The only comprehensive, illustrated, step-by-step guide to building
with earthbags.
Over seventy percent of Americans cannot afford to own a code-enforced,
contractor-built home. This has led to widespread interest in using
natural materials-straw, cob, and earth-for building homes and other
buildings that are inexpensive, and that rely largely on labor rather
than expensive and often environmentally-damaging outsourced materials.
Earthbag Building is the first comprehensive guide to all the tools,
tricks, and techniques for building with bags filled with earth-or
earthbags. Having been introduced to sandbag construction by the
renowned Nader Khalili in 1993, the authors developed this Flexible Form
Rammed Earth Technique over the last decade. A reliable method for
constructing homes, outbuildings, garden walls and much more, this
enduring, tree-free architecture can also be used to create arched and
domed structures of great beauty-in any region, and at home, in
developing countries, or in emergency relief work.
This profusely illustrated guide first discusses the many merits of
earthbag construction, and then leads the reader through the key
elements of an earthbag building:
- Special design considerations
- Foundations, walls, and floors
- Electrical, plumbing, and shelving
- Lintels, windows and door installations
- Roofs, arches and domes
- Exterior and interior plasters.
With dedicated sections on costs, making your own specialized tools, and
building code considerations, as well as a complete resources guide,
Earthbag Building is the long-awaited, definitive guide to this
uniquely pleasing construction style.
Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series
