Everything you need to know to build with rammed earth in warm and
cold climates.
Rammed earth - sand, gravel, and clay or lime/cement binder packed into
forms - is a low-energy, high-performance building method, yielding
beautiful, sustainable results. It's thermally stable and can be
insulated, can actively modulate humidity, provides a healthy indoor
environment, and allows site materials to be used for major structural
and building envelope elements.
Essential Rammed Earth Construction covers design, building science,
tools, and step-by-step building methods for any climate, with a special
emphasis on building in cold climates of the northern US, Canada, and
northern Europe. Coverage includes:
- Overview of earthen building
- Appropriate use of rammed earth walls
- Stabilized versus raw rammed earth
- Design considerations, including structural, insulation, and building
envelope details
- Special considerations for cold and freeze-thaw climates
- Construction drawings, with step-by-step building instructions
- Tools and labor covering industrial methods, low-tech techniques,
formwork options, mix design, budgets, and schedules
- Codes, inspections, and permits.
This guide is an essential resource for experienced builders, DIY home
owners, designers, engineers, and architects interested in learning
about rammed earth construction.