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Thread: Earth Bermed and Earth Sheltered - Concrete Block DIY

  1. #1

    Earth Bermed and Earth Sheltered - Concrete Block DIY

    I was reading this article ( http://www.motherearthnews.com/Green-Homes/2006-10-01/Earth-sheltered-Homes.aspx ) about "Earth Sheltered" homes. He talks about dry-stacking concrete blocks being a good method for DIY. He then built a "living roof" on his.

    DIY drystack concrete blocks, place rebar inside the spaces and bucket-fill with concrete. These guys have some examples of how it's done, and lots of other useful info about building this way. http://www.vobb.com/

    But I was thinking about a concrete roof, then buried with earth. I was thinking that it might be possible to get some pre-cast concrete slabs, and lay them flat over the structure. So I guess the big question is whether or not these kind of walls could bear the load of a concrete and earth roof.

    I would make the whole house about 30 feet wide, and however long I would want/need to fit everything I would need in there. The long side would face due south, with lots of windows etc. to get passive solar heat. I found this really neat site http://susdesign.com/tools.php where you can use their Window Overhang Design tool to see how big your overhangs should be for where you are building and the size of your windows. I would have about 4 foot overhangs on the south side.

    Here's some enginerring info, but I can't really make heads nor tails of it. OBVIOUSLY one would have something like this engineered properly. http://www.vobb.com/engineer-tests.htm
    http://www.vobb.com/engineers-reports.htm

    But I guess what I'm asking is if a DIY concrete block, with earth bermed against it would support big-ol concrete slabs and earth on top?

  2. #2
    LHBA Member rreidnauer's Avatar
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    Hey Larry, I think you'd

    Hey Larry, I think you'd enjoy learning how the all concrete Fonthill castle was built down in Doylestown. They have a "behind the scenes" tour every now and then that details the construction methods.

  3. #3

    for i while i was gonna

    for i while i was gonna build this type of earth-berm dry stack concrete home then put a living roof on it http://www.thenaturalhome.com/passivesolar.html but ultimately i cant give up the ideal of living in a log home! now if i could only get a class to line up with my schedule

  4. #4

    Mr. Rock?

    Mr. Rock, have you ever done earth-sheltered structures? Any possible tips, or info? Are dry-stacked concrete blocks, filled with poured concrete, then surfaced with structural stucco as strong as poured concrete? Strong enough to support an earth roof?

  5. #5

    Cordwood

    I think that picture of the house in the Mother Earth News article
    is made with cord wood.

    And speaking of concrete blocks... :-) I LOVE this house.
    I'm not sure if it's because I'm single with no kids (knock on wood) or what
    but I like it. :-)

    http://robpaulus.com/projects/single/007-house/

  6. #6
    LHBA Member Kola's Avatar
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    The Return of the Lost Ponyboy

    Hes BACK!! :)

    welcome back Ponyboy!

    you wouldn't happen to be Gawani Ponyboy?
    http://www.ponyboy.com/

    Kola

  7. #7

    :-)

    Quote Originally Posted by Kola
    Hes BACK!! :)

    welcome back Ponyboy!

    you wouldn't happen to be Gawani Ponyboy?
    http://www.ponyboy.com/

    Kola
    I didn't know I was gone :-) I've been busy working on my perpetual motion machines.... Hah! j/k Rod!

    Nope that's not me Kola. I'm the ponyboy who used to have a ponytail 12 years ago so people at work
    started calling me ponyboy. Of course in the adult forums I give a different reason for being called ponyboy......... zing! :-)

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