planks from Kashmir. A very encouraging thing about the historical buildings, for example the ruins of forts on hilltops, is that the rammed earth walls are standing untended for centuries, surrounded by rubble of stone structures. They often have had the wooden lintels torn out (wood is REALLY scarce here) but this leaves either a fabulous flat earthen surface hanging there above an empty doorway, or a bit crumbles out and then it stabilizes in a rough arch shape and just stays. A few have large cracks like an inch wide or more, perhaps from settling foundations, but the cracks are eroded enough to make you think they've been cracked and standing happily for centuries. Some of these abandoned hilltop forts have not been used or maintained in historical memory, several hundred years.
Of course a huge difference between even our earlier buildings and the traditional ones is glass! The implications of that are huge.
Still, some sections of our school building had too much glass, ie the entire south wall of some rooms was 2x4 frame with glass, wrapped around about 6 feet on the east and west. These were not earthquake safe, and were also thermally too extreme -- too hot on a sunny autumn or spring day, and too cold on a winter night or morning, so finally we rebuilt the south end of the central bay of our big hall last year using the modern pneumatically rammed denser stuff, with a load bearing south wall behind glass, wrapped solidly around the corners.
In the new system, Wangchuk uses concrete tie beams not only between each story but at the level of door and window lintels, for more earthquake safety. He also ties sections together by embedding a piece of that superstrong green plastic mesh in adjacent sections. Since we first built this school, there was a destructive earthquake a few hundred miles away in Kashmir. It was barely felt here, didn't make windows rattle, but it did shake us into more awareness. Also, in those years, he went and did a masters in Grenoble at Craterre, where the more technical and risk preventive western ways of thinking prevailed.
Some of the differences with historical buildings we look at.. Well, they are often 4 feet thick at the base and fairly steeply tapered, and go up several stories. We haven't gone above two plus a skylight/clerestory with ours, and we don't taper except sometimes doing 24 inches for the ground floor and 18 inches for the upstairs, with the difference on the interior. They had very shallow courses, maybe because of the limited forest in Ladakh, whereas we can get nice big planks from Kashmir. A very encouraging thing about the historical buildings, for example the ruins of forts on hilltops, is that the rammed earth walls are standing untended for centuries, surrounded by rubble of stone structures. They often have had the wooden lintels torn out (wood is REALLY scarce here) but this leaves either a fabulous flat earthen surface hanging there above an empty doorway, or a bit crumbles out and then it stabilizes in a rough arch shape and just stays. A few have large cracks like an inch wide or more, perhaps from settling foundations, but the cracks are eroded enough to make you think they've been cracked and standing happily for centuries. Some of these abandoned hilltop forts have not been used or maintained in historical memory, several hundred years.
Of course a huge difference between even our earlier buildings and the traditional ones is glass! The implications of that are huge.
Works at a residential alternative high school in the Himalayas SECMOL.org . 'Back home' is Cape Cod, E Coast USA.
Location: Chihuahua Desert
posted 6 years ago- 2
![Rammed Earth Construction Techniques Rammed Earth Construction Techniques](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/49/88/f8/4988f8b4465f70f3c56b63721597b82d.jpg)
We did slipform adobe in a similar way. Small, interlocking forms worked best. We tried a variety of different forms. One was the T brick form:
When you line these forms up on the wall, the space that is created where the forms meet creates a gap in the mud. So, for the next level, you shift the forms 1/2 a brick over, and the gap is right in the middle of the brick above it, forming a T. We put the adobe in the form, waited about 10 minutes, and then gently pulled the form straight up. You can then set up the next few forms, and pour again. We were able to do 2 levels of brick in a day in our dry climate.
Here's a bit of information about T bricks
We expanded this concept to make the bricks taller and just filled the gap by hand:
The brick forms here had bolts and nuts, so came apart from the sides. Again, wait about 10-15 minutes, then take the forms off and move along the wall.
We put bottles and special niche forms in the mud to give the wall a bit of character:
Here's some more information on how we build with adobe
When you line these forms up on the wall, the space that is created where the forms meet creates a gap in the mud. So, for the next level, you shift the forms 1/2 a brick over, and the gap is right in the middle of the brick above it, forming a T. We put the adobe in the form, waited about 10 minutes, and then gently pulled the form straight up. You can then set up the next few forms, and pour again. We were able to do 2 levels of brick in a day in our dry climate.
Here's a bit of information about T bricks
We expanded this concept to make the bricks taller and just filled the gap by hand:
The brick forms here had bolts and nuts, so came apart from the sides. Again, wait about 10-15 minutes, then take the forms off and move along the wall.
We put bottles and special niche forms in the mud to give the wall a bit of character:
Here's some more information on how we build with adobe
Rammed Earth Construction
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