- Rammed Earth Construction Techniques Pictures
- Rammed Earth Construction Methods
- Rammed Earth Construction Techniques 2017
List of the Advantages of Rammed Earth
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 Construction Techniques Pictures
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.
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.
List of the Disadvantages of Rammed Earth
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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 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 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 Construction Methods
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.
Rammed earth, also known in French as pisé de terre or simply pisé has been used since ages worldwide like many other earth techniques. The earth is mixed thoroughly with water to get a homogeneous humid mix. This humid earth is poured in a form in thin layers and then rammed to increase its density. The increase of density increases as well the compressive strength and the water resistance. Ramming was traditionally done by hand. Since a few decades, ramming is being done mechanically with pneumatic rammers (see the webpage on modern rammed earth).
The worldwide tradition of rammed earth construction has shown that it is possible to achieve long lasting and majestic buildings from single to multi storey. Trusted platform module 2.0 driver windows 10ws 10. Wonderful heritage can be found in countries such as France, Spain, Morocco, China, and all over the Himalayan area. Gm global tis keygen software. One can see numerous and wonderful examples with all kinds of buildings:
• Farms, or rural houses, chateaux and apartments in Europe
• Entire villages in North Africa
• Parts of the great wall of China
• Buildings in most of the Himalayan regions of Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Ladakh
• Widespread examples in South America
Two techniques have traditionally been developed. They used either horizontal or vertical formworks.
Rammed Earth Construction Techniques 2017
The horizontal technique was used in many parts of the world. Strips of walls were built horizontally and their height varied from 30 to 90 cm. | China |
The vertical technique was used in a few places in the world: mainly in Tibet, China and one region of France (Bugey). | China |
Humid soil was evenly poured into the formwork to get a regular course of about 12-15 cm thickness. Ramming was traditionally done by hand. | India, Ladakh, Losar |
France - Château de Reyrieux, 17th century | France, Villefontaine - Ex bourgeois´ house | |
France, Saint Siméon de Bressieux - Longest building in Europe | France, Saint Siméon de Bressieux - Social housing, 19th century | |
Spain - Castillo de Biar, 12th century (photo Paul Jaquin) | Spain - Castillo Baños de la Encina, 10th century (photo Paul Jaquin) | Spain - Castillo Baños de la Encina, 10th century (photo Paul Jaquin) |
Spain - Castillo Baños de la Encina, 10th century (photo Paul Jaquin) | Spain, Maluenda - Church Santas Justa y Rufina (photo Paul Jaquin | |
>Morocco - Village in the North Atlas | Morocco - House | |
India, Ladakh - Basgo village | ||
India, Ladakh, Leh - Castle | India, Ladakh - Spituk Gompa | |
India, Spiti - Mane village | ||
Tibet, Lhasa - Potala palace | Tibet, Amdo - House | |
China, Fujian Province - Village / house of Hakkas clan | China, Fujian Province - Village / house of Hakkas clan | China, Fujian Province - Yijing Building at Shangyang |