Earthbag Building

Earthbag Building
Author: Kaki Hunter
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Total Pages: 281
Release: 2004-11-19
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 155092303X

Download Earthbag Building Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

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

Emergency Sandbag Shelter and Eco-Village

Emergency Sandbag Shelter and Eco-Village
Author: Nader Khalili
Publisher: Cal Earth Press
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2008
Genre: Appropriate technology
ISBN: 9781889625058

Download Emergency Sandbag Shelter and Eco-Village Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

"This book ... shows how to use sandbags and barbed wire, the materials of war, for peaceful purposes as the new invention known as Superadobe or earth-bag, which can shelter millions of people around the globe as a temporary as well as permanent housing solution. This affordable, self-help, sustainable, and disaster resistant structural system is a spin off from Khalili's presentation to NASA for habitat on the moon and Mars, which successfully passed rigorous tests for strict California earthquake building codes."--Amazon.com.

Essential Rammed Earth Construction

Essential Rammed Earth Construction
Author: Tim Krahn
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2019-01-01
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 1771422467

Download Essential Rammed Earth Construction Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

“All of the essential knowledge for completing a successful rammed earth project. Written by a geo-technical engineer with experience ramming earth.” —Kelly Hart, author, Essential Earthbag Construction 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. “A much-needed and science-based update to a North American audience of designers, engineers and builders.” —Bruce King. P.E., author, The New Carbon Architecture “ A great book for anyone who wants to deepen their technical knowledge of rammed earth walls systems. It’s very helpful to have a book on rammed earth that is more focused on engineered rammed earth walls for cold climates.” —Clifton Schooley, Clifton Schooley & Associates, Rammed Earth Designers and Builders

Making Better Buildings

Making Better Buildings
Author: Chris Magwood
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Total Pages: 467
Release: 2014-03-25
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 0865717060

Download Making Better Buildings Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Sustainable building from the ground up - the pros and cons of the latest green and natural materials and technologies

Essential Earthbag Construction

Essential Earthbag Construction
Author: Kelly Hart
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Total Pages: 138
Release: 2018-05-01
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 155092656X

Download Essential Earthbag Construction Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Build economical and resilient earthbag structures using simple tools and techniques. Earthbag construction- building with polypropylene bags usually filled with earthen materials- is a versatile, easy-to-master, low-impact, and highly durable form of building, suitable for structures from houses to root cellars. Containing over 75 photos and illustrations, Essential Earthbag Construction is a practical guide to this affordable method of building. Going well beyond the scope of other sources, this indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine if it's the right choice for your project, and to start building. Distilling decades of experience, research, and best practices, it covers: Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it Pros and cons of different fills from gravel, to earth and clay, to insulative perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for efficient bag filling and installation Details for various designs, including domes and arches Foundation options and seismic and stability considerations Finishing and maintenance techniques Tools and materials Additional resources. Essential Earthbag Construction presents the practical guidance and best practices for both the DIYer and professional to design and build high-quality earthbag structures.

Essential Earthbag Construction

Essential Earthbag Construction
Author: Kelly Hart
Publisher: New Society Publishers
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2018-05-01
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 1771422513

Download Essential Earthbag Construction Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

“A must-have book for anyone interested in natural and sustainable building. It expands the possibilities with practical and essential information.” —Will Beemer, Director of the Heartwood School for the Homebuilding Crafts and author of Learn to Timber Frame. Build economical and resilient earthbag structures using simple tools and techniques. Earthbag construction—building with polypropylene bags usually filled with earthen materials—is a versatile, easy-to-master, low-impact, and highly durable form of building, suitable for structures from houses to root cellars. Containing over seventy-five photos and illustrations, Essential Earthbag Construction is a practical guide to this affordable method of building. Going well beyond the scope of other sources, this indispensable manual is packed with all the information you need to determine if it’s the right choice for your project, and to start building. Distilling decades of experience, research, and best practices, it covers: Material specifications, performance, and when and where to use it Pros and cons of different fills from gravel, to earth and clay, to insulative perlite, rice hulls, and volcanic stone Illustrated, step-by-step guidance for efficient bag filling and installation Details for various designs, including domes and arches Foundation options and seismic and stability considerations Finishing and maintenance techniques Tools and materials Additional resources. Essential Earthbag Construction presents the practical guidance and best practices for both the DIYer and professional to design and build high-quality earthbag structures. “A comprehensive, practical and inspirational guide that is both detailed and easy to follow.” —Jenny Pickerill, Professor of Environmental Geography, University of Sheffield, UK and author of Eco-Homes: People, Place and Politics “Everything you need to know for success.” —Michael G. Smith, co-editor, The Art of Natural Building and co-author, The Hand-Sculpted House

The Natural Building Companion

The Natural Building Companion
Author: Jacob Deva Racusin
Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing
Total Pages: 451
Release: 2012-05-01
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 1603583408

Download The Natural Building Companion Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Natural buildings not only bring satisfaction to their makers and joy to their occupants, they also leave the gentlest footprint on the environment. In this complete reference to natural building philosophy, design, and technique, Jacob Deva Racusin and Ace McArleton walk builders through planning and construction, offering step-by-step instructions on: siting and site analysis choosing materials integrating basic structural considerations into a design strategies for heating/cooling efficiency and moisture management planning for acoustics developing an integrative design navigating budgeting, code compliance, and project management creating the foundation, wall system, roof, and floors selecting and making plasters and paints evaluating options for mechanical and utility systems protecting against fire and insects integrating structures within landscape, climate, and human communities ...and more Applicable to building in climates that are cold and wet, hot and dry, or somewhere in-between, The Natural Building Companion provides the tools necessary to understand basic principles of building science, including structural and thermal engineering, and hydrodynamics. This guide offers thorough, up-to-date, and advanced installation details and performance characteristics of straw-bale, straw-clay, woodchip-clay, and cellulose wall systems, as well as earthen and stone wall systems and a variety of framing, roofing, flooring, mechanical system, and finishing options. This fully-illustrated volume informs professionals making the transition from conventional building, homeowners embarking on their own construction, or green builders who want comprehensive guidance on natural-building options. A State-of-the-Art Resource for Natural Builders The Natural Building Companion is a part of The Yestermorrow Design/Build Library and includes an instructional DVD.

Mud Ball - How I Dug Myself Out of the Daily Grind

Mud Ball - How I Dug Myself Out of the Daily Grind
Author: Atulya K. Bingham
Publisher:
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2015-07-09
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9781849147521

Download Mud Ball - How I Dug Myself Out of the Daily Grind Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

I couldn't teach another lesson. Nor could I tolerate another day with a boss, a punch card, and the indigestion I suffered from bolting my muesli. This was why I'd spent the past five months camping in a remote Turkish field. Then the first winter storm crashed through the valley, turning my tent into a canvas pole dancer. It dawned on me I might need a house. There were only two problems: I had just $6000 left in my account, and 6 weeks before winter. "Despite having very little money, almost no building experience, and endless naysayers who told her she would fail, Atulya K. Bingham completed her lovely earthbag home. Her personal, inspirational story shows how anyone can build their own sustainable home with earthbags." Dr. Owen Geiger, Director of the Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building, author of the Natural Building Blog and Earthbag Building website. "A joy from beginning to end - a brave, funny, moving account of building a new life and a new home out of mud in Turkey's mountain wilderness." Sara Crowe, author of Bone Jack (Nominated for the Carnegie Medal in 2015).

Made by Hand

Made by Hand
Author: Mark Frauenfelder
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2011-10-25
Genre: House & Home
ISBN: 110156945X

Download Made by Hand Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

From his unique vantage point as editor-in-chief of MAKE magazine, the hub of the newly invigorated do-it-yourself movement, Mark Frauenfelder takes readers on an inspiring and surprising tour of the vibrant world of DIY. The Internet has brought together large communities of people who share ideas, tips, and blueprints for making everything from unmanned aerial vehicles to pedal- powered iPhone chargers to an automatic cat feeder jury-rigged from a VCR. DIY is a direct reflection of our basic human desire to invent and improve, long suppressed by the availability of cheap, mass-produced products that have drowned us in bland convenience and cultivated our most wasteful habits. Frauenfelder spent a year trying a variety of offbeat projects such as keeping chickens and bees, tricking out his espresso machine, whittling wooden spoons, making guitars out of cigar boxes, and doing citizen science with his daughters in the garage. His whole family found that DIY helped them take control of their lives, offering a path that was simple, direct, and clear. Working with their hands and minds helped them feel more engaged with the world around them. Frauenfelder also reveals how DIY is changing our culture for the better. He profiles fascinating "alpha makers" leading various DIY movements and grills them for their best tips and insights. Beginning his journey with hands as smooth as those of a typical geek, Frauenfelder offers a unique perspective on how earning a few calluses can be far more rewarding and satisfying than another trip to the mall.

The Complete Guide to Alternative Home Building Materials & Methods

The Complete Guide to Alternative Home Building Materials & Methods
Author: Jon Nunan
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Company
Total Pages: 290
Release: 2010
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 1601382456

Download The Complete Guide to Alternative Home Building Materials & Methods Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Learn how to identify, locate, and effectively use alternative building materials, including cob, adobe, rammed earth, bamboo, cork, wool carpeting, and more. You will also learn about the structure, climate control, siting, foundations, and flooring options you gain when using these materials. Ultimately, you will come to understand that these materials are cheaper, easier to build with, stronger, more durable, and more fire resistant.